Search - Chris Whitley, Jeff Lang :: Dislocation Blues

This release is a dream come true

Nobody important | 06/20/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When I first heard that this album would be released, I was overjoyed. I first heard Chris Whitley at a South-By-Southwest festival in the 90's. He was playing his beat-up old National with a custom slide while accompanying himself on a stomp box. His unique, bluesy but adventurous phrasing and gut-wrenching voice made me an instant fan, and Dirt Floor remains one of my all-time favorite recordings.



Jeff Lang is not as well-known in the US as he should be, but if you listen to Chris Whitley, you have probably heard some of Lang's disciples. He is the acoustic blues guitar deity of Australia, worshipped by guys like John Butler and Xavier Rudd. Lang is one of the most interesting and virtuosic guitarists around. If you doubt that praise, just know that Bob Brozman decided to record an album with him (track it down, if you can). He is a master of bottleneck and lap-style slide, as well as fingerpicking with lightning-fast fretwork. His style is also completely unique, and ever-evolving, combining his blues roots with Richard Thompson's British folk, and even occasionally Indian sounds, although less overtly than, say, Harry Manx. Lang is just amazing.



So, when I heard that this album would be released, I couldn't believe our collective luck. These two musicians complement each other perfectly. Chris Whitley's voice was always deeply moving. By this point, he was sufficiently ill that it didn't quite have the same power that it did in the 90s, but it still had the evocative spirit. Whitley's guitar style was always unique without being flashy, and Lang is sufficiently adaptable that he can bring his virtuosity to the table in a way that complements rather than detracts from the Chris Whitley vibe. The over-all sound is a bit more rooted in blues than most of either Whitley's or Lang's recordings, but that is probably because they were attempting to meet on common ground, as great collaborations should. If you are a fan of either Lang or Whitley, you should not hesitate to buy this album. If you are a fan of both, you need this album right now. It is everything it should be, and a fitting testament to the legacy of the late, great Chris Whitley.



Since most of those reading this review are probably already fans of Chris Whitley, I recommend that you start tracking down Jeff Lang's recordings. They are all worth-while, although the fact that they are mostly Australian imports makes them sometimes costly."

A Couple of Homies Bringin' It On Home

Markus Pacal | Austin, TX | 06/07/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This release on folk-imprint, Rounder Records, most famous for issuing early George Thorogood & the Destroyers records, was put out in '06. A year after Whitley's death. It was a joint-affair, bringing together the talents of C.W. & Jeff Lang. In fact, Chris booked a series of Australian coastal dates just so he could have the time to do this disc with his old buddy, Jeff Lang. "Dislocation Blues" is a great title for the record and sums up their lifestyles perfectly. However, in typical Whitley humor & originality, he wanted to call it "Road Dogs Shall Inherit The Earth." It's got twelve songs with two additional musicians on bass and drums. It's another loose record with a "jam" feel to it. More of a musicians' record for musicians, but Whitley collectors will need to have this. No doubt about that."