truth is not fiction
great cd love the guitar playing, love his style and sound will buy other cd's by Otis Taylor .
American roots music
Haunting yet sometimes firery and always well played. Excellent modern interpretation of American Roots Music. His very personal lyrics are always engaging and thoughtful. .
Great for blues novices
Taylor's songs at the end of "The Shooter" and was so moved I searched for his music to learn more. I heard one of Mr. As a classic rock and classic country afficianado you might say I'm a little out of my league writing a review on Taylor's work. His music is soulful, deep, blues-y, full of emotion, powerful and thought provoking. I put the CD in my truck (I did say I'm a country fan afterall!) and lose myself in the lyrics as I travel down the road. I'll be buying more Otis Taylor and suggest you do the same. .
Amazing Guitar and Story-telling
I first heard Otis on a movie soundtrack, Shooter, playing "Nasty Letter". This is a great CD. Since them I've been hooked on his powerful songs and skillful guitar playing. Well worth a listen! .
Great 21st Century Blues
Although Taylor obviously has assimilated classic Delta, rural and urban blues but has no interest in becoming an archivist or revivalist. Otis Taylor is at the top of a very short list -- current, vibrant African-American musicians expressing themselves through blues. He is telling his stories, not recycling Robert Johnson's. The same can be said of his music.
If there are "rules" to the blues, Otis Taylor is breaking pretty much all of them. These songs mix electric and acoustic instruments, with no drums. Taylor plays a very percussive banjo on some tracks, and other cuts include background cello that sounds like an early Suzanne Vega disc. Since this CD, Taylor hit upon "Trance Blues" as a way to describe his music. It simultaneously appeals to "jam band" festivals and John Lee Hooker fans. This is the most idiosyncratic blues(-ish) stuff I've heard in . . . pretty much ever. Purists will be as unhappy with Taylor as the Newport Festival crowd was with Dylan in 1965. People who love blues but are ready to move on from Clarksdale circa 1938 without should really check this out. Folks who have worried about blues becoming fossilized with no means to develop or grow will be thrilled.
I notice that one of the reviewers is dismayed by the subject matter in this CD. It bears noting that this is not heavy-handed or uniformly sad stuff. It is a pleasant listen. The song about organ transplantation ("Be My Frankenstein" -- I told you this is not 1930's blues) is downright lighthearted. Taylor is as entitled to write a song about lynching as Billie Holiday was to sing "Strange Fruit. " But if you're looking for 12-bar shuffles, you won't find them here. Highly recommended.
.
You can see a complete list of all Otis Taylor discography, or go back to the Otis Taylor tabs
|
