The Nashville Acoustic Sessions

Raul Malo

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 30, 2004)
• Original Release Date: March 30, 2004
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Cmh Records
• ASIN: B0001MDPNQ
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #43,939 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

As vocalist for the Mavericks, Raul Malo's powerful voice and the band's success in mixing vintage material with originals arranged in "classic" styles helped revive eclecticism in Nashville. Here, he and a first-rate band of acoustic sidemen run through country, pop, and folk standards, most (not all) well-known. Mixing Bob Dylan ("You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go") and Gordon Lightfoot ("Early Morning Rain") with Jimmie Rodgers ("Waiting for a Train") and the Louvin Brothers ("The Great Atomic Power") is quintessential Malo. Having long ago channeled Roy Orbison's vocal dynamics, it's a given that he soars on "Blue Bayou" and the Henry Mancini-Johnny Mercer pop standard "Moon River." He and the musicians rework Van Morrison's "Bright Side of the Road" into a powerful gospel-style rave-up. Good as those three numbers are, the players don't sustain that same level throughout. These supremely gifted pickers, all respected instrumentalists, play it safe with solos and arrangements. Even Malo himself seems uncharacteristically low-keyed. The music is certainly pleasant, but given such a stellar blend of talent, it's also disappointingly predictable. --Rich Kienzle

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Cd!, April 12, 2004

By	Daffodil "moonrose2004" (Glen Burnie, Maryland USA) - See all my reviews

I have been a fan of Raul's ever since I saw him sing "Make the world go away" on the Nashville celebrates the Ryman tv special several years ago. I just love to hear him sing, and this cd is
beautiful. I have been playing it since I bought it and the rendition of Blue Bayou is very haunting. Great job and the instrumentals are first rate. Highly recommended.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good CD!, June 23, 2004

By	Richard J. Arndt (Elko, NV USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

Maybe not as powerful as it could have been, but perhaps that's because I've heard everything the man's recorded and heard him live several times. This is a laid back, comfortable collection with at least three crackerjack songs on it. My favorites are The Great Atomic Power, You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go and Bright Side Of The Road but there's enough different styles for anybody to enjoy something. Well worth purchasing.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a great album!, March 18, 2006

By	Fernando Marçal (Sao Paulo - Brazil) - See all my reviews

As I'm writing this, I'm hearin' for... I don't know how many times to this great album. With all the due respect, I just don't understand what does Rich Kienzle mean by "disappointingly predictable". I mean, come on, what's so predictable about it or, even worst, disappointingly? It's a great album! Great musicians, great selection of songs and on the top of it all there's Raul Malo's voice, the best one since Elvis and Roy Orbison. That's the plain truth. Sorry Rich, but that's the way I see. If I'm disapointed is that the album has mere 12 songs. I could hear 12 more, easily. Once a heard a fan saying that he would pay just to hear Doc Watson talk. It wouldn't matter if he wouldn't sing or play anything. I understood right away what he meant, because I would to. The same thing applies to artists like Raul Malo. He doesn't have to do much to please his audience and, in my point of view, he does a lot on this record. I didn't like his previous work "Today", the songs aren't good and so, but still there's a great voice behind them. Well, I think I've said enough. Fans, of course will love it. Newcomers would want more. That's how I see.
Favorites tunes? Louvin Brothers' "Great Atomic Power", Roy's "Blue Bayou", and Hank Williams's "Weary Blues". Although the instrumental is great, I'd love to hear Malo singing Jimmie Roger's "Waiting For A Train". Maybe next time. The weakest try is Gram Parsons' "Hot Burrito", once Malo himself has done it better. Keep on singin' Raul and God bless you.