Search - David Wilcox :: Underneath

Dedicated listener

Ed Dittmer | Tularosa, NM USA | 07/23/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"David Wilcox's music was introduced to me maybe ten years ago by a friend. I have anxiously awaited his every release since, and I have seen him in concert in Tucson. I think "Underneath" is one of his finest works. When compassion is once again in fashion, he will certainly be in the top forty. I recommend this cd to anyone, especially other acoustic folkies like myself."

Smooth, slick & sincere

Patrick Noonan | Atlanta, GA USA | 08/18/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Wilcox shows his mastery of the singer-songwriter genre. He's got a terrific voice (great control, with a tone resembling and almost as pretty as James Taylor's) and a great ear for lyrics.Most songs feature standard folk-y guitar, but with a variety of accompaniments and soloists that keeps the music changing and interesting. (And having backing contributions from aces such as Jennifer Kimball, Alison Krause, Victor Wooten and Steuart Smith doesn't hurt!)The real stars are Wilcox's captivating lyrics. They're captivating. He lays out the standard folky treatments of social themes -- injustice, greed, war -- but in original ways that avoid the standard cliches. He also finds ways to demonstrate his well-known cleverness and humor, but without the cringe-making cuteness or heavy hand that most of his singer-songwriter peers wield.This recording should go down well with any fans of the genre. Solid, engaging, well-crafted work from start to end."

A Sleeper, An Absolute Gem

Patrick Noonan | 03/03/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've been a major David Wilcox fan since the beginning--when he hit the national scene with his critically acclaimed 1989 A&M album "How Did You Find Me Here." I've purchased all his other albums immediately after they were released, and seen him in concert. He is an enormous talent, a consummate artist. No singer-songwriter has moved me so much since I first discovered Jackson Browne, James Taylor, and Joni Mitchell as a kid back in the early 70s. Times have changed, and David Wilcox will never be as popular as his predecessors, but he is just as talented. He has not put out a bad album or even a mediocre one. Having thus established my fan credentials, I want to say that "Underneath" is my personal DW favorite. It has had more time in my CD changer than any other in my very large collection since it arrived two years ago. "Underneath" has never been given the credit it deserved, which is a shame. I think it is one David Wilcox's most musically and lyrically mature works. I put it right at the top of the DW catalogue with my other personal favorite, "Big Horizon" (both are on my 10 favorite albums list). "Underneath" is lyrically sophisticated, musically complex and subtle at the same time. Several of the songs on this album have a bittersweet melancholia, both musically and lyrically, but the overall tone is one of discovery, hanging on, and spiritual hope, with a feel somewhat similar to James Taylor's "Hourglass." DW's virtuoso accoustic guitar work is as good on this CD as any he has recorded, but is completed nicely by other touches, including uillean pipes, keyboards, electric guitar, great percussion, and terrific harmony vocals from several artists, including Allison Krauss and Jennifer Kimball. My personal favorite songs on this CD are "Slipping Through My Fist," and "Home Within Your Heart." If you appreciate lyrically gifted singer-songwriters who deliver songs with real depth, give David Wildox and this CD a listen."