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Arkansas Traveler

Michelle Shocked - Arkansas Traveler Audio CD

A fair review of the Michelle Shocked "Arkansas Traveler" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Michelle Shocked reviews here, or go back to the Michelle Shocked tabs.

Band: Michelle Shocked
Title: Arkansas Traveler
Rating:

Release Date: 2004-09-14
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: 33 RPM Soul - Michelle Shocked, , Roebuck "Pops" Staples 2: Come a Long Way - Michelle Shocked 3: Secret to a Long Life - The Band, Michelle Shocked 4: Contest Coming (Cripple Creek) - The Red Clay Ramblers, Michelle Shocked 5: Over the Waterfall - Hothouse Flowers, Michelle Shocked 6: Shaking Hands (Soldier's Joy) - Michelle Shocked, Uncle Tupelo 7: Jump Jim Crow/Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah - Taj Mahal, Michelle Shocked 8: Hold Me Back (Frankie & Johnny) - Michelle Shocked 9: Strawberry Jam - Jerry Douglas, Mark O'Connor, Michelle Shocked, Doc Watson 10: Prodigal Daughter (Cotton Eyed Joe) - Alison Krauss, Michelle Shocked, Union Station 11: Blackberry Blossom - Norman Blake, , Michelle Shocked 12: Weaving Way - Michelle Shocked 13: Arkansas Traveler - Jimmie Driftwood, Michelle Shocked 14: Woody's Rag - Michelle Shocked 15: Worth the Weight [Live][*] - Dan Crary, Michelle Shocked 16: Come a Long Way [Acoustic Demo][*] - Michelle Shocked 17: Blackberry Blossom [Live][*] - Michelle Shocked, The String Cheese Incident 18: Weaving Way [Alternate Version][*] - Michelle Shocked 19: Down in the Arkansas [Live][*] - Jimmie Driftwood, Michelle Shocked 20: Introducing Dollar Bill [Live][*] - Michelle Shocked 21: C-H-I-C-K-E-N (The Way to Spell Chicken) [Live][*] - Michelle Shocked

Great songs, great singer
This album is one of my favorites that would be in my "desert island" collection. Michelle Shocked is as fine a singer as I've ever heard. It's also a fairly unique collection of folksy songs. I love most of these, and I've about worn out Come a Long Way I've played it so many times. But the whole album is one you can dust off every once in awhile and play it straight through and enjoy the whole thing. Highly recommended.
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Country Delight
With the re-issue of Arkansas Traveller, Michelle Shocked has outdone herself with eighty minutes of quality music that will be listened to after all the top-40 schlock is long forgotten. Though I am not a big fan of country music as presented on the radio, I am a connoisseur of quality country music.
Now Arkansas Traveller is not the type of formulaic country that the uninitiated might expect. Some might even say its not country. Well, call it bluegrass, folk, Americana or whatever you will. This CD is pure old-time country from the roots up.
One of the things that makes this recording such a delight is that Shocked brings in such a variety of people to accompany her on these songs. There ARE a few that are a little cornball for me (like the title cut and C-H-I-C-K-E-N), but I recognize they were all made in a spirit of fun. I prefer the more serious music. My favorites are both versions of Come A Long Way, Shaking Hands (with Uncle Tupelo), the hilarious Jump Jim Crow (with eclectic bluesman Taj Mahal), Hold Me Back (with another eclectic bluesman Gatemouth Brown), Prodigal Daughter (with bluegrass master Allison Krauss), both versions of Blackberry Blossom, and both versions of Weaving Way.
All of those other musicians are well-known for their ability to blur the distinctions between musical genres and that's part of what makes this CD such a treat. But Shocked shows also that she works well with very traditional country/bluesgrass musicians. Here she brings out the best in them, but they do the same for her.
This is only the second Michelle Shocked recording I have obtained. I just happened to come on to it while browsing the bins at a San Diego music store. It is so different from the other (Captain Swing) that her masterful versatility becomes immediately apparent. Those who like quality music no matter the genre will find a lot to like in the nearly eighty minutes of music presented here. Arkansas Traveller is truly a country delight. .

The original was awesome...
This is still one of my favorite all time works of music. I had the original CD from the early 90's. One song threads right to the next seamlessly. Great music to drive to as well. "Come A Long Way" always inspires me. I feel like I'm on the back of the bike riding with her around LA.

Breathtaking
However, that confidence all too often expressed itself as swagger. 'Captain Swing' showed a more confident, more experimental Michelle Shocked than might have been expected from the breezy official debut, 'Short Sharp Shocked'. With 'Arkansas Traveler' it has matured to an easy assurance. In this fabulous collection of songs, Shocked seems to have a hundred years of American music at her fingertips, and to be able to combine any ingredients from that century to creat something that is both fresh and familiar. Not since The Band's 'Music From Big Pink' has such a stylistic gumbo been created with such zest and integrity. In her sleeve notes, the artist credits 'Minstrel Music' with being the inspiration - and in so doing does herself a disservice. The album is richer and more layered than the simple term implies, and carries influences from a far wider range of Americana. .

"Hey farmer...you been livin' here all your life? Not yet!"
I loved that album as well as it's horn drenched successor "Captain Swing". Back in the early '90's I became a fan of folk-rocker, Michelle Shocked after picking up a copy of the popular "Short, Sharp, Shocked". But nothing prepared me for the release of her wonderful CD, "Arkanas Traveler". "Arkansas Traveler" is Michelle's homage to the 19th century musical form known as "Minstrel Music". Not many artists would have the guts to take on this music due to the racist manner (blackface makeup, derogatory humor) in which many of these songs were originaly presented over a century ago. But Michelle with both dignity and a really good sense of humor, tackled these classic songs of the American south, producing one of the best albums of her career. She gets plenty of help by being joined by a plethora of roots-music artists including the late Pops Staples, Taj Mahal, Gatemouth Brown, Doc Watson, Allison Krauss, Norman Blake, Hothouse Flowers, Uncle Tupelo ETC. With a group of journeymen such as these how could you go wrong? I love these tuneful classic songs, which can so easily get stuck in your brain. This happens everytime I hear her renditions of "Secret to a Long Life" or "Over the Waterfall". Sometimes I'll find myself singing these tunes for half the day, after hearing them. Other favorites include "Jump Jim Crow" (with it's Zippity Do-Dah ending), "Prodigal Daughter" & "Weaving Way". Finally there is the hilarious, spoken word routines of the song "Arkansas Traveler" ("Hey farmer. . . where does this road go to? Been livin' here all my life, it ain't gone no where yet!") I played these corny routines for my young nephews and it totally cracked them up into fits of laughter! For the longest time this CD was (criminally) out of print. It has now been re-released with crystal clear remastering and six bonus cuts featuring alternative takes and live renditions. I love this CD and highly recommend it!!.

You can see a complete list of all Michelle Shocked discography, or go back to the Michelle Shocked tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.