Search - Joel Rafael Band :: Hopper

Sweet music from an old friend

Nathan Gray | Pasadena, CA | 06/20/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A brief disclosure: I've been a friend of the Rafael family since I was a child. As often happens with childhood friends, we have drifted apart and only make contact every now and then, so I was pleasantly surprised to run across an announcement that the Joel Rafael Band would be playing a few miles from my new apartment. I hurried off to the show, (it was starting in about a half-hour) had a happy reunion with the Rafaels, and enjoyed a terrific night of music. I also picked up a copy of "Hopper," their latest release. While I can't claim to be totally impartial, it is my sincere belief that "Hopper" is a very special album -- one that I would love even if I'd never known the Rafaels.If you want to understand why "Hopper" is special, click on the link above and listen to the second track, "As I Move Along." The song you'll hear is simple, sparse, and devastatingly well performed -- praise that applies equally well to the album as a whole. At its best, folk music offers a glimpse into the artist's soul, leaving the listener feeling as though he's had an intimate conversation with an exceptionally eloquent friend. This is Joel Rafael's brand of folk music, and he writes and performs it masterfully.It's not a one man show, of course, and it wouldn't be fair to praise Joel without giving credit to the band. While folk music is primarily an individual form, Joel Rafael's band carries the album forward beautifully, adding complexity and texture to the sonic landscape. In particular, Carl Johnson's acoustic guitar work brings a dimension of musicality to the mix that sets it apart from the innocuous chord strumming of so many folk acts. For a vibrant example of his contribution, listen to the descending arpeggios at the end of the chorus in "One More Smile."Make no mistake, "Hopper" is not a genre-busting crossover work -- it makes no attempt to step outside the traditional boundaries of folk music. The familiar motifs of the genre (travel, nature, social injustice) are here in spades, but the character of the performance reminds us of why they became so prevalent in the first place. In the end, this folk album achieves something that few others can manage -- it takes us to the beating heart of the form."

Incredible Sound

Bob Jamison | Tulsa, Oklahoma | 08/10/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I first heard the Joel Rafael Band at the Woodie Guthrie Festival this past July. While I did not purchase this CD at the concert I did however spend the next few weeks searching for it. When I did get it, I could not have been more please. I am looking forward to purchasing his two previous recordings and any future recordings. This is the most mellow compilation of songs I have ever heard. I can't stop listening. I love "Way Down Yonder in the Minor Key" a particularly memorable tune from the concert and I was moved by "China Basin Digs". Buy this CD, put it on and chill."

The Best of Contemporary Folk

Bill Eley | Houston, TX USA | 08/08/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"One of the thrills of attending a folk festival is the opportunity to discover new music. I just "discovered" the Joel Rafael Band at the Woody Guthrie Festival in July, and eagerly bought this CD soon afterward. I was first intrigued by Rafael's beautiful rendition of the Guthrie/Billy Bragg song "Minor Key". The other songs on this CD are beautifully crafted, and tell wide-ranging stories from loving songs of Joel's family to the plight of the homeless who were displaced to build San Francisco's new baseball park. Rafael's band is eclectic as they come, and blend together as well as any group on the folk scene today. Any fan of traditional/comtemporary folk should own this CD."