Derek Trucks - Songlines
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Free Music Notes for Songlines
Free Music Review: record of the year
Hit: 5 Stars
It doesn't matter what is released the rest of the year. Unless someone makes the new Layla or Exile on Main Street, this is the best record of 2006. It finds Derek Trucks at the peak of his powers as a guitarist and shows that he is mastering a new instrument-the studio. Songs that are exended in live performance are shortened significantly, leaving the listener wanting more. While the record may disappoint those who evaluate a record by the length of the jams, those who appreciate an artist with a mature vision will love this record.
Songlines is the most accomplished and accessible of Trucks projects to date. It begins with an understated take on Rahssan Roland Kirk's Volunteered Slavery. Where the live version is a high octane romp, with a feeling much like Peter Green's "O Well", this one is subtle, almost subversive. It sets a tone for the record. Instead of pushing the edges of emotion, Trucks chooses his points to burn-thus emphasizing them.
The second tune I'll Find my Way introduces vocalist Mike Mattison . Mattison can move from soul shouter to the gentle falsetto of a soul man with the dexterity of the late Curtis Mayfield. Arguably this disc features Mattison as forcefully as it does Trucks. On tunes like Chrvrolet, Sailing On and Crow Jane, Mattison shines.
Sahib Teri Bandi/Maki Madni and Mahjoun throw an eastern curve to the record. I suspect the late Mike Bloomfield is smiling somewhere, seeing the East/West fusion coming together in Derek Trucks music. Revolution is the most commercially accessible record this band has done and in better times would be a monster single.
The highlight of the record is the closer, This Sky. A beautiful Mike Mattison vocal over ethereal guitar, this song shows the growth of the band as a studio entity. Live this is a pretty good song, but here each listening finds a new layer and something new slipped in for the listener. Perhaps just as importantly, it seems Trucks is learning how to play the silences as well as the notes.
Where Joyful Noise showed the emergence of a major new talent, Songlines shows Derek Trucks maturing as a musician and finding a way to make a singular musical vision accessible. An absolutely astounding record
Free Music Review: Trucks makes a song-oriented record without sacrificing THAT guitar.
Hit: 5 Stars
The Derek Trucks Band is known for their ability to mix blues, soul, jazz, and world musings in a jam band meets blues rocking style. With Songlines, Derek and the gang, along with new vocalist Mike Mattison, don't jam quite so much, focusing more on song quality and creating a BAND record. But make no mistake: Derek's beautiful slide guitar sound is still at the front nad center of the band. They've managed to create an album that is song-oriented but still lets you know the musical prowess this band has. It opens with a field holler-inspired Volunteer Slavery, then goes right into a nice little soul-rocker, I'll Find My Way. After that, my favorite song on the album, the bluesy Crow Jane, with Derek's guitar and and Mike's vocals just taking the song over. After that, the middle-eastern Sahib Teri Bandi/Maki Madni, really the only marathon jam on the album. After that, the delta blues of Chevrolet, with Mike's voice calling back to the Delta bluesmen of yore. Sailing On, an upbeat song, follows next, and is another favorite of mine. Revolution is next, and is the most mainstream song Derek and the band has ever recorded. If anything was going to cross over into the rock or pop world, this would be it. I hope not though. Derek's too good for that. Next is the funky I'd Rather Be Blind, Crippled, And Crazy, and is just a good funky track to grab a woman and get to gettin' on the dance floor. The bluesy funk of All I Do is a good effort as well. Majoun is a pretty cool instrumental. I Wish I Knew is a gospel-inspired track, and Mike's voice takes you to church. Add in Derek's great acoustic and electric work, and this song almost feels holy, it's so pure. This Sky closes out the album, a beautiful, reflective number.
Overall, I would say this is Derek's best studio album to date. It's very direct, but it also has enough guitar in it to make it an enjoyable experience for the fans who love to hear Derek Trucks go to town on the strings. Mike Mattison is a fantastic addition to the band, and I hope he's there for years to come. This is a great release, and I encourage you to buy it.
Free Music Review: I'd rather be blind crippled & crazy
Hit: 5 Stars
If you have never heard the Derek Trucks Band, or only 'heard of him', let me clue you in. This is one fully formed, well rounded, soul shinin', blues boogie bouncin' BAND. Yea, Derek is a modern master, probably the premier blues rock guitar man of our time. Yea, he slide shreds 6 ways to Sunday with the Allman Brothers Band. But especially since the addition of vocalist Mike Mattison, the Derek Trucks Band is the real deal. They are a soulful blues band, not just a showcase for Derek's amazing gifts. Mike Mattision can hit notes from Motown croon highs down to leady lunged blues rumbles. Kofi Burnbridge can tweak your third eye with the keys or his handy flute with equal ease, and does so often. Todd Smallie keeps it tight on the bass and with Count M'Butu and Yonrico Scott weave an insane polyrytmic backdrop.
Yea, its a studio album. It doesn't feature 5 min Derek Solos, but really, thier live shows features the entire band as well. Thats what makes them so amazing, the truly great bands aren't just one guy wankin' his 6 string endlessly (*cough* Warren *cough*), they are multidimensional and collaborative. And this is a band absolutely stacked with talent. Anyway, the production is really excellent, and the songs take on different vibes than live ("Chevrolet" for example is smokin' hot funk boogie live but is back porch delta blues feel on the album cut).
Plus, frankly, I don't think you could handle a 5 min Derek solo. I saw him do it once on "Night the Drove 'ol Dixie Down" with the Allmans and it melted my face off. Now I have no face, but I have that slide solo forever.
Whether you dig the blues rock boogie of "Chevrolet" or "Crow Jane", the eastern desert night trance of "Sahib Teri Bandi", or what might be the closest thing to a radio single "Revolution", there is something on this album for everyone.
Free Music Review: Great to Hear Music Like This Is Still Being Made
Hit: 5 Stars
As you tune through the radio stations its easy to think that they just don't make music like they used to anymore. But thank goodness to the jam band world who have brought some truly amazing guitarists in artists such as Robert Randolph and the one featured on this disc, Derek Trucks. Trucks is definately of the Duane Allman school of slide guitar, but where Duane was mostly known for his shimmering and screaming blues runs, Derek also incorporates elements of jazz, soul, gospel, and african music into his brand of bottle neck blues
All of this when combined with Trucks' multi-cultural supporting band gives the music a very human quality and a universal sound.
IMHO this is the best of Derek's releases. His unique sound really came together on this one and the addition of new lead vocalist Mike Mattison is very welcome. His vocal work gives a truly classic feel to the cover tunes "Volunteered Slavery" and "I Wish I Knew How Would Feel to Be Free;" or on the original compositions such as the dreamy "This Sky." Other classic moments include "Blind, Crippled, and Crazy," the instrumental "Sahib Teri Bandi/Maki Madni," and the classic rock of "Revolution."
Derek's guitar playing is pretty restrained throughout, which means he rarely tears into extended solos, but this album is more about color and texture. His lines are crystal clear and have a shimmering beauty especially when combined with the world percussion and flute.
This album is one of the best classic rock albums to be released in years. Highly recommended for guitar fans or people who truly appreciate music that seems speak for the universal human experience. If nothing else buy it to hear the worlds of Bob Marley, Carlos Santana, John Coltrane, and Duane Allman brought together into a truly unique blend of world blues music. Beautiful. Nuff said.
Free Music Review: A Great Album
Hit: 5 Stars
In the past the Derek Trucks Band has relied on mostly instrumental releases featuring a vocal or two to good effect. With their latest release SONGLINES, Trucks and company have switched the trend to a more vocal oriented attack care of gifted new vocalist Mike Mattison. The good news is that this does not harm the group's results, but enhances them.
Mattison's vocals are excellent throughout SONGLINES, ranging from gritty blues shouts on CHEVROLET, to a buttery falsetto on CROW JANE, to powerful gospel inflected bluster on I WISH I KNEW (HOW IT FELT TO BE FREE). Though a couple of the vocal tracks are hampered my more generic material (REVOLUTION, ALL I DO), they are saved by dynamic instrumental performances and are merely good rather than great.
The band is certainly not harmed by the new approach. This outfit is as solid instrumentally as any out there, led of course by Trucks extraordinary slide guitar playing. The instrumental tracks, MAJHOUD and SAHIB TERI BANDI) are true highlights mixing exotic world flavors, blues and tasteful, restrained playing to great effect. Despite Trucks prowess though, this is the work of a band, with all the parts contributing to make an extremely solid whole. This is the sound of a band hitting its stride and flexing their collective muscle.
SONGLINES also plays as a complete album, something perhaps out of vogue in these days of MP3 downloads. The music follows mood and groove from the opening simmer of VOLUNTEER SLAVERY through to the perfect ending track, THE SKY. This is a CD that is solid from head to toe and is certain to please anyone who enjoys music for the sake of music. It almost makes you wish Derek would quit his day job with the Allman Bros. to pursue his own group full time.