Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Now THIS is an ALBUM!, April 15, 2008
This is the smartest thing the Wilders have ever done.
This is my first listen, the `get the feel of the thing' review.
First, it's an `album' not a `recording'. This is a big, great difference.
Previous recordings (for the most part) have been the Wilders playing their songs/tunes. They were good. In their line of work, people come to the shows...love it...and buy a cd. They take it home, and though it's good, it has no chance of capturing the Wilders live show. It would be impossible.
This thing is a whole new deal. This is an ALBUM. This thing is alive on its own. It's not an attempt to send a fan home with a piece of the live show. BUT, anybody who loved the show won't be disappointed with this album. It is all Wilders and has an energy/intensity that you get at the live show...without being a recording of the show...if that makes any sense.
This opens the Wilders up to all new markets. If this hasn't been sent to XM Radio station #12...do it now!!! This album will appeal to a much larger audience than previous recordings. They just have to figure out how to get it in front of their ears! ALSO, and I feel this is very important, just as the fan who buys a copy at a show won't be disappointed, the person who hears this thing before seeing you live will love it when they do get around to seeing a show. This is very good.
Recap: Fans of the live show will love the cd ... and fans of the cd will love the live show! What else could you ask for? It's all different, but all Wilders.
You get a little bit of everybody on this thing:
Betse's fiddling is HOT and I really like her singing on this one a lot.
Phil gives us his `Red Headed Stranger' - awesome. And a healthy dose of his picking and sweet harmony singing.
Nate is my favorite Honky-Tonk Poet. Period. I love his songs.
Ike is so good. You can feel his charisma and charm on the rockers. But I really like the sad sweetness of some of the songs he wrote.
Dirk and Brendan round the thing out with some amazing instrumental accents and the recording quality is amazing.
...oh yeah, and this is important, the drummer ROCKS! So often when `acoustic' acts add drums to the mix it sounds like crap. Like they're playing their songs and ... oooh ..... this'll be fun ....let's add a drum kit!!! It always ends up weak and out of place. Not here. These drums aren't an add-on. They're part of the deal...part of the Wilders. Well-done! When I heard there were drums I was very scared. After listening, I love it. The drums allow you to keep the intensity without getting too busy and cluttered. They allow for some dynamics that are hard to deliver in a drum-less world. The drums help to make this an album that can be listened to over and over.
Overall, after one quick listen, I'm inspired. Don't get me wrong, I love the old Wilders, but these guys have so much more to offer. This album gives Wilders fans a glimpse of some of that. I think they'll be happy. I am.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Jury is in, June 28, 2008
Wilders had a few soothing CDs of new folk traditional. Well sung, played, and wallowed in the nicely done, but...not bought.
"Someone's Gotta Pay" is a breakthrough. A song cycle of murder/passion/mistakes/life taken/life done. A journey of judgment and justice jampacked with Americana mysteries and melodies.
Whirlwind bluegrass, deep blues, and a venture into places where only the heartbroken delve. This is like chain gang hope.
A modern entrance to yesterday as it is today.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best Wilders CD, December 11, 2008
This is the best CD the Wilders have done so far! A real studio album, not trying to capture their live energy and a concept album to boot. This CD easily has 3 or 4 singles on it...if only there were any radio stations left that could fit it into their playlists. I highly recommend!
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