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< Music ~ Your review of "Tennessee Pusher" |
| kg |
 Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2009 8:37 am |
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*Data Miner*
Joined: 30 Jun 2007
Posts: 3427
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not,
You sound so earnest in your criticism of "Tennessee Pusher" that I felt I had to comment. Where we differ most clearly is in your belief that the band has become 'commercial,' unduly influenced in some way by the Nashville 'machine.' I just don't see it. The proof of the pudding, perhaps, is that the band's music and videos are only rarely played by the 'big' networks. If the group wanted to become mainstream in their sound, I'm sure they would do a better job of it. To the contrary, they're writing music that is unpredictable and, I think, refreshing. What other Nashville group would play a song with the poetic lyrics one hears on "Highway Halo?" Who else writes with such sympathy (and understanding) for the mentally ill or the drug abuser? Without a doubt, some of the tunes are playful--"Humdinger" is a good example--but I wouldn't call them frivolous. (In fact, "Humdinger' is a great tune in concert.) Are you put off by the sentimentality of "Next go 'round" or "Caroline?" I, for one, am delighted that the band has the courage to be sentimental in an age when most everyone else is jaded and expecting only irony. I could write more, I suppose, but I'll let you respond, if you care, and I'm sure others will jump in with their opinions.
Best to you,
kg |
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| lbrod |
| Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2009 11:57 am |
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*Bloodshot Hot Rod*
Joined: 02 Jul 2008
Posts: 1358
Location: Beneath Pacheco Pass
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| Nicely stated, kg, and Jumpin' Bean is right about seeing the new songs performed live. I also don't see how going to LA to make a record is caving in to Nashville commercialism. |
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| Benmancrowfan |
| Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2009 12:08 pm |
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Old Crow
Joined: 17 Sep 2008
Posts: 570
Location: Jackson, Miss
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i agree with the both of you..
at first, i thought that they were trying to become more mainstream with this new album. They changed so much in it like adding percussion, and an organ(which has grown on me after seeing them with the Felice's) and I thought they were getting away from the raw side of the Crows. But after thinking about it, they would be trying to get their videos on television, and they're songs on the radio more. They're all good and I still love em! |
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Don't You Ever Let No Woman Rule Your Mind!!!
East and West the Highway Rolls, Lord Have Mercy on My Poor Soul! |
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| pittsyltucky |
| Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2009 12:28 pm |
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*Johnny*
Joined: 15 Sep 2006
Posts: 4268
Location: Pigg River District, Pittsylvania County, Virginia
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| Just to clarify for you, Rawlings wasn't available to do "Pusher". From what I've read or heard, Don Was actually sought them out to do the record, having heard them and been thoroughly impressed. |
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"Johnny get your gun, we'll have a little fun." |
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| kg |
| Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2009 1:29 pm |
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*Data Miner*
Joined: 30 Jun 2007
Posts: 3427
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| Good point, 'tucky. |
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Even though you can't expect to defeat the absurdity of the world, you must make that attempt. That's morality, that's religion. That's art. That's life. --Phil Ochs |
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| Benmancrowfan |
| Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2009 2:50 pm |
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Old Crow
Joined: 17 Sep 2008
Posts: 570
Location: Jackson, Miss
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pittsyltucky wrote: Just to clarify for you, Rawlings wasn't available to do "Pusher". From what I've read or heard, Don Was actually sought them out to do the record, having heard them and been thoroughly impressed.
i knew don was sought them out but do you know if they would've rather worked with david rawlings? |
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Don't You Ever Let No Woman Rule Your Mind!!!
East and West the Highway Rolls, Lord Have Mercy on My Poor Soul! |
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| kg |
| Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2009 3:03 pm |
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*Data Miner*
Joined: 30 Jun 2007
Posts: 3427
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| My guess is that the boys are very pleased with how the album turned out. |
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Even though you can't expect to defeat the absurdity of the world, you must make that attempt. That's morality, that's religion. That's art. That's life. --Phil Ochs |
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| pittsyltucky |
| Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2009 3:35 pm |
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*Johnny*
Joined: 15 Sep 2006
Posts: 4268
Location: Pigg River District, Pittsylvania County, Virginia
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I wouldn't doubt that, kg.
Let's look at it this way - while Don Was has produced albums for a whole pile of big names, they haven't exactly been great albums. The boys dodged a bullet. Passed the "Was Test", so to speak. They're golden. |
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"Johnny get your gun, we'll have a little fun." |
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| GumboStu |
| Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2009 3:48 pm |
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*Irish Stew*
Joined: 03 Oct 2007
Posts: 3666
Location: Joe's Cornfield
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Benmancrowfan wrote: pittsyltucky wrote: Just to clarify for you, Rawlings wasn't available to do "Pusher". From what I've read or heard, Don Was actually sought them out to do the record, having heard them and been thoroughly impressed.
i knew don was sought them out but do you know if they would've rather worked with david rawlings?
Ketch was quoted somewhere as saying David wasn't available ... |
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Walkin' the line between faith and fear. |
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| The whistle knows my name |
| Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2009 3:56 pm |
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Thousandaire
Joined: 21 Apr 2008
Posts: 1143
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'Tucky, don't know much about Don Was. So he doesn't have that great of a reputation as a producer?
Still find it curious that there weren't any promo videos made for the album. |
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"That's the whole principle of the Medicine Show ... you put your trust in the medicine, and you don't get beat up." |
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| pittsyltucky |
| Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2009 4:33 pm |
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*Johnny*
Joined: 15 Sep 2006
Posts: 4268
Location: Pigg River District, Pittsylvania County, Virginia
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| there was a link to his wiki bio in another thread i think. a ton of noteable names, but not their best albums - at all. |
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"Johnny get your gun, we'll have a little fun." |
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| TAlderson |
| Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2009 9:46 pm |
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Raisin' a Ruckus
Joined: 08 Aug 2008
Posts: 126
Location: Worcester, MA
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There's a word I hate more than anything in the world: "Commercial." Following that would be "the Music Industry," and perhaps a few extras.
Why?
All music you buy, all the groups you pay to see, all of them are "commercial." They are selling a product, their product being themselves and their music. I can bet you that even in the "olden days" the Crows withheld things from their playlists because they didn't think people wanted to hear them, or perhaps picked some songs over others for their "crowd-pleasing" characteristics. Everyone does. Musicians are workers too, they need the money, so they're going to try to sell records or sell out shows just like everyone else. If you think there's any full-time band out there that is just doing it for the fun of playing music (minus, perhaps, the ultra-rich like the Stones and Springsteen), you're quite wrong.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that everyone's trying to make money. Just listen to the music. If you don't like it, don't listen to it. But don't criticize the artists for "selling out" because you don't like their music.
-Tyler |
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| merlin |
| Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2009 10:14 pm |
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Old Crow
Joined: 27 Oct 2007
Posts: 557
Location: God's Country
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I have not seen Old Crow(pusher) on CMT.
I have not heard Old Crow(pusher) on country music radio.
I do not think that they have gone commercial at all. They have just matured as musicians and spreading their wings a little. Does that make one a sell out? I think not.
But I have been drinkin tonight...... |
Last edited by merlin on Mon Mar 16, 2009 9:30 am; edited 1 time in total
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| Benmancrowfan |
| Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2009 12:48 am |
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Old Crow
Joined: 17 Sep 2008
Posts: 570
Location: Jackson, Miss
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merlin wrote: But I have been drinkin tonight......
that adds so much to the comment!
hahahaha  |
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Don't You Ever Let No Woman Rule Your Mind!!!
East and West the Highway Rolls, Lord Have Mercy on My Poor Soul! |
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| Kevin |
| Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2009 7:36 am |
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Raisin' a Ruckus
Joined: 10 Dec 2004
Posts: 130
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I don't think the boys have sold out, or "gone commercial."
I think they're putting out the songs they want to put out.
However, I do suspect the changes made to Caroline may have been made to give it a broader appeal. |
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Vernacular??? That's a DOIBY! |
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| therodge |
| Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2009 11:03 am |
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*Law Dog*
Joined: 17 Oct 2004
Posts: 6602
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
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TAlderson wrote: There's a word I hate more than anything in the world: "Commercial." Following that would be "the Music Industry," and perhaps a few extras.
Why?
All music you buy, all the groups you pay to see, all of them are "commercial." They are selling a product, their product being themselves and their music. I can bet you that even in the "olden days" the Crows withheld things from their playlists because they didn't think people wanted to hear them, or perhaps picked some songs over others for their "crowd-pleasing" characteristics. Everyone does. Musicians are workers too, they need the money, so they're going to try to sell records or sell out shows just like everyone else. If you think there's any full-time band out there that is just doing it for the fun of playing music (minus, perhaps, the ultra-rich like the Stones and Springsteen), you're quite wrong.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that everyone's trying to make money. Just listen to the music. If you don't like it, don't listen to it. But don't criticize the artists for "selling out" because you don't like their music.
-Tyler
HERE HERE! |
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| Marxalot |
| Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 4:00 pm |
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Lil' Birdie
Joined: 10 Sep 2006
Posts: 38
Location: Edmonds WA
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Well its been a few months and I have to say I have spent a good amount of time with this record...
This record really speaks to you when your knee deep in a river fishing for steelhead that might not even be there or alone in the garage having a beer and working on a bike.
I have to say I really love this record now and it tends to be more associated with Bob Dylan or The Greatful Dead than the Stanley Brothers or Bill Monroe... but thats ok with me, I got plenty of that Eutaw, BIW stuff floating around in play lists.
This record is full of reflection no matter who you are. Tends to make me reminisce rather than plan ('cept for Humdinger) and this is something of great importance at times.
I have had dust blow in my eye a few times while listening to this one...  |
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| Benmancrowfan |
| Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 4:37 pm |
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Old Crow
Joined: 17 Sep 2008
Posts: 570
Location: Jackson, Miss
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Marxalot wrote: I have had dust blow in my eye a few times while listening to this one...
it happens to the best of us. |
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Don't You Ever Let No Woman Rule Your Mind!!!
East and West the Highway Rolls, Lord Have Mercy on My Poor Soul! |
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| Marxalot |
| Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 5:30 pm |
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Lil' Birdie
Joined: 10 Sep 2006
Posts: 38
Location: Edmonds WA
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Benmancrowfan wrote: Marxalot wrote: I have had dust blow in my eye a few times while listening to this one...
it happens to the best of us.
Well that explains it...
Funny thing is "The Next Go Round" and "Always lift Him Up..." seems to kick up a lot of dust... maybe something with the wind...
in my garage...
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| Benmancrowfan |
| Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 11:12 pm |
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Old Crow
Joined: 17 Sep 2008
Posts: 570
Location: Jackson, Miss
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| by yourself... |
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Don't You Ever Let No Woman Rule Your Mind!!!
East and West the Highway Rolls, Lord Have Mercy on My Poor Soul! |
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| train |
| Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 12:06 am |
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Raisin' a Ruckus
Joined: 15 Mar 2009
Posts: 116
Location: Cincinnati OH
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| ok so i have had the newest album for a long while now. i have to admit, it didn't hit me so well for the first time play through. i kept on though, and i have to say it is a good album all around. i agree with the dylan thing because the lyrics mean a lot in this album. crazy eyes is a great song by the way. old crow is a great group, and despite on some of the questions on their newest album, it is still good and we all know where they come from and what they do. |
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| cfMC |
| Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 7:28 am |
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Old Crow
Joined: 30 Oct 2005
Posts: 412
Location: SF CA USA
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I finally heard the "old version" of Caroline and I like the album version better. I tend to like the "first version I hear" best, but not always-- for example, I like the Troubles version of Wagon Wheel much better than the single version, even though I didn't hear the Troubles version for years after I heard the album version. so there's that.
it's always "dangerous" to do a new version of a song people have already heard in bootleg etc. Because people get preconceived notions about what the song "is"... |
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| Benmancrowfan |
| Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 1:52 am |
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Old Crow
Joined: 17 Sep 2008
Posts: 570
Location: Jackson, Miss
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for some reason, i still like the "old" version of Caroline better...
i dunno why really though |
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Don't You Ever Let No Woman Rule Your Mind!!!
East and West the Highway Rolls, Lord Have Mercy on My Poor Soul! |
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| train |
| Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 6:15 pm |
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Raisin' a Ruckus
Joined: 15 Mar 2009
Posts: 116
Location: Cincinnati OH
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| i agree. i like the old version of caroline as well |
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| jason57chevy |
| Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 6:24 am |
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Charlie
Joined: 14 Jun 2008
Posts: 900
Location: Woodstock, Georgia
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| I agree Train it does sound a lil better. |
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| Marxalot |
| Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 2:41 pm |
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Lil' Birdie
Joined: 10 Sep 2006
Posts: 38
Location: Edmonds WA
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Benmancrowfan wrote: for some reason, i still like the "old" version of Caroline better...
i dunno why really though
I agree, I really like how the vocal harmonies slide in and the general "happy go lucky" feel of it. |
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| The whistle knows my name |
| Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2012 10:38 pm |
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Thousandaire
Joined: 21 Apr 2008
Posts: 1143
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The whistle knows my name wrote: The song-by-song seems to work, so I'll give it a try...I'll hit a few that are on opposite sides of the spectrum for me rather than all of them...
Alabama High-Test - Great start, the most in-line with the Cocaine songs of yore, as others have noted. Some tasty fiddle and harmonies bode well for the rest of the album...
Highway Halo - One of my album favorites. Great Dylanesque tune, and the vocal line / harmony at the end of the chorus is awesome. I like the drummer's touch on this one, but it's gonna adapt nicely for what will undoubtedly become a backporch favorite when the rest of my strummin' friends get an ear to it.
The Greatest Hustler of All - I enjoy the tune, but man, if there is a song that could use the "Caroline Treatment" it's this one. With a double-quick tempo, some mando and LOTS LOTS more harmony this one would have been amazing. Fine as is, but unnecessarily long.
Methamphetamine - Not crazy about the trite lyrics, melody or the plodding drums. Moving on...
Humdinger - I'm glad Kevin's got a tune of his own, with his hilarious Dale Gribble voice; I just wish it wasn't this one. Totally gives me a Froggy/Nascar-pandering vibe, and I'm not down with the party scene. Which sounds, of course, incredibly hypocritical since I'm a huge fan of their other drug/alcohol songs, but generally I find other reasons for coming back to those ones. This tune seems just as shallow as the scene its depicting.
Motel in Memphis - Soon as I heard they had an MLK song I knew it couldn't be anything less than devotional. Consequently, they don't really have anything too interesting to say about the man. It's spared from the thumbs-down by its sweet fiddle licks and interesting melody/harmony.
That Evening Sun - My favorite, period. Willie's voice is absolutely heartbreaking, the fiddle plaintive, the melody catchy as all get out, great lyrics. All the elements are perfect and it comes together wonderfully. Totally delivers.
Mary's Kitchen - Basically New Virginia Creeper - trains + food. I don't know. There's nothing particularly objectionable, I just get these weird Pavlovian images every time I hear this and it leaves me nauseous. Not sure if I'm crazy about Gill's voice, although that might just be my sense of encroachment kicking in. I'm staying open-minded about this one still...
Tennessee Pusher - The titular track, and deservedly so in my opinion. It captures the musical and lyrical themes of this album so perfectly. I'll be listening to this one when the headlights are on.
Caroline - I feel like I've gotten a 2-for-1 deal out of this song (Way to go, Ketch). I love both versions. First one I heard from this album and it was obvious from the re-working that the guys were headed in a different direction. I'd love to see them keep releasing the original material as studio albums every two years or so and fill in the interims with live covers albums. It's feeling kind of schitzophrenic right now and I'd like for both sounds to continue.
One week till "Carry Me Home"! Thought it'd be fun to revisit my (nearly four-year-old!!) review of "TN Pusher" to see if my opinion of it has changed much in that time.
So: "Alabama Hi-Test", "TN Pusher" and "Caroline" remain tunes that I really enjoy.
I still think putting a whip to the back of "Greatest Hustler" would have greatly improved it.
I've warmed up to "Humdinger" and "Mary's Kitchen" (and Gill!). At the time I was working fast-food part time and new country radio was always on, part of the reason I didn't take to "Humdinger" straight away, and though it sits close to that ilk I can have fun with it now.
"Motel in Memphis" still doesn't do much for me. And though it was one of my early favorites, "Highway Halo" is ... nice. I like it, but I don't find myself playing that one too often.
"Evening Sun" is another one that I haven't played too often here recently, but giving it a quick listen it's still wonderful. Don't know why that one doesn't get played more live.
In summary, it seems like there's more success with the faster tunes over the slower ones, no surprise there I guess, although I believe "Evening Sun" should get more attention that it does. It looks like there will be a lot of upbeat tunes on "Carry Me Home" which should bode well for its long-term playability for me. Although I don't know that I want to wait another four years for a new record (And I doubt that'll happen. For some reason I have the feeling we'll get a new one within two years this time around).
Really excited for some new music! |
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| Dan06 |
| Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2013 7:13 pm |
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Lil' Birdie
Joined: 08 Dec 2012
Posts: 8
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"In summary, it seems like there's more success with the faster tunes over the slower ones"
Perhaps this is the case for many listeners, but myself I enjoy all of their music equally. It would be difficult for me to pick one song out of any they have preformed I preferred over any others.
Since, this is a discussion reviewing "Tennessee Pusher" I thought I share the song that's pulling on my hearts strings lately. I realize "Carry Me Home" has since been released, but heck I love all their albums. I'm really digging "Lift Him Up". The lyrics just touch me personally.
"Do not fail to lend your hand to show him pity
Always lift him up and never knock him down
If he has no friends and everything's against him
If he's failed in everything he has tried
Try to lift his load and help him bear his burden"
Hard to beat something as emotional and true. |
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| Kitty |
| Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2013 9:27 pm |
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*Mrs. Kitty*
Joined: 23 Oct 2006
Posts: 2344
Location: Durham, NC
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| On my drive home over the holidays, I pulled out pusher and listened too it twice in a row. Been a long time, and I found myself really enjoying the slow melodic tunes that we don't hear much. Still good driving tunes, by yourself, at dusk, in southern Illinos, singing your heart out! |
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