Ray Wylie Hubbard - Crusades Of The Restless Knights (10 tracks) +Album Reviews

He Was Alt-Country When Alt-Country Wasn't Cool

J. D. Edwards | Grapevine, TX USA | 01/31/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ray has plugged away for decades trying to live down the memory of writing "Up Against the Wall Redneck Mother". Anyone coming into this or any other Ray disc expecting this sort of barroom sing-along is in the wrong place. Ray writes deep, funny, touching songs with excellent musicianship to back it up.In his live shows, you have the benefit of hearing the stories behind the songs, and you can see the true skill Ray has acquired at playing the guitar. He really seems to believe what he is singing in every instance, as if he has felt every emotion that is put forth.In said live shows, the biggest reaction goes to "Conversations With the Devil", which threatens to be his new signature song. It is perhaps the most funny, yet also insightful, thing he has written, and I would think he would gladly replace Redneck Mother with this newer work.The sound is stripped-down - Ray with a few players - but that's all he needs. The power of the songwriting and performance come through in what is perhaps one of the best country albums in a long time. Forget Nashville. Ray is creating art in Texas."

Each disc a new revelation

wrj1 | Cincinnati, OH. United States | 12/26/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Tha amazing thing about Ray Wylie is that each disc is so good that you cant believe that the next could possibly be as good. But then the latest release comes along and surpasses the rest. As a songwriter and performer he is simply without parallel. Not only does he write great lyrics, he writes extraordinary music that brings out the most in those lyrics. Then he plumbs the depth of both in that husky evocative voice that plunges right into the listeners heart and soul."

Ray's Crusades Finally Pay Off

Davis Jackson | Denver, CO USA | 07/23/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is great American music! What if radio stations never played Dylan or Springsteen?Ray Wylie Hubbard is not a new kid on the block, but with Crusades of the Restless Knights, Ray may finally be on his way to getting the recognition he so much deserves. Hubbard gets almost no air time in most markets -- perhaps his thinking persons' country/folk/rock is not what many station directors are looking for. Nonetheless, his well honed musical abilities and intelligent, thought provoking lyrics are winning over new listners every day. People are telling people, and Ray Wylie Hubbard is on his way! The album is fresh, original Hubbard, covering the spectrum from folk to country to rock. There's nothing shallow and superficial here. This album is nothing but winners, coupling Hubbard's deeply observant, thoughtful, poetic abilities, and his head-nodding, foot-tapping country/folk/rock.With Crusades, and listners' word-of-mouth, Hubbard is proving that great music will be recognized, whether radio stations play it or not."

Mythological, Bluegrass, Buddhist, Gnostic, Gospel Hymns

Smallchief | 07/23/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ray Wylie Hubbard deserves an award for the titles of his CDs: "Growl, Loco Gringo's Lament, Delirium Tremolos," and "Crusades of the Restless Knights," maybe the best title of them all. "Crusades" is folk music mixed with country and gospel, heavy on the metaphysics and as always with more than a hint of rowdiness.

"The Messenger" is my favorite song on the CD. Ray's recorded it before, but this time he does it with a quavery voice and strong backing vocals by Patty Griffin. "The River Bed" is another good one. He describes the song as "A quarter moon, a river bed, a beautiful woman...she just happens to be dead." That'll give you the flavor of Hubbard's songs: death and Texas, Rilke and Buddha, love and cocaine, Jesus and a hot woman in a "Red Dress."

A song I don't like on this CD is "Conversation with the Devil" which is too obviously derivative from an early Bob Dylan number, but all the others are good to great. A touching number is "Airplane Fell Down in Dixie" which is a subtle tribute. I won't tell you to who (whom?); you'll have to figure that out yourself. Hubbard, as usual, supplements his weathered voice and acoustic guitar with a collection of instruments and fine players. Dobro, fiddle, and mandolin are prominent. A cardboard box is used on one number -- and Ray learned to play slide guitar for this CD.

"Crusades" is one of half a dozen outstanding CDs Ray Wylie Hubbard has made over the last decade. The title of this review, by the way, comes from Ray's description of one of his songs. He says he hit two out of the six.

Smallchief

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Amazing!

Andrew Hardis | Cleveland | 05/12/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ray Wylie Hubbard is truely amazing. And if your a Texas music fan, you must hear all of Ray's stuff before you die. The man has never put out a bad record, or a bad song for that matter. There is no filler in Ray Wylie Hubbard. He put's his heart and soul into every song he writes. This album continues in the Ray Wylie tradition. You can learn something from every song too. Ray is a class guy, the real deal. And he does the Messenger again. Good, I'm glad, it's one of my favorite songs of all time. And don't miss him live! This man lives for his music and that's no lie."

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