Very cool music!
`Regrooving the Dream' does not have a mold to come from, it is a free meandering brook as opposed the straight cut ditch of most music today. Patty Larkin's compositions, both lyrical and instrumental have enough depth to keep away the casual audiophile. I caught a dozen bars of `Anyway The Main Thing Is' at the end of the movie `Evolution' with David Duchovny. I tolerated the credits long enough to find out Patty Larkin was responsible for the tune, and bought the album. Pure imagination taking the place of making a statement in music, how refreshing.
Not so good to a Kottke head ...
Expecting a fingerstyle guitar performance worthy of an opening act for Kottke, I was very dissappointed with the mediocre guitar performance. I bought this CD after learning that Larkin is opening for Leo Kottke at a few concerts this spring. I was further dissapointed with her singing style; dark, monotonic, uninspiring. If you are looking for a Kottke peer performance, look elsewhere. If you think that Lisa Kudrow's character in 'Friends' puts on a good musical performance, you'll like this CD.
Multi-faceted Patty Keeps Pushing The Envelope
To these we must now add producer as well. With each new album, Patty Larkin expands from her folk roots into uncharted realms both as a performer and songwriter. Co-producing (with Bette Warner) her latest "Regrooving The Dream", Patty has absolutely mastered the studio and tamed it to serve her whims. The aural magic that only someone comfortable wearing all three caps can craft is blissfully evident here. This patchwork of sonic landscapes and spellbinding lyricism is even more dynamic and emotional than we've come to expect from this now seasoned artist. From her days as a street busker and Boston's "Best Kept Secret" she's matured into the complete artisan shown here, garnering a whopping eleven Boston Music Awards along the way. Her supple pipes suit her tremendously diverse repertoire to a T, and are among the very best anywhere. Her lyrics wend from the weary to the provocative, from the playfully absurd to the tragic. A Berklee alum, her guitar styles are often astonishingly beautiful, from intimate yet forceful chordings to molten slide work. Among the several other instruments she plays (all quite well) is my old favorite, the accordian, used to marvellous effect on the rai tinged "Anyway The Main Thing Is", my favorite track. Talk about rockin' the Casbah. Between the squeezebox and the "manic mariachi" horn section, you could be in pre-war Algiers. Unafraid to take the "path less often travelled", but obviously pouring her heart into this project, she's put together a masterpiece of americana. Well chosen cohorts like Marc Shulman, Glen Velez and the eclectic Mike Rivard, serve to round out her sound, never intruding, acting as extensions of her own voice. Exemplary sonics add even more impetus to an already winning work. This contemplative gem surely counts as a classic without genre, often the very best kind. Exploratory, yet at the same time, supremely confident, Larkin's omniverous musical vision has struck paydirt once again.
Guitar Wizardry, both acoustic and electric!
Stylistically, this album recalls "Perishable Fruit" but in most respects surpasses the performances. Patty Larkin has long been regarded as one of the best guitarists in contemporary folk, and this album helps cement that reputation. The music she brings forth from the guitar is both beautiful to the ear and challenging to the mind. Should you have the chance to see her live, DO IT! To hear the ability on an album is one thing: to see her replicate it live with only one guitar is breathtaking. Buy 2 copies of this CD and send one to your best friend. They'll thank you for it!.
Intelligent songs, wonderful production
Still, I kept hearing "Beg to Differ" off of this album and kept liking it more and more, so I took the leap and bought the album. My previous experience with Patty Larkin was mixed - I own "Angels Running" which is musically excellent but is spoiled by cloyingly clever lyrics.
Well, I wasn't disappointed. The songs are intelligent and well crafted. Larkin's playing is top-notch. The arrangements and production are excellent too - some truly unique sounding songs. Here and there you can imagine Patty in the studio saying to her producer "How come Ani and Shawn sell so many more records than I do? Can't you copy their sound?" but overall, a CD that always plays a few times through before I pull it out of the CD player.
You can see a complete list of all Patty Larkin discography, or go back to the Patty Larkin tabs
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