Jubilee Offer: Patriotic Classics for £2.50 |
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
|
Listen to Samples and Buy MP3s
Songs from this album are available to purchase as MP3s. Click on "Buy MP3" or
view the MP3 Album.
|
Product Description
Mojo ****
"The Texan's most eccentric album to date... Recorded at Levon Helm's Woodstock barn with Dylan sideman Larry Campbell producing, it's their slickest yet."
Product Description
1-I Want It So Bad 2-Drop The Charges 3-Two Sparrows 4-Drop What I'm Doing 5-Haunted 6-Melchert 7-Ink And Grief 8-Peppermint City 9-Marginalized 10-You Must Not Know 11-Eyes Of A Child 12-Your Benefit (2011/VANGUARD) 12 tracks A No-Filters Blend Of Country (Both The Cosmic And Classic Varieties) Folk, Gospel, Ribs (Both The Spare And Shiny Varieties), Zydeco, Punk, Rock, And Soul - For People Who Like Everything
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
|
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
The Gourds have been on the scene for 17 years and I must confess I don't know their music that well and I have no idea why not. I have dipped in and out of albums and always enjoyed, but nothing would stick. 'Old Mad Joy' has changed that lack of adhesion and though it might be more of the same it has certainly struck me this time around just how brilliantly eclectic and joyous the band is.
That eclecticism may account for not putting a finite finger on their sound over that time, but the kaleidoscope of music on this album delights throughout. In fact there is so much echoing of other performers that the rich variety would seem like thieving pastiche if it wasn't so consistently spot on.
To account for this it seems easiest to romp through the lot: opener 'I Want It So Bad' is upbeat and funky with stabs of accordion; 2nd 'Drop the Charges' is a garage rocker a la Frank Zappa in the chorus 'Oh Drop the Charges'; 3rd 'Two Sparrows' is a beautifully sung folk ballad with sweet harmonies and sweeter violin strains; 4th 'Drop What I'm Doing' is a Rolling Stones' rocker; 5th 'Haunted' is a pedal steel driven country stomp; 6th 'Melchert' is like a solo Keith Richards; 7th 'Ink and Grief' is another gorgeous ballad sounding like Tom Petty and with perfect harmonies and pedal steel; 8th 'Peppermint City' is a funky blues; 9th 'Marginalised' is Mellencamp; 10th and 11th, respectively 'You Must Know' and 'Eyes of a Child', could be performed by The Band, especially the latter, and the fact that the album was recorded at Levon Helm's Barn could go some way to explaining this.
No doubt other listeners will hear other influences/echos, but the success of the whole is in the complete freshness and craft in all the joyous performing.
That eclecticism may account for not putting a finite finger on their sound over that time, but the kaleidoscope of music on this album delights throughout. In fact there is so much echoing of other performers that the rich variety would seem like thieving pastiche if it wasn't so consistently spot on.
To account for this it seems easiest to romp through the lot: opener 'I Want It So Bad' is upbeat and funky with stabs of accordion; 2nd 'Drop the Charges' is a garage rocker a la Frank Zappa in the chorus 'Oh Drop the Charges'; 3rd 'Two Sparrows' is a beautifully sung folk ballad with sweet harmonies and sweeter violin strains; 4th 'Drop What I'm Doing' is a Rolling Stones' rocker; 5th 'Haunted' is a pedal steel driven country stomp; 6th 'Melchert' is like a solo Keith Richards; 7th 'Ink and Grief' is another gorgeous ballad sounding like Tom Petty and with perfect harmonies and pedal steel; 8th 'Peppermint City' is a funky blues; 9th 'Marginalised' is Mellencamp; 10th and 11th, respectively 'You Must Know' and 'Eyes of a Child', could be performed by The Band, especially the latter, and the fact that the album was recorded at Levon Helm's Barn could go some way to explaining this.
No doubt other listeners will hear other influences/echos, but the success of the whole is in the complete freshness and craft in all the joyous performing.
Format:Audio CD
The Gourds make fun, foot-stomping music and throw in some good ballads too. New country, old blues, rockin' tunes, it's all there and they're well on form.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
10 reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
The Gourds Strike Again
19 Sep 2011
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Everyone knows that you have to live with a Gourds record for weeks or months or years before its true greatness reveals itself. So these are just some first impressions of "Old Mad Joy." This record finds the Gourds emphasizing electric guitars and full instrumental arrangements over the simplicity of tinkling mandolins and raw acoustic guitars that dominate some of their (especially earlier) records. The band also seems to give extra attention to the vocals on this one, with several songs exploring multi-part arrangements and overlapping melodies. Having said all of that, everything you love about the Gourds is here: Kev Russell's quirky country ballads? Check. Jimmy Smith's chugging Stones-esque rockers? Check. The diamond-in-the-rough songwriting offering from Max Johnston? Check. In short, this is a good ol' Gourds record. Get it. I think it will wear well.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Give it time
3 Oct 2011
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I was a little hesitant on my first couple of listens, then I saw them live and they played better than half of the songs from Old Mad Joy. And right off the bat I knew this was way better than "Haymaker". Jimmy's songs (Drop the Charges, Drop What I'm Doing) rock HARD; Two Sparrows is perhaps the prettiest song I've ever heard. Haunted is a really great contribution from Max. It is different. I could use more mandolin, accordian etc. And I think this is the first Gourds release with only twelve songs. But give it a chance and it will grow on you.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Gourds Keep it Interesting
2 Oct 2011
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is an interesting addition to the Gourds' discography. On first listen I didn't think it was quite "Gourdian" enough. Too polished maybe? A little restrained? Then it sucked me in and soon I found myself wandering around singing along - the tunes that had quietly insinuated themselves into my brain. And the Gourdishness was still there, just with a slightly different take. A little darker in tone for one thing, less playful. For newcomers Gourdishness is a joyous, anarchic blend of roots/rock/country/cajun/bluegrass that doesn't sound like anyone else and is filled with obtuse, quirky lyrics, odd, beautiful images, and colorful and often hilarious snippets from the lives of endless oddball characters. Oh and of course catchy and moving melodies, varied rhythms and instrumentation and always crack musicianship. Anyway, love that the Gourds are still doing their thing, still experimenting, and still twice as interesting as anyone else.
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Listmania!
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
