Search - Jackie Greene :: American Myth

Preview Of Future Greatness

Philip R. Heath | DFW | 06/13/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I didn't find out about Jackie Greene until his latest CD, Giving Up The Ghost, came out a couple of months ago. However I liked it so much that I was excited to see that he had some earlier CDs. After listening to samples from all of them, I decided that American Myth was the one that I wanted to buy next. This is an interesting CD in Greene's catalog because it is the transition CD between his early recordings on Dig Records and his latest CD which is on 429 Records. American Myth is his only recording on the Verve Forecast label, and it has a distinctive sound. The Dig recordings have a much more raw feel to them while Giving Up The Ghost is very polished. American Myth bridges the two extremes, and gives a hint of the future greatness.



While Giving Up The Ghost comes with a sticker labeling Greene the "Prince of Americana", it is American Myth that really earns him this distinction. This is a CD that is one part rock, one part blues, and a dash of country with some jazz sprinkled in for good measure. Throughout the CD, you will find banjo, steel guitar, and accordion layered on top of the basic instrumentation of guitar, bass, and drums. There are some up tempo tunes such as Hollywood and I'm So Gone that are balanced with softer ballads such as Love Song; 2:00 AM. The apex of the CD, though, is one that would never make it on the radio. Supersede clocks in at just under 10 minutes, but it is one of the best songs I've come across in a long time. This isn't a song that is broken up by multiple solos or long instrumental interludes. It speaks volumes the Greene was able to pen lyrics to cover that amount of time that keep the listener interested.



The thing that holds American Myth back from being a five star CD is Giving Up The Ghost. American Myth is just not quite up to the level that Greene has reached with his latest release. That said there's still plenty of room to be very good. I would recommend this to anyone who has Giving Up The Ghost and wants to explore Jackie Greene's earlier work.



Download this: Supersede"

Great album for a fan of great music.

B. Hamlin | Upstate New York | 02/12/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I became hooked on Jackie Greene after hearing him sing and play with Phil Lesh and Friends, and this is his first solo album that I bought. I was not dissappointed in the least.

The album starts very storng and by the third track, "So Hard to Find My Way" you are engrossed by not only the music but the lyrics. The middle of the album slows down quite a bit and I thought another up beat song would have been a good addition.

Slow or not this is a great album that everyone should check out. I can't wait for his other albums to come out. He is an up and coming and we need more artist and musicians like this rather than the current "performers" that plague todays music world."

This Guy Is Truly Blessed!

RRT | High Desert, N.M. | 03/29/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

""American Myth" is just another great Jackie Greene album. This guys talent is so obvious, and of course the comparisons to other artists and influences are there if you really listen. I think it's great that Jackie Greene (Blessed that he is. And he is, blessed with a enormous God given gift) is able to use whatever brought him to where he is and create HIS OWN style and sound. To me, Jackie Greene sounds like Jackie Greene and no one else. And that, is something to be thankful for in this era of "corporate" pop/rock or whatever it is that's being thrown at us. He's one unique artist that hasn't diassapointed me yet. I keep looking forward to his continued growth as a writer/musician and most importantly as a human being. May God contiue to bless his life and ours by giving us such a creative person to listen to."