American Myth

Jackie Greene

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 14, 2006)
• Original Release Date: March 14, 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Verve Forecast
• ASIN: B000E6EHKE
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #47,250 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
This young Californian has apparently suffered from a case of mistaken artistic identity in his attempts to forge his own. The blazing guitar chops on this album's "Cold Black Devil/14 Miles" show why some consider him among the most promising of a new generation of bluesslingers, yet much of the material makes him sound more like a young Bob Dylan than the next Stevie Ray Vaughan. Though Dylan comparisons rarely do a developing artist any favors, it's hard to avoid them with the majestic, 10-minute build of "Supersede." Elsewhere, the horn arrangements of "So Hard to Find My Way" and "Close to You" evoke Van Morrison's California days, while the riffing of "Farewell, So Long, Goodbye" rocks like the Rolling Stones. Much of the rest is acoustic balladry that finds Greene achieving a musical intimacy that resists easy comparisons. A multi-instrumentalist featured on organ and piano as well as a variety of guitars, Greene benefits from the musical support of bassist Davey Faragher (Cracker) and drummer Pete Thomas (Elvis Costello's Attractions) and empathic production by Steve Berlin (Los Lobos). As a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, he's more than the sum of his very good influences. --Don McLeese

Product Description
American Myth features multi-instrumentalist Greene on vocals, guitars, dobro, piano, harmonica, and percussion. He is also joined by a top-notch band of Pete Thomas (drums, percussion, trash can), Davey Faragher (vocals, bass), both of whom are members of Elvis Costello's longtime group, The Imposters; and Val McCallum (vocals, guitars, banjo, slide guitar, baritone). Steve Berlin also contributes with turns on mellotron, vibes, and percussion, and the whole group is joined by a number of guest musicians including a slamming horn section on four of the album's tracks.

From the swamp-like feel of the anthemic opener "Hollywood," the record rolls right into the rollicking "So Hard to Find My Way." Greene shows off his range by cranking it up on the in-your-face "I'm So Gone" and the heartland rock of "Farewell, So Long, Goodbye" and dialing it back on the album's meditative "Love Song 2 a.m." and the wistful "Never Satisfied."

Greene's inspired songwriting, mastery of wordplay, and flawless composition technique are showcased throughout American Myth. Nowhere is that more evident than on the exquisite "Supersede," a catchy, melodic epic. Other standout tunes on the album include the powerful blues-soaked rocker "Cold Black Devil/14 Miles" and the plaintive "When You're Walking Away."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars American Masterpiece, June 30, 2006

By	B. D. Williams (Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I'd like to preface this review by saying that I've been playing music for about twenty years and I own about a thousand CDs. And up to this point in my life I've written exactly one other CD review. That's how strongly I felt about this artist and this record.

Just when I was getting ready to lose faith in American music, along comes a Jackie Greene in the nick of time. The late Duane Allman once said "you can never sound exactly like someone else, so you might as well not try." What he was saying is that while it is necessary to learn from and copy others to learn how to play, write and sing, ultimately it will be an artist's responsibility to create their own sound lest they fade into obscurity. Jackie Greene has done that so well that I stand in awe. Throughout this album you will hear echoes of dozens of great R&B, country, blues, rock, pop and soul artists from the past, however, the sound is Jackie Greene throughout. I was amused by the Amazon review that states "This young Californian has apparently suffered from a case of mistaken artistic identity in his attempts to forge his own" as if someone said "Jackie Greene, in this life thou shalt be a blues player." That notion is absurd. An artist with the talent of Jackie Greene would never be content with that. He is gifted enough to explore songwriting, melody and harmony far beyond the stretches of a single genre. This is music that makes you glad you are alive; music that will find you driving down the road and make you think of life in a way you haven't thought of before. Perhaps most importantly, this is decidedly American music: A wake up call in a time where our homogenous, wal-mart, Clear Channel culture is destroying us from the inside out.

As to the music itself, despite the predominant use of major keys and major scale based melodies, this is a dark album. The opener "Hollywood" sets the haunting tone and the album never really deviates from that. The playing is as relaxed as a Sunday afternoon in Georgia, yet intense as a '67 Mustang going through the gears on a dark curvy road. The musicianship is first rate and Steve Berlin's stellar production adds an ethereal quality to it all. But the real star is the material itself. Twenty-five year old Jackie Greene writes with the wisdom of someone who has lived three lifetimes. The range of emotions and images he manages to conjure up within the span of a single record is just stunning. Honestly, I can't imagine where the guy comes up with this stuff. I cried tears of joy when I heard in "So Hard To Find My Way" where he proclaims "She turns heads whenever she's walkin, she never speaks, she lets her body do the talkin, She's daddy's little baby girl, but she ain't living in daddy's world." And "Supercede" is without a doubt the "Desolation Row" of a generation that will never hear Highway 61. ***Every song on here is a winner.*** What's even more amazing is that Jackie sings these songs with the voice of a two pack a day 20 year roadhouse veteran. This is the CD that I've been waiting for an American artist to make for years now. In a world of remakes, re-issues, copycats, manufactured talent, auto-tune, and American Idol, you will be refreshed and relieved to know that Jackie Greene is the genuine article. This may be the best pop/rock album of this decade to date.

I sincerely hope that Jackie can keep his life under control and stick around a while. Artists this good tend to die early. Especially the geniuses. Jackie if you read this, try to stick around man. We need more people like you, not less. I can't wait to see what's next.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better and Better and Better, March 17, 2006

By	D. L. Rathgeb (CARMICHAEL, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I've been following Jackie Greene for about three years now, watched and listened as he played Sacramento clubs, bought each album he made and wore it out. There's always the possibility that an artist will stay too long in a certain style and become dull and predictable, but then again, if that artist strays too far from where he started, he might lose his fan base. This album is proof that neither is going to happen to Jackie Greene. American Myth is the best Jackie Greene recording I have ever heard, and that, to me, anyway, is saying something. This album rocks you, seduces you, challenges you to meet it at its own level. The musicianship, as always, is superb, and Greene's songwriting skills make for some of the most intelligent and thought-provoking lyrics you are likely to hear. I have so many favorites that it's ridiculous to list them. Not one dull song, no disappointments anywhere. Just the joy of listening to a performer who is pretty much standing alone among his contemporaries. And he's standing on very high ground.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As a Live Performer (Haven't heard the CD), July 4, 2006

By	Marc H. Stevens "Carrera Marc" (Toronto, Canada) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Like another reviewer, I've been an amateur player a long time (40 years), although I've never written a review before.

I went to an Elvis Costello (with Allen Toussaint) concert last night at the Montreal Jazz Festival, and didn't even know there was an opening act. I believe that he was actually introduced as "Jimmy Green". I'd never heard of him, and out strolls this kid who looks 18 years old. I prepare to sleep for half an hour.

WRONG!!! This kid has serious talent. The first thing that goes through my mind is: a young Bob Dylan (but with a voice). His songwriting is that good. Then, after a couple of songs, I'm thinking: a young Bruce Springsteen, because he works so hard at weaving many influences and styles into his music. Finally, after a couple of (all-too-brief) turns on the B3, it's: a young Steve Winwood, because he's just so smooth and soulful.

Later on (the next morning), after researching this kid on the 'net, I find out that he's got about 4 albums out already, and I've never heard of him! Maybe that's what comes from living in Canada. Anyway, I also realized that you can't pigeon-hole a budding musical genius like Jackie Greene. Just listen to him, and revel in his musicianship. I'm going to run out and buy American Myth today!