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Product Description
CD Description
Kelly Joe Phelps can’t seem to stand still. And on TUNESMITH RETROFIT, his Rounder Records debut, he continues his irrepressible musical evolution. Beginning his career as a jazz and experimental musician, the guitarist eventually made a life-changing discovery of classic blues. Phelps’ blues chops “left behind a trail of guitarists with wide eyes, shaking heads and jaws bruised from hitting the floor” (Acoustic Guitar). But over the past few albums, he has been shifting gears again – this time towards the fine art of songwriting. To Phelps, this is all a matter of “shifting focus, away from music heavily driven by guitar to music that’s more driven by the song.” Although his musical foundation remains country-blues and folk music, there’s nothing traditional or predictable about Phelps’ lyrical approach, which features distinctive images and refreshing turns of phrase. The album includes tributes to Dave Van Ronk and to the recently deceased songwriter/guitarist Chris Whitley. The sparse arrangements allow several new textures to peek through, including the banjo, an instrument that Phelps had last played over 20 years ago. This is an album that comes alive with masterful musicianship and superb songwriting. Tracks: Crow’s Nest / The Anvil / Spanish Hands / Plumb Line / Scapegoat / Big Shaky / Tight To The Jar / MacDougal / Loud As Ears / Red Light Nickel / Handful Of Arrows / Tunesmith Retrofit.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
There is talk that KJP is doing something different on this new album, but it's only mildly so, so fans need not be frightened off. KJP himself reckons he's concentrated more on the `song' this time, but it's hard to see quite what he means by that. It certainly isn't that he's made the lyrics more accessible: I still wonder if he writes his songs using fridge magnets... And three of the tracks on here are instrumental only.
Never mind, it doesn't detract from an album that's at least as good as the last one if not quite at the level of `Shine Eyed Mister Zen'.
`Tunesmith Retrofit' is probably a bit easier on the ear on first listen than usual, with some nice tunes. Still, it'll need a lot more listening to before I can really rank it beside his other albums.
There's a nice mixture of styles on here, from the usual detailed, obscure, surreal songs, to sassy blues and banjo plucking. Apparently he's not used banjo before and that's odd because it seems to fit right in. As always, Kelly Joe's smoky yet perfect vocals are the icing on the cake.
Never mind, it doesn't detract from an album that's at least as good as the last one if not quite at the level of `Shine Eyed Mister Zen'.
`Tunesmith Retrofit' is probably a bit easier on the ear on first listen than usual, with some nice tunes. Still, it'll need a lot more listening to before I can really rank it beside his other albums.
There's a nice mixture of styles on here, from the usual detailed, obscure, surreal songs, to sassy blues and banjo plucking. Apparently he's not used banjo before and that's odd because it seems to fit right in. As always, Kelly Joe's smoky yet perfect vocals are the icing on the cake.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This sounds like KJP's most personal and rewarding album to date. If you would want to put it in a catagory it would be somewhere between "alt.country" and "acoustic blues" but it's more than that. The tracks are mostly acoustic, three of them just Kelly Joe and guitar, sometimes added bass, harmonium, a subtle drum. No instrumental fireworks, just enough notes to accentuate the melody . On a few tracks there's a banjo or a melodica. The most important side of this album is the beautiful storytelling.
If you like Jack Johnson or the latest from Norah Jones, you should try this!
If you like Jack Johnson or the latest from Norah Jones, you should try this!
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
8 reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
tunesmith retrofit
8 Sep 2006
Format:Audio CD
so much yearning in that voice -- bottom and top -- no other guitar player can make the instrument swim such deep currents --each release of his is full of surprise and nuance -- and his stories sit with you -- they're full of eyes. "Spanish Hands" and "Crow's Nest" are highlights...
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Songs that last forever, a must have CD
15 Dec 2006
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is an amazing CD full of songs that will bring you on a ride, and hold you there. His voice weaves with his playing to combine into perfect solid songs. Kelly's banjo playing does not fall short of his guitar virtuoso. One of his best so far. Go to his website and go see him live you will not be disappointed! Highlights are - Crows Nest - Big Shaky - Handful of Arrows - Plumb Line -
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
more great stuff by mr phelps.
6 April 2007
Format:Audio CD
Another great release from kelly joe phelps. I count seven of his cds hangin' around my house now, and I love `em all like adopted children. What's wrong with this world? Why isn't this man more famous? I want answers!
This album is a folk masterpiece. Song poems sung beautifully. And mr phelps is about as fluid and mesmerizing a guitar picker as you'll hear. His wonderful voice and guitarwork dominate this album. Stark and perfect. The opening track, "crow's nest," has some fine violin accompaniment, "scapegoat" is an amazing piece of banjo wizardry, and "handful of arrows" is a great ballad performed with banjo. A little piano, a little organ, some pedal steel, other than that it's pretty much acoustic guitar pickin' and singing. And stuff of this quality is doggone rare. Someday, hopefully, mr phelps' discography will be as large as, say, john coltrane's, or duke ellington's. I'm greedy. I want lots and lots of this kinda work. Now buy the thing already. You should.
This album is a folk masterpiece. Song poems sung beautifully. And mr phelps is about as fluid and mesmerizing a guitar picker as you'll hear. His wonderful voice and guitarwork dominate this album. Stark and perfect. The opening track, "crow's nest," has some fine violin accompaniment, "scapegoat" is an amazing piece of banjo wizardry, and "handful of arrows" is a great ballad performed with banjo. A little piano, a little organ, some pedal steel, other than that it's pretty much acoustic guitar pickin' and singing. And stuff of this quality is doggone rare. Someday, hopefully, mr phelps' discography will be as large as, say, john coltrane's, or duke ellington's. I'm greedy. I want lots and lots of this kinda work. Now buy the thing already. You should.
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