Search - Don Dixon :: Entire Combustible World in One Small Room

The Entire Combustible Dixon

Robert Crenshaw | Detroit, MI | 07/09/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"For the last several decades there have been an ever increasing amount of things to love about Don Dixon. As life has pushed, pulled, ebbed and flowed Mr. Dixon's life, it has always created in its wake insightful, interesting and enjoyable music. The Entire Combustible World In One Small Room is no exception.

From the first track `In Darkness Found' there is a tone of cool, wit, and style that is uniquely Don Dixon. He has the ability to line up the moon and stars in a way that makes you want to put on the headphones and just drink it all in.

The fact of the matter is that Don Dixon knows how to make cool records. Cool in the sense that if you take the 43 minutes and 20 seconds to listen to the whole record you feel like you taken an interesting little trip or spent some time with an old friend.

There's no stinkers and on the 2nd listen, standouts are In Darkness Found, Secret Room, In A Politician's Bed and Ten Part Peal.

If you are someone who is persuaded by reviews, pull the trigger on this one.

Robert Crenshaw 7/3/06"

Welcome back Don Dixon

Mark Mccabe | Oak Hill, VA United States | 06/20/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"As a long time fan of both Don Dixon and his beautiful bride, Marti Jones, I welcomed the sight of this new release from Don Dixon. I discovered Don Dixon and Marti Jones during the mid 80s by hearing their songs on a local radio station (WHFS 99.1 FM in Maryland). The DJs on WHFS, Weasel (aka Jonathan Gilbert) and Damien Einstein would play cuts from Marti Jones' "Unsophisticated Time" A&M records LP and Don Dixon's "All of the Girls..." indie release(s). Does anyone remember "Praying Mantis" or "Follow You All Over the World"? I still own those two cherished vinyl records!



I had the pleasure of seeing Don and Marti at the old 9:30 club in downtown DC in the summer of 1986. What a show! Don and Marti played all their great songs from the aforementioned LPs. Quite a show and I believe either the WHFS DJ Weasel or DJ Damien did the introductions to the show....can't remember which one...oh well, had a great time at the show.



So, enough of the history of Marti and Don's airplay and concerts in the Washington DC area...what about this new CD? I like it very much. The CD has a theme all about various rooms (a church, a dorm, an ICU, etc.) and works very well from a conceptual standpoint. Don's lyrics/singing and the arrangements/production conjure up a different feeling for each song (room).



Don's soulful singing voice has aged well and he appears to enjoy singing these songs! Marti Jones also sounds great on the final cut (a cover) singing Let's Active's "Room With a View."



Welcome back Don Dixon! Hope to see Don in the Washington DC area if he tours to support the new CD.







I highly recommend this CD"

Don "Not Retired Anymore" Dixon

Marco | Vienna, VA USA | 12/05/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I too live in suburban Washington, and have seen Dixon nearly every time he's played here (9:30 Club, Birchmere, Lisner Auditorium, even the Rams Head in Annapolis). It was Weasel who introduced the show referenced above. Also, the FM station referred to above had just moved to 99.1 from 102.3 when Dixon's record on Enigma was released (Most of the Girls LTD). Enough with the pointless flashbacks. Didn't anyone read the liner notes on this CD? Dixon states that he had basically given up on song writing, lyrics in particular. He got sucked into it by his 'middle daughter', who needed something for a dance school performance. He sent her in with some acoustic stuff without lyrics, only to find out that the instructor wanted things like "Southside Girl", much to his dismay. So he went back and wrote most of which became this album. Yes, there is a concept here (rooms), but the material is all quite good. And the inclusion of Mitch Easter's "Room With A View", sung by Marti, was an unexpected surprise. Easter and Dixon have worked together for years, and in fact, Easter appears on this record. Dixon has always, at least to me, appeared like North Carolina's version of Nick Lowe, even down to being a bass player. His lyrics are crisp, sometimes gloomy, but always carrying a hint of sardonic irony. This album seems a bit melancholy, but is still enjoyable. It's good to see Dixon back on the scene. If you're a Dixon fan, you'll enjoy it. Or should, anyway."