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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
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Motors, motels and misfits...
Here's Ry Cooder, a legitmate guitar hero of the last forty years or so, and he has, apparently, written a novella. A novella! A short novel--it's about 100 pages and it is included in the "Deluxe Limited Edition" of his new I, Flathead release...or should I say publication.
When was the last time somebody included a novel with their new music? This could be the start of something big. And it will inspire alt-indies everywhere to write short stories or novels or poems to go with their new musical material. It's like Ray Davies or Pete Townshend releasing Preservation or Tommy, complete with a lovely, printed novelization of their stories.
This new work fits nicely with Cooder's last couple of works; Chavez Ravine and My Name is Buddy. Along with I, Flathead, these are highly literate, beautifully produced, small works of art. Little bits of beauty in an otherwise bleak landscape of modern music. The novella is planted firmly in Sam Shepard territory-California deserts, dust, motors, motels and misfits. Told in a wry Depression-era-meets-Shepard-meets-Hank Williams voice, it may be set in today's America, or it may be set ten or twenty years ago. And it's got a main character, Shakey Lavonne, who apparently is from outer space, a space vato. It's a crazy tale of busted dreams and disappointment, duct-taped cars, abused women and brown-dirt images from the beat-up back roads outside of Lone Pine and the dry lake beds of eastern California. Places where only crazy people go, on purpose. Nested neatly with the record itself is the story and songs of Kash Buk and the Klowns, stand-ins for Ry and his friends, commenting on the novella's action.
The story could use some serious editing but since Mr. Cooder has, in effect, self-published the story...so what? He can do whatever he wants. He has struck a blow for writers and artists everywhere. And we should thank Nonesuch Records for taking the chance on such an unusual piece of work.
And the music is his strongest in years, matching the best of both of his two recent records, and as good as his work in the early 1970s. He's working with his son Joachim Cooder, old friends Rene Camacho and Flaco Jimenez. The sound he produces is handmade, airy and satisfying. Mr. Cooder is one of those guitarists who is instantly identifiable with one pluck of a string.
The sticker on the Deluxe Limited Edition warns the buyer that there's a story smuggled in the package..."for those who know how to read." Caveat emptor. I suspect that most folks will spring for the cheaper, normal CD package. I couldn't even find it at my friendly Barnes & Noble. That's too bad. It's a fine piece of American music and art. But, these days, who has time to read?
Rating: -
He's got this runnin fine on all cylinders
It's said to be part of Cooder's California Trilogy along with Chavez Ravine and My Name is Buddy. The other two are great in their own right but this one excels at very fine guitar work which drew us to Ry Cooder in the first place. The songs and lyrics are clever and wacky at times but the great vocal inflections and intonations give a splashing of personality that's entertaining and fun to listen to. Cooder gets right down into his subject matter be it a dialogue with his Mexican mechanic about getting his Cadillac back or a country-light whimsy about a steel guitar heaven. The last song called Little Trona Girl may not be too fancy with words but the female vocalist is perfect as is the fantastic instrumentation. The first song, Waitin' for Some Girl, however is what sucks you in, it's great. Great stuff here, it takes you back when times were a whole lot less complicated. Oh yeah, the book is pretty cool too. Maybe an afternoon at the pool read.
Rating: -
California Trilogy, Part 3 maintains the high standard.
I, Flathead, part 3 of Cooder's California trilogy sees the high standards set with "Chavez Ravine" and "My Name is Buddy" continuing.
Again a concept album telling the story of Kash Buk, a drag racer who wants to be a Country Musician. Despite this the music consists of several genres Western Swing, Country,Rock, tex Mex and Cooder teams again with old partners Jim Keltner and Flaco Jimenez to great success.
Cooder has been very prolific in recent years and I heard in a recent interview that the reason is he wants to get as much music out before the recording industry collapses!
Rating: -
Ry!
OK, you don't need a whole history.
Most people don't end up here cold.
Read the other reviews or the label PR to give you the basics about this trilogy.
This record continues the eclectic journey that is the essence of Ry's music. He really goes back to the music he would have heard on the radio and in the streets of LA as a kid. Amalgam of 50's Mex-pop, big-band, jazz, blues, rock and all that. Like his recent series, he is very reserved with the guitar solos that so defined his early work. With age he's become even more subtle, as if that was possible. But, when he puts it out it is as sweet as it gets. The best way to define this is adventurous (as always), fun, retro and still progressive.
Personally, my own view,I am a major Ry fan, and have been since the 70s. Of the recent works, Mambo Sinuendo was one of my favorites, but I found Chavez Ravine a bit of a push. The heavy Mexican pop undercurrent was not up my alley, although it had its moments. My name is Buddy took me back a little closer to home and I, Flathead took me back to the glory days.
Makes sense? I think this is en par with the best of Ry's work- Paradise & Lunch, Boomer's Story, and Chicken Skin Music.
Rating: -
A master class in American music - and a lot of fun as well
Ry's unexpected trilogy has produced his best work since the 'holy trinity' of the early 70s - Into the Purple Valley/Boomer's Story/Paradise & Lunch.
His literary talents are a real surprise: the book and lyrics are hilarious, moving and very subtle. Twenty years from now they'll be writing theses and trying to track down all the allusions and o-mages. And his voice has never sounded better - at an age when most are paring back the material to suit a reduced vocal range, Ry has found notes he never had before.
The previous one (My Name is Buddy) was very good. This is simply great.
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