Search - Greg Brown :: In the Hills of California (Jewl)

Outstanding!

D. Lofflin | las vegas, NV | 12/08/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This cd is a staple in my diet of "soul food". I have had this cd for a year now and I can never play it enough. I have found a profound love for the message, meaning, and feeling of greg brown's music."

What great Concert!

Adam Wigger | VT | 11/01/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If you Love Greg's Studio Albums but have never seen him Live you Have to check this out. I sat down with my old friend the other day and threw this album on he had never heard of Greg Before but instantly loved it. Grab this album sit down with a bottle of good Whiskey and set the mood, and Greg Will do the rest."

I Want My Country Back, Too!

Alfred Johnson | boston, ma | 12/19/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The last time that the name Greg Brown, singer/songwriter and free-wheeling homespun philosopher appeared in this space was just recently as I found myself publicly `flirting', via cyberspace of course, with his wife the also accomplished singer/songwriter Iris Dement, my 'Arkie Angel' (See my review of her "Infamous Angel" CD). It is all Greg's fault, in any case. I was `introduced' to Iris on his tribute album "Driftless" where she did a cover of "Jimmie Rodgers Going Home" (complete with yodel at the end). So to be absolutely above board and fair I find it necessary to review some of his work



Greg Brown is the kind of folk singer who before I listened to his "Greg Brown Live" album I had not really paid attention to since the days of my early youth when I listened intently to Woody Guthrie whose songs were seemingly forged from the very heart of Americana. As a child of the urban folk revival of the 1960's I got caught up more in the overt political message songs provided by the likes of Bob Dylan or Phil Ochs. Greg has come out of the heartland of America like Woody in a fury to write and sing his tales of love, remembrance, tragedy, desperation and, on occasion, just pure whimsy.



These songs evoke, under more modern conditions to be sure, the days gone by when the community spirit of small town life meant something. A strong bass voice grainy with the trials and tribulations of life lend authenticity to his words, as does strong guitar playing when necessary. Needless to say the variety of topics covered in his songs speak for themselves from Grandma's root cellars to vanishing Iowa family farms to sweaty nights of lovemaking entwined with the up and down battles of love and, of course, the ubiquitous bouts of fishing.



In this CD collection we are treated to another look at many of those above-mentioned topics via Greg's performances over several years (1997-2004) at the annual Kate Wolf Festival held in California since 1996. Thus, if one is unfamiliar with Greg Brown, one can get a full range of his work, some of his best work, as he pays honor to Kate Wolf by his performances, one of the post-1960's most influential folk performers, whose work is still widely covered by contemporary folk singers. Moreover, the group of musicans that back him up on many of the tracks is superior, especially guitarist Nina Gerber.



So what is good here? "Wash My Eyes" and "Two Little Feet" work on Disc One, as does the controlled anger of "I Want My Country Back" and a rocking "I Shall Not Be Moved" to highlight his political perspective. On Disc Two the "Poet's Game" is always a winner (especially that line about the strip malls, the one about that one night stand lady friend up in New Hampshire and of his lost friendship with an unnamed fellow artist) as is "Where Is Maria?" and "Your Town Now".



So much for the music review. Here is the real reason I wrote this frantic review though. I looked at the pictures on the liner notes and noticed that old Greg has been doing some weight lifting or something. He looks like he could play tight end for the Chicago Bears. Hey, Greg male folk singers are suppose to be scrawny and malnourished looking not healthy and ready to do bodily injury if you mess with their women. All this is by way of saying - all that stuff about `flirting' with Iris in any way, shape or form was just whimsy. Okay?



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