Modern Art

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共13首歌曲

艺人: Tom Russell
语种: 英语
厂牌: Hightone
发行时间: 2003年04月22日
专辑类别: 录音室专辑

专辑介绍

by Thom Jurek

Modern Art has to be the most confounding recording in Tom Russell's catalog. That he is a songwriter of epic proportion there can be no doubt. His decision here to issue a recording of half originals/co-writes and half covers, three of which are basically epitaphs (including one of questionable taste), is just the beginning of what makes it problematic. First the good news: Russell's "The Kid from Spavinaw," the greatest song that has thus far, and probably ever will be, written about Mickey Mantle, is easily the most moving thing on the set (the other is "The Dutchman"). Told in the first person, it relates much of Mantle's upbringing and his regrets, with the glory years alluded to more than spoken of. Gurf Morlix's pedal steel playing floats through the melody like an Oklahoma wind, carrying Russell's lyrics into the same immortality that Mantle's myth exists in. It's one the greatest songs Russell has ever written -- which is saying a lot. Emmylou Harris' "Ballad of Sally Rose" is one of three duets with Nanci Griffith (who adds little to the project -- even on her own "Gulf Coast Highway" -- except name recognition). It's tepid and feels devoid of focus. The story is not convincing in this reading. Russell's "Muhammad Ali" is downright embarrassing; written with a sub-basement Jimmy Buffett faux-Caribbean rhythm, its lyric sounds hackneyed and insincere, full of clumsy rhymes and a narrative that reveals nothing about the man or the myth. ... Read More...