T Bone Burnett - T Bone Burnett

Texas native T Bone Burnett is celebrated for his production efforts on the behalf of Gillian Welch, Counting Crows, and Elvis Costello. His solo albums released in the '80s and early '90s on Warner Brothers and Columbia didn't sell, but they generated a fair share of mostly positive press (doubters are put off by the righteous air of some of his songs). This self-titled country-folk gem from 1986, however, is as good as anything in Burnett's extensive oeuvre, even if few people have heard it. Exceptional originals (the ought-to-be-classics "River of Love" and "I Remember") are expertly sequenced with faultlessly chosen covers (Tom Waits's "Time," Bob Neuwirth's "Annabelle Lee," the country standard "Poison Love"). Sidemen David Hidalgo and Dobro virtuoso Jerry Douglas shine without showboating and Burnett has never sounded so guileless and relaxed. --Steven Stolder Amazon.com

shrug

This album feels trite and simplistic after hearing - or should I say experiencing - his more recent album "The True False Identity". It's good for an old-timey pat on the back, but has none of the ironic sting and interesting soundscapes of the later album, which maintains his trademark roots in Americana and acoustic sound and combines them with rich lyrics and storytelling. Go get it. February 27, 2008

Great Musicianship

T Bone really know how to play and has assembled a great core of musicians on this album. The lyrics and singing didnt really do it for me though. It ahs an old time country feel to the vocals and nothing really stood out. December 4, 2007

INCREDIBLE piece of music

At this price, you should buy 3 and keep them in storage for future generations. The musicianship on this CD is awesome, the sound is pristine, the songs are very well written. It's old-fashioned folky country, no drums to speak of, no electric instruments. It was recorded live to 2-track in the studio. My one caveat. When this originally came out on LP record, it was shorter, without the extra "instrumentals" and such. Actually, it was better that way! (6 stars instead of 5) Also, the album, when it was recorded direct, was recorded simultaneously to analog and digital, so the master for the two of them is slightly different. Call me an old fuddy-duddy, but the analog master that the LP is based on sounds better. Keep in mind that in the 80s digital recording technology was not where it is before, no matter what anybody says...

So... if you can find the LP in great condition, get that too! But this CD is a classic and then some. February 14, 2006

Good album

If you like country music, or if you want to explore T-Bone Burnett's music, either way, it is very well written and recorded. August 16, 2005

A Timeless Classic

This album is my favorite from an artist better known for producing others music than making his own. I first heard this back when I was still into bluegrass, jazzgrass, Dawg music, etc. some 15 years ago. I've moved on from most of that type of music. But the songs on this album still hang in there with anything else you'd care to listen to. It is on par with Sargent Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band as being a perfectly produced work. No matter how many times you listen to it, you just can not wear this music out. March 31, 2004

More reviews at Amazon.com ...