Jul 1, 2018 - âSayin' Goodbyeâ ⦠âdown a dusty train across the plains of Texas, we walked out on the platform i
RECORD REVIEWS Kinky Friedman Circus of Life Echo Hill Records IT’S THE FIRST ALL-NEW, ORIGInal-song recording project for Kinky Friedman in 40 years. Circus of Life, 12 new songs filled with memories of life and lessons learned from life. This project started with a phone call to Kinky from Willie Nelson. As told in a press release, Willie asked Kinky what he was doing and Kinky answered “Watching Matlock.” “Well,” Willie is said to have replied, “That is a sure sign of depression, Kinky. Turn Matlock off and start writing.” Kinky did just that, and some time later he called Willie back to see how his friend was. Willie’s question was, “by the way, Kinky, what channel is Matlock on?” Kinky recorded Circus of Life with producer Brian Molnar, who will also be traveling and sharing stages during Kinky’s promotions tour, which includes a July 30 concert at Poor David’s Pub in Dallas. Gone is the Kinky Friedman of decades ago, sometimes sprinkled with sacrilege, satire, with a plethora of foul and ethically-offensive-to-some words. All gone. Nada. Not in this CD. It’s a side of Kinky that came out often in those earlier days, but overpowered by the more raucous songs. “Spitfire” is a song of love and hope with double subjects, first a stray cat loved by the woman who took it in, and the other of a warplane gone down. The keyboard in this and many add depth to Kinky’s pithy lyrics. “Sayin’ Goodbye” … “down a dusty train across the plains of Texas, we walked out on the platform in the dawn… the day was bright, the night was just behind us. We looked for some stray star to wish upon. But they were gone. Sayin’ goodbye isn’t easy.” This is accented with simple drum rhythms behind it, little instrumentation. And “A Dog Named Freedom” has a forgiving feeling to it, with harmonica stressing the reality in the
lyrics… “Now it’s me and a 3-legged dog named Freedom. And a sign that says,’‘ Texas or bust.’ We got a long way to go, but good Lord don’t you know, there ain’t no quit in either one of us.” Of all the songs on this CD, and they are all better than good, “Jesus in Pajamas” is the most eye opening of all. Set in a Denny’s in Dallas, “Jesus in pajamas came at 3:16 one morning… Jesus in pajamas came a shuffling to my table, help him if you can, the cardboard said, help him if you’re able… When Jesus in pajamas is standing at your table… From underneath that dirty gray knit cap, God’s eyes were softly staring. Help me if you can, he said… But I turned my mortal gaze away and I got up from the table… I left Jesus in pajamas on the cross again.” Kinky’s “Autographs In The Rain” is for Willie, who he says in the opening lyrics, “He took me in when life was very hard. I never really thanked him, so I put it in a song that I hold him in highest regard.” The whole CD is filled with songs that might had been written differently if Kinky had written them as they happened. Instead, these songs came after the gifts of time and contemplation and self-inventory, and written just as they should have been. And produced exactly the same way, totally acoustic, no over-production, no giving in to what Nashville says radios require. Every word, every lick from every instrument blend and complement one another. It is available on Apple Music and iTunes. —MARY JANE FARMER
Eliza Gilkyson Secularia Red Horse Records RENOWNED FOLK SINGER, Eliza Gilkyson releases her 20th album July 13 on Red Horse Records. Secularia is a collection of spiritually charged songs that do not fit within the parameters of traditional religious belief.
Eliza Gilkyson: From the first song to the last, this theme runs through. “Solitary Singer,” written by Phoebe Gilkyson, is reflective. “We sing our best when nobody’s listening.” On “Lifelines,” Gilkyson beautifully expresses the aftermath of the current volatile political climate. A duet with Jimmy Colvin, “Conservation” is an adaptation from a poem written by Gilkyson’s grandmother. Catastrophic man-made events deployed “All in the Name of the Lord.” “Dreamtime” is multi-dimensional and layered. The beautifully haunting harmonies that lead into “Seculare” grabbed my attention. This song seems to say it all. It is filled with thanks, honesty and reality. The Tosca String Quartet shines on “Reunion.” “Sanctuary” is somewhat like a traditional gospel song, but with deeper layers. The message is clear and moving. “In love’s sanctuary, thou art with me.” Oft times, you can see things more clearly through “The Looking Glass.” Gilkyson’s angelic voice lends itself perfectly on “Emmanuelle.” Joined by long-time friend, the late great Jimmy LaFave, “Down By the Riverside” portrays a mix of sweetness and relief. Although a traditional song, the poignancy is unique and defined. Recorded just a few months before his passing, LaFave never sounded better. This beautiful collection of songs from the heart ends with “Instrument.” Gilkyson’s clarity and discovery of spirituality is depicted honestly and beautifully through the songs on Secularia. If you enjoy songs that give you pause – something to think about – and are relevant to our current times, this album is a must-have for you. The instrumentation is superb and Gilkyson’s voice angelic. If I could give this album stars, it would be a big ten! —JAN SIKES
JULY 2018
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