Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Jimmy Jackson and Pull String Angel - No Words
 | This solo project displays varying quality arrangements. The playing is excellent, and at times, the ideas have the same kind of adventurous charm that Buzzy Frets employs, but most of the tracks are just nice or pretty. I didn't find this to be either memorable or creative beyond the two "pick" tracks. having said that, if you have any sense of humor or daring, and if Buzzy Frets and his Surfabilly Orchestra thrilled you, the the version of "Ghost Riders in the Sky" here is worth the price of the disc alone. There's not even a hint of surf here, but I couldn't resist the Stan Jones metamorphoses. |
Picks: Funny Farm / Ol' Joe Clark, Okie Fanokie Stomp, Casadega, (Ghost) Riders In The Sky, Tastes Like Chicken, Tastes Like Funky Chicken, Delta Hair Lines, Susie's Song, Ave Maria, Pull String Angel
Track by Track Review
Funny Farm / Ol' Joe Clark Country (Instrumental)
"Funny Farm / Ol' Joe Clark" is a cowboy's delight, meandering across the plain, prancing in humor, employing dramatic progressive arranging, and artfully merging the rest of the planet with western sounds. very pleasing.
Country (Instrumental)
Yup, funky swampy, fluid, and a bit tame. This is well picked, but lacks the charm required to keep this blues from fading into the woodwork.
Country (Instrumental)
Delicate piano, swampy guitar, a Santana feel, and a smooth sound. It's nice, but unremarkable.
(Ghost) Riders In The Sky Country (Instrumental)
This is a nearly flamenco treatment of Stan Jones classic cowboy epic. It's exotic, artsy, and very interesting. Creative arranging, flights of fantasy launched off horseback, and then twango deluxe. This is worth the price of admission alone. It's almost as if it can't decide if it's country or Uli Roth! Some of the arranging ideas reminds me of Buzzy Frets and his Surfabilly Orchestra. Very fun.
Country (Instrumental)
Chicken Bop, swamped up, country blues smoothed, and barnyard savvy. This is easily the smoothest chicken bop I've ever heard. I'm not sure if that's good or bad, but it certainly is different.
Tastes Like Funky Chicken Country (Instrumental)
The same tune, with the smooth replaced with funk. The percussive keyboard adds a nifty variant. makes you wanna have a bowl of chicken soup.
Country (Instrumental)
Piano plinkery, and a bluesy glass finger delivery. It's a fine tune, but not much more than interesting. I don't think it has staying power.
Country (Instrumental)
Country fried chops, liquid glass finger warble, slow bluesy notes, but not really interesting.
MOR Country (Instrumental)
A little too artsy, more contrived reverence than fluid feeling, leaving it in the MOR pocket.
Country (Instrumental)
Slow, delicate, pretty, mostly solo guitar. Tasty in a bedroom way, but does not hold attention for long.