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15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Vic Chesnutt's 2007 Release is a Beauty!, September 10, 2007
The year was 1990. In a small bar in Georgia, Michael Stipe (founder of R.E.M.) was blown away by a paraplegic folk-rocker sitting in a wheelchair. The lyrics were monumental and had the trademark twists of an REM song with unusual syncopations and half-beat rhythms. Stipe then helped produce Vic Chesnutt's first album as well as get him the name recognition he so richly deserved. Since then, Chesnutt has been inexorably linked to both Stipe and the Athens, Georgia sound.
17 years later, Chesnutt is 41 years old and sounds virtually the same, vocally and musically, as he did in 1990. His latest offering: "North Star Deserter" was released on September 11th, almost 3years after his last album, "Ghetto Bells". This mysterious iconoclast has a strange, almost self-mocking delivery. Vic's words are very carefully constructed to both surprise the listener with unexpected combinations and a mastery of the English language. The songs on his latest release unfold with the usual halting style of Chesnutt. He doesn't overwhelm you with huge pop beginnings to a song. He doesn't overdub the songs with layers of orchestration or backing vocals. Smatterings of pop culture make their appearances (Prilosec, etc.) seemingly at random in the middle of a ballad. This is the hallmark of his work: expect the unexpected.
Formed around basic melodies, Vic Chesnutt easily dictates tempo and pathos within his voice. It is delivered with an oddly familiar Georgian drawl that is in stark contrast to his intellectual music. There are stripped-down songs standing side by side with towering rockers on this cd. In the song: You'll Never Be Alone, Chesnutt sings solo in a pondering ballad, then switches gears in the final stanza's with some great musical harmonies from Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band.
Chesnutt is the quintessential songwriter that deserves much more credit than he gets. His style of music doesn't easily fit into radio singles, so it is not too surprising that mainstream alt-rock don't even know who he is. I hope this cd changes that: I own all 13 of his works and NONE of them suck. I would rate this cd right up with his early edgy releases. Sit down, let yourself be transfixed by this one-of-a-kind cd. Then, when you're done, listen to it again, only this time concentrate on the lyrics. You'll shake your head in admiration at the poetic imagery and couplings of both music and words. Super solid effort that needs national recognition.
by Jeff Feezle of Macafeez
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Vic's best ever!!!, September 23, 2007
Being a longtime Vic Chesnutt fan, I was excited when I first heard about North Star Deserter back in June. My happiness was doubled when I learned that his supporting cast was to include various members of Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Thee Silver Mt. Zion, and Fugazi. I enjoy and respect all three immensely. It seemed too good to be true. Having worked with artists as far-ranging as Lambchop, Van Dyke Parks, Widespread Panic, and many others in the past, I am always interested to see what effect bands have on Vic and vice-versa. Then I read where Vic fans at Constellation Records stated that they believed this to be his best album ever. Wow! That is a bold statement, which they rightfully acknowledged. That is not something one just kind of tosses out there, so my expectations were through the roof, along with my anticipation. After having had time to digest North Star Deserter, I am in complete agreement that this is indeed Vic's finest work to date.
Lyrically, vocally, and tonally North Star Deserter possesses a depth that is staggering in its power. Many of the songs examine mortality and death with an intense and urgent honesty ( "Over", "Debriefing", "Marathon"). These three songs recall the song "Square Room" from The Salesman and Bernadette- so emotional, so evocative, so real. Vic's voice has never sounded better as evidenced by the fragile vulnerability of his delivery in "Fodder on Her Wings" and "Warm." The whisper quiet/raging loud dynamics of "Everything I Say" and the echo-drenched soundscape of "Splendid" display the creativity of the many diverse musicians supporting Vic on this album. Elsewhere the poetic "Wallace Stevens" floats lightly over an acoustic and electric guitar interlocking pattern, while "You Are Never Alone" offers biting social commentary in conjunction with tremolo guitar, backed by a group-harmony chorus. Basically, the entire album will command the attention of your mind, heart, and ear.
Meditative and thought-provoking, North Star Deserter ultimately proves to be the most poignant work in the Vic Chesnutt canon. Prepare to be floored.
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Intense and Brilliant, October 6, 2007
I bought the vinyl Lp version of this release. Two pristine 180g records with three songs on each side. It also includes a poster, large lyric sheet, a post card, some advertising and a hand written thank you note from Constellation Records. Most importantly, this is Vic Chesnutt at his best. The passion he sings with is unmatched and the recording captures every detail of the sessions. This is a great record!
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