Fretplay.com Whiskeytown CD reviews Whiskeytown guitar tabs Whiskeytown CD reviews Whiskeytown tabs Strangers Almanac


Whiskeytown - Strangers Almanac Audio CD

A fair review of the Whiskeytown "Strangers Almanac" 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 Whiskeytown reviews here, or go back to the Whiskeytown tabs.

Whiskeytown Band: Whiskeytown
Title: Strangers Almanac
Rating:
Release Date: 1997-07-29
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Inn Town 2: Excuse Me While I Break My Own Heart Tonight 3: Yesterday's News 4: 16 Days 5: Everything I Do 6: Houses on the Hill 7: Turn Around 8: Dancing with the Women at the Bar 9: Waiting to Derail 10: Avenues 11: Losering 12: Somebody Remembers the Rose 13: Not Home Anymore

A masterpiece; one of Adams' best
I'm sorry folks. . Ryan just doesn't write songs this good anymore. I think everything he wrote from this period to around "Rock N Roll" is magnificent. But all 3 albums he released in 2005 were weak and Easy Tiger is just a slight notch above them, but not much. Compare any of his post-2004 output to anything from this album. Every song here is beautiful and heartfelt. Even the weaker songs are carried along by beautiful vocal harmonies and rich intrumentation. Amazing melodies, choruses, etc. What more can I say? I honestly like this album and "Faithless Street" better than "Heartbreaker", and honestly any fan of "Gold" would love this album.


A MUST for Ryan Adams Aficionados
However, since Ryan Adams has never recorded a piece of music that doesn't speak to some part of me, I gritted my teeth and ordered "Strangers Almanac". I've never been a Country music fan, more like a Hater, if truth be known, therefore, was hestitant to lay out the big bucks for a Whiskeytown CD. SA must have set the whole alt country listening community on it's collective ear; I've never heard anything like it. Brilliant, provocative, ground-breaking, genius - this band of musicians play their hearts and souls out. My especial favs are "Yesterday's News" just a heart-twister of a song; "Turn Around" and, for it's originality and grace, "Somebody Remembers The Rose". Just buy it, shut up and listen. Betcha can't stop. (Ryan Adams was 22 and writing songs on the back of takeout pizza boxes at the time) .


Ryan Adams & company shine - blows away his solo work!
I enjoy most of his solo albums, some better than others. I discovered Ryan Adams's solo work a few years ago and only recently began listening to his earlier work with Whiskeytown. I saw him in Baltimore at the infamous Meyerhoff show in 2005 where he was absolutely horrendous. However, on Strangers Almanac, he, Caitlin, and the entire band are wonderful.

My first Whiskeytown purchase was Faithless Street, another fantastic album in its own right. At first listen to Strangers Almanac, I didn't think it was as good. However, overtime, I changed my opinion entirely; this one certainly tops Faithless Street.

The low-key, somewhat somber opening track "In Town" conjures images of returning home to a small town after being away for whatever reason (college, military, etc), reconnecting with old friends, and realizing quickly nothing has changed, but you still call it "home". The fiddle on the track definitely sets the mode. "Excuse Me While I Break My Own Heart" is a strong honky-tonk influenced broken heart type of song (thus the title ). Here, the slide guitar carries the track. I like this version much more than the bonus track version on Faithless Street.

While the album is dominated by that signature Alt-Country sound, there are some serious rockers on here, like "Yesterday's News" and "Losering". "Everything I Do" has a great blues feel to it. I love the story told in "House on the Hill" - it plays like a great short story that you've read in high school literature class. "Dancing With the Women at the Bar" has the sound and feel of a prequel to "When the Stars Go Blue" on Adam's "Gold" solo disk. If I had to pick one and only one favorite track on the album, it would be "Not Home Anymore", which closes out the album, with its sadness and desperation, building to a climatic crescendo and leaves the listener only wanting more.

There isn't a weak track on the album and the CD never tires. It easily makes it into my rotation every week or so. So, while I may not pay to see Ryan in concert after my Baltimore experience, I will still continue to listen to and love his music, especially when my mood matches his somber and sad songwriting. I highly recommend, you won't be disappointed!.


wintertime is the only time
who puts almanac in the title of a record? this really changed my life and taste in music- if it were possible to wear out a CD, then that's what woulda happened the winter I got this back in 97 or 98. this is easily one of the best albums produced in the 20th century. problem is, now I just can't listen to it in warm weather, it's incongruous with the attitude the album has to me.


Other stuff to check out
This is a classic in the genre. I am a huge fan of alt-country, roots rock, Americana or whatever you wanna call it. Here are some lesser known albums in the genre that are fantastic.
1) End Of The Day by The Reivers
2) Idiots by Frog Holler
3) Banjos and Sunshine by Sixty Acres .


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

Search guitar tabs

#ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
[ Search tabs | Guitar tabs | Bass tabs |
Easy guitar tabs | Guitar solo tabs |
Acoustic guitar tabs | Guitar chords |
How to read guitar tabs ]
Forum topics
Music forums
- Bands and artists - Songwriting and lyrics - Tablature talk - Promote your band
Instrument forums
- Guitar basics - Gear & accessories - Bass guitar
Community
- The pit - Site Feedback - Reviews
[ User survey | About us | Privacy statement ]