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DVDfever.co.uk – Vic Chesnutt: At The Cut CD reviewElly Roberts reviews
Constellation Records
- Released: Out now
- Rating: 4/10
Le miserable… again.
Things dont seem to change in the world of paraplegic singer-songwriter Vic Chesnutt.Like its predecessor North Star Deserter, At The Cut his 14th album, is pretty much a drab affair.
This time he appears to have become even more self-indulgent and its hard to think who might get pleasure from listening to this : its hard work, believe me.It opens with mega-depressing Coward. Chesnutt tenderly plucks his strings and the morbid strings follow. His off tune singing only adds to the despair. Then, it explodes into a cacophonous funeral type march, which is enough to switch you right off.
Surprisingly, things take a mellower and melodic turn for the better on quiet and spare When The Bottom Fell Out. One man and guitar definitely works best for Chesnutt.Snail paced Chinaberry Tree opens ominously and menacingly with a heavy bass, rising and falling as it progresses into a whopping melodramatic phase.
Plodding Chain provides some respite from the din. This dust-bowl ballad is more profitable in terms of a listening experience, though ultimately, the prevailing mood is negative, despite the bright piano sequences.After one-dimensional We Hovered a dirty groove ensues on Philip Guston a multi-faceted edgy rocker with wiry guitars and thumping drum rolls, though tediousness soon emerges as it blasts into various directions.
After what seems like an eternity, Concord Country Jubilee comes as a welcome relief. This melodic ballad is Chesnutts first attempt at something resembling a tune, really. Its roots are firmly Americana 21st century and it works to perfection. And lo and behold, Flirted With You All My Life turns out to be Vics best song, despite the angst-ridden lyrics about flirting with death. This could be Bob Dylan on form, really.
Sombreness returns on the Damien Rice-like ballad It Is What It Is, though this time, with the help of a shimmering violin, turns out to be a little (understated gem) honestly.It ends with achingly beautiful conversation with his Granny.
The verdict Lighten up mate!
Weblinks:vicchesnutt.com /myspace.com/vicchesnutt (Audio clips)
The full list of tracks included are :
1. Coward
2. When The Bottom Fell Out
3. China Berry Tree
4. Chain
5. We Hovered With Short Wings
6. Philip Guston
7. Concord Country Jubilee
8. Flirted With You All My Life
9. It Is What It Is
10. Granny
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.