Chris Smither - Train Home [2003][EAC,log,cue. FLAC]

one of Dicks Americana collection

Artist: Chris Smither
Release: Train Home
Discogs: 2031259
Released: 2003-07-08
Label: Hightone Records
Catalog#: HCD 8158
Format: FLAC / Lossless / Log (100%) / Cue / CD
Country: US
Style: Blues, Folk, World, & Country, Rock, Country Blues, Acoustic, Folk Rock, Blues Rock, Country Rock



01. Train Home (4:14)
02. Outside In (4:13)
03. Confirmation (4:07)
04. Crocodile Man (3:35)
05. Lola (3:29)
06. Desolation Row (7:47)
07. Call Time (3:37)
08. Candy Man (3:39)
09. Never Needed It More (3:19)
10. Let It Go (4:35)
11. Kind Woman (3:50)

Chris Smither settles into his distinctive combination of folk and blues with this excellent release. Although not pushing established boundaries, his rich, velvety voice and mature spoken-sung vocals convey a sense of truth and add depth to these introspective compositions. A bit of early Tom Waits creeps into his leathery vocals on a jaunty cover of Dave Carter's "Crocodile Man," but Smither is best defined by the fingerpicked folk-blues. Bonnie Raitt, a fan from way back, contributes harmony vocals and slide guitar to his gentle eight-minute version of Dylan's "Desolation Row." Some tunes are percussion-free, providing the singer's honey growl of a voice and clean acoustic guitar the most space to maneuver. Smither is loosest lamenting about his stolen car and its psychological effects on "Let It Go," a track that, with his muttering and grouching, seems to have been recorded in an impromptu moment. A gentle cover of Mississippi John Hurt's "Candy Man" -- the album's only unaccompanied performance -- shows Smither's rather evident roots, and his closing waltz-styled version of Buffalo Springfield's "Kind Woman" reveals less obvious ones. Accompaniment by right-hand man David "Goody" Goodrich, who plays keyboards, guitars, and even something called a pinewood diddley bo, subtly enhances nearly every track on this quiet gem.