While the Flatlanders' previous Now Again was more of a collaborative revelation--from the shared writing credits to the vocal harmonies--here the West Texas trio of Joe Ely, Butch Hancock, and Jimmie Dale Gilmore engage i... more »n a song swap. Each of the three puts his stamp on material from the others. Among the highlights, Ely brings his bluesiest edge to Gilmore's "Midnight Train" and a buoyant Tex-Mex lilt to another Gilmore tune, "Go to Sleep Alone." Gilmore returns the favor by applying his trademark warble to Ely's propulsive "Back to My Old Molehill" and Hancock's "Wishin' for You." For his part, Hancock renews Ely's early "Indian Cowboy" ballad and Gilmore's "Deep Eddy Blues." Throughout their solo careers, these veteran troubadours have recorded material by his fellow Flatlanders and their reunion reinforces that kinship. There may be fewer surprises this time through, but the generous selection of material brings out the best in all three. --Don McLeese« less
While the Flatlanders' previous Now Again was more of a collaborative revelation--from the shared writing credits to the vocal harmonies--here the West Texas trio of Joe Ely, Butch Hancock, and Jimmie Dale Gilmore engage in a song swap. Each of the three puts his stamp on material from the others. Among the highlights, Ely brings his bluesiest edge to Gilmore's "Midnight Train" and a buoyant Tex-Mex lilt to another Gilmore tune, "Go to Sleep Alone." Gilmore returns the favor by applying his trademark warble to Ely's propulsive "Back to My Old Molehill" and Hancock's "Wishin' for You." For his part, Hancock renews Ely's early "Indian Cowboy" ballad and Gilmore's "Deep Eddy Blues." Throughout their solo careers, these veteran troubadours have recorded material by his fellow Flatlanders and their reunion reinforces that kinship. There may be fewer surprises this time through, but the generous selection of material brings out the best in all three. --Don McLeese
The whole is not greater than the sum of the parts
D. K Mcgraw | Virginia, USA | 03/12/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I love Butch Hancock, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, and Joe Ely. Having said that, the whole is not greater than the sum of the parts - these Flatlanders projects aren't quite as good as solo projects by each of the artists alone. Don't get me wrong, this latest project is good. It's probably a little better than their "comeback" CD, "Now Again," which was also pretty good. It's certainly a lot better than most of the music out there. If you like these three artists, go ahead and get this CD, you'll more than likely enjoy it. You can tell that the three enjoy playing together, and the result is fun to listen to. On the other hand, neither of the Flatlanders' reunion albums are nearly as good as Joe Ely's most recent solo album, "Streets of Sin," or Jimmie Dale Gilmore's "One Endless Night, or Butch Hancock's "You Coulda Walked Around the World," each of which is simply brilliant."
Texas as Savior
Carolyn Blakeney | Annapolis, MD United States | 07/24/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Due to the anemic state of American popular music, I long ago stopped listening to the radio. A chance read of a People review of this album, of all things, led me to purchase. Which led me to see them at a small local venue. I now have all of the Flatlanders albums (ok, it's only three,) and all of Jimmie Dale Gilmore's, and I wonder, why are these people not fabulously famous? Texas has given us great gifts, musically speaking, and the Flatlanders are not the only ones. But they are the ones who led me to explore the rest of what Texas has to offer, and I say to you, the people's music is alive and well and kicking so go out and find it! It's just not always on your local radio..."
Flat-out Fun
G. S. Norwood | Weatherford, Texas | 02/03/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Bottom line: any recording by the Flatlanders stands head and shoulders above just about any other alt-country recording out there if you're looking for distinctive vocals, twisty philosophical lyrics, and a bouncy, sing-along beat. While Wheels of Fortune is more about love and loss than the metaphysics of the Flatlanders' comeback CD, Now Again, there's plenty of meat here, and plenty of pleasure. Besides, where else will you hear Steve Wesson's tasty musical saw licks? Listen, let it grow on you, and enjoy."
In some ways their best yet
Carolyn Blakeney | 04/12/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The band that in one album set the bar for their genre is back with a second folloup to their seminal MORE A LEGEND THAN A BAND. With the intelligent thoughtful lyrics and original stylings they're famous for, but with a lot more of the foot-stomping, head nodding, heel kicking power, this album delivers and does not disappoint."
Spectacular!
circa1850 | North Carolina | 09/18/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The trio of Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, and Butch Hancock have done it again.
They have put together a smart bunch of tunes, great arrangements and quite entertaining. After purchasing the first (for me the first) disc a couple of years ago after listening to an NPR interview, I was quite surprised to see an newer release. Which is good.
It is also great that these releases don't get a lot of hype surrounding them. When your friends hear the tunes, they immediately want to know what and who you're listening to, want a copy and turn into instant fans.
14 new classics from these masters of their craft. Hard to beat for a unique and pure raw sound expression."