Description:
Continuing a career that stretches over six decades, Joan Baez sticks in Dark Chords on a Big Guitar, with her successful habit of reinterpreting the works of America's finest contemporary roots musicians. Her voice, still patrician, is thankfully huskier, not as strident as in days gone by, the renowned revolutionary playing it deadly straight as she recounts these new takes on traditional subjects--the loss of innocence, the destruction of rural communities and, of course, the eternal quest for redemption. This toned-down style works particularly well on Gillian Welch's gritty murder ballad "Caleb Meyer" and Natalie
Continuing a career that stretches over six decades, Joan Baez sticks in Dark Chords on a Big Guitar, with her successful habit of reinterpreting the works of America's finest contemporary roots musicians. Her voice, still patrician, is thankfully huskier, not as strident as in days gone by, the renowned revolutionary playing it deadly straight as she recounts these new takes on traditional subjects--the loss of innocence, the destruction of rural communities and, of course, the eternal quest for redemption. This toned-down style works particularly well on Gillian Welch's gritty murder ballad "Caleb Meyer" and Natalie Merchant's "Motherland", a haunting tale of human greed and desperate escape, where a minimalist band provides an appropriately rough backing. Indeed, Duke McVinnie's sudden stabs of dirty guitar add colour and drama throughout. Other highlights include the spiky blues of Caitlin Cary's "Rosemary Moore", Joe Henry's disturbingly thoughtful murder song "King's Highway" and Steve Earle's angry and sorrowful "Christmas in Washington", a political diatribe in keeping with Baez's own history of protest. Unsurprisingly, the over-rated Ryan Adams' "In My Time of Need" does not fare so well, while Welch's "Elvis Presley Blues" is throwaway at best. Nevertheless, fans will be pleased to find Baez in fine form and still introducing them to younger talents. --Dominic Wills
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Manufacturer: Sanctuary
Release date: 8 September 2003
Number of discs: 1
EAN: 5050159021826
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