I have no idea what this is. What genre it belongs to. But I know where it’s from. That’s obvious. TEXAS. In big capital letters. I didn’t have to look at no stinkin' biography. I didn’t have to read about his influences. Because this is Texas rock through & through. And by all rights, it should have been HUGH in 1991. Because It’s Country Blues Roots Rock that’s not really that far removed in a lot of respects from what was going on in Seattle. It’s raw. It’s naked. It’s confessional. It does for country and roots rock what grunge was doing for heavy metal. Strips away the artificially and 80s production, to reveal something naked, raw & vulnerable but ironically all the stronger & tougher for it. It seems to have been spawned from the the land. The Texas dirt itself. If Chris Whitley had been born in the pacific Northwest instead of Texas, it is easy to imagine that he could have been spearheading some grunge band. With both vocals and guitar. I’m so glad he was from Texas instead.
Grade A: ESSENTIAL. This easily deserves a spot on the 1991 dais. As one of its best albums. It’s an oddity. Firmly planted in Texas’ Country Blues lore, yet with its own singular vision and style. It’s an impassioned record. Naked and raw like some of the other best music of this year. Far, far removed from the "Nashville" country of this period.
I remember back at the time seeing it in a bunch of year end lists, but my tastes were too far removed from roots rock, blues, and country then. But, now I clearly see why. And it takes the first spot (for now) on my first year chart on this first day of this new year.
I have no idea what this is. What genre it belongs to. But I know where it’s from. That’s obvious. TEXAS. In big capital letters. I didn’t have to look at no stinkin' biography. I didn’t have to read about his influences. Because this is Texas rock through & through. And by all rights, it should have been HUGH in 1991. Because It’s Country Blues Roots Rock that’s not really that far removed in a lot of respects from what was going on in Seattle. It’s raw. It’s naked. It’s confessional. It does for country and roots rock what grunge was doing for heavy metal. Strips away the artificially and 80s production, to reveal something naked, raw & vulnerable but ironically all the stronger & tougher for it. It seems to have been spawned from the the land. The Texas dirt itself. If Chris Whitley had been born in the pacific Northwest instead of Texas, it is easy to imagine that he could have been spearheading some grunge band. With both vocals and guitar. I’m so glad he was from Texas instead.
Grade A: ESSENTIAL. This easily deserves a spot on the 1991 dais. As one of its best albums. It’s an oddity. Firmly planted in Texas’ Country Blues lore, yet with its own singular vision and style. It’s an impassioned record. Naked and raw like some of the other best music of this year. Far, far removed from the "Nashville" country of this period.
I remember back at the time seeing it in a bunch of year end lists, but my tastes were too far removed from roots rock, blues, and country then. But, now I clearly see why. And it takes the first spot (for now) on my first year chart on this first day of this new year.
Chris Whitley has lived in Belgium for a long time and his daughter Trixie Whitley, who lives in Belgium, has released an album in 2016 which is fairly in the same style as her father’s music: Porta Bohemica.
You might like this one as well Tilly.
mickilennialThe Most Trusted Name in NewsProfile Detroit
Let me know your thoughts if the album ever gels with you.
It was a nice listen. It reminded me a lot of some of the things that were going on with singer/songwriters in the alt-country scene at the time (Steve Earle, etc.) and while I don’t like this album as much as I like Lucinda Williams’ self-titled or Steve Earle’s Copperhead Road, it certainly has a charm to it that those albums carry. It’s earthy, heartfelt, and is very well-produced albeit not overly so.
I have no idea what this is. What genre it belongs to. But I know where it’s from. That’s obvious. TEXAS. In big capital letters. I didn’t have to look at no stinkin' biography. I didn’t have to read about his influences. Because this is Texas rock through & through. And by all rights, it should have been HUGH in 1991. Because It’s Country Blues Roots Rock that’s not really that far removed in a lot of respects from what was going on in Seattle. It’s raw. It’s naked. It’s confessional. It does for country and roots rock what grunge was doing for heavy metal. Strips away the artificially and 80s production, to reveal something naked, raw & vulnerable but ironically all the stronger & tougher for it. It seems to have been spawned from the the land. The Texas dirt itself. If Chris Whitley had been born in the pacific Northwest instead of Texas, it is easy to imagine that he could have been spearheading some grunge band. With both vocals and guitar. I’m so glad he was from Texas instead.
Grade A: ESSENTIAL. This easily deserves a spot on the 1991 dais. As one of its best albums. It’s an oddity. Firmly planted in Texas’ Country Blues lore, yet with its own singular vision and style. It’s an impassioned record. Naked and raw like some of the other best music of this year. Far, far removed from the "Nashville" country of this period.
I remember back at the time seeing it in a bunch of year end lists, but my tastes were too far removed from roots rock, blues, and country then. But, now I clearly see why. And it takes the first spot (for now) on my first year chart on this first day of this new year.
I liked Chris Whitley also, but he sounds slick and Polished compared to this guy here. This guy was the original. These here are Classics of the genre.
Let me know your thoughts if the album ever gels with you.
It was a nice listen. It reminded me a lot of some of the things that were going on with singer/songwriters in the alt-country scene at the time (Steve Earle, etc.) and while I don’t like this album as much as I like Lucinda Williams’ self-titled or Steve Earle’s Copperhead Road, it certainly has a charm to it that those albums carry. It’s earthy, heartfelt, and is very well-produced albeit not overly so.
Completely agree. Nice synopsis, Gowi. 😁
Last edited by Repo on 01/03/2018 09:31; edited 1 time in total
I liked Chris Whitley also, but he sounds slick and Polished compared to this guy here. This guy was the original. These here are Classics of the genre.
I liked Chris Whitley also, but he sounds slick and Polished compared to this guy here. This guy was the original. These here are Classics of the genre.
Down On The Drag by Joe Ely
]
Honky Tonk Masquerade by Joe Ely
Awesome! Will totally check him out. :D
Yeah, today he's most well-known for originally being in the Flatlanders with Butch Hancock, who himself is probably most well-known today for his songs recorded by Emmylou Harris. And others. And most of his songs on his solo albums were written with Butch Hancock.But in the seventies they originated that Texas Country/Blues/Folk thing that was so influential. And Joe Ely is actually FROM Texas. I think Chris Whitley actually grew up in New Hampshire or Connecticut or something. And he's also well-known for hanging out with the Clash in the 80s. And singing on their record and touring with them. But he's the real deal.
I liked Chris Whitley also, but he sounds slick and Polished compared to this guy here. This guy was the original. These here are Classics of the genre.
Down On The Drag by Joe Ely
]
Honky Tonk Masquerade by Joe Ely
Awesome! Will totally check him out. :D
Yeah, today he's most well-known for originally being in the Flatlanders with Butch Hancock, who himself is probably most well-known today for his songs recorded by Emmylou Harris. And others. And most of his songs on his solo albums were written with Butch Hancock.But in the seventies they originated that Texas Country/Blues/Folk thing that was so influential. And Joe Ely is actually FROM Texas. I think Chris Whitley actually grew up in New Hampshire or Connecticut or something. And he's also well-known for hanging out with the Clash in the 80s. And singing on their record and touring with them. But he's the real deal.
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