Search - Daniel Lanois :: For the Beauty of Wynona

Atmospheric beauty

Pieter | Johannesburg | 12/17/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Although Beauty Of Wynona is an excellent album judged on its own merits, inevitably it will be compared with the singular masterpiece Acadie. Lacking that one's wealth of enthralling songs, it nevertheless impresses with its own gems like Still Learning How To Crawl, Sleeping In The Devil's Bed and The Unbreakable Chain. The folky song with snatches of French here is The Collection of Marie Claire while Unbreakable Chain, the moving story of a mother and son's reunion, has that same French feel. Another touching song is Lotta Love with its chiming guitars, a tale of addiction and redemption. Indian has Native American drumming and reminds me slightly of Joni Mitchell's Lakota on Chalk Mark In A Rainstorm. The production is magical, as to be expected from Lanois: atmospheric instrumentation - including evocative synths - backing his soulful voice. This is a very good album offering much in the way of stirring, memorable music and Lanois remains true to his vision."

Walking on water

wolf | Sweden | 05/16/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you only can afford, have room for or wish to own one cd, it better be this one. No single collection of songs, no other style of music or overwhelming feel-good-philosophy can compete with Daniel Lanois gift to mankind. Play it for a year, let it rest for a couple, return to the Beauty of Wynona....
I have, and I always will."

Not one note out of place.

Pieter | 05/19/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is one of the all time great rock albums. Lanois has created his own niche that will inevitably not be filled by others. It is too personal and distinctive the combination of its strong imagery and totally controlled (but sometimes wild) sound. The imagery in Rocky World can proudly stand next to that of any song. "Jenny has religion, she sinks in her chair / She's made a decision to color her hair / the black man cut the sugar cane / she watches the rain / in a building away from the rocky world." Unbelievable. Lanois' other album, Acadie, is the natural precursor to this one."