Search - Chip Taylor, Carrie Rodriguez :: Red Dog Tracks

Like lovers

David T. Steere, Jr. | Annapolis, MD United States | 05/29/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This may be the best cd of the year. Chip Taylor seems to be able to write really great, moving, uber-romantic, unusual and original songs in his sleep. I don't know how he does it, but I suspect this partnership with Carrie is fueling the creative fires. I can't even begin to do justice with my words to the marvels of this record. Not one less than fine song and mostly magnificent ones. So, a few quick comments.



Chip has mastered the conversational song and the harmony song. On many numbers here, Chip and Carrie alternate verses as if having a conversation and then sing together on the choruses. This works beautifully--most notably on "Private Thoughts" and and "Red Dog Tracks" (the quality of the latter increased by its mysterious, "Ode to Billie Joe," storyline). When singing in harmony, no duo does it better. They must read each others' thoughts--as many of the song lyrics describe--to achieve such sympathetic vocals. This odd coupling--a beautiful young Texas fiddler with a lovely, expressive voice and a twang as thick as molasses and a much, much older world weary scribe who talks his words as often as he sings them--has evolved to some sort of perfection--almost as if lovers (again, read the lyrics) or at least musical lovers.



Chip's (and sometimes Carrie's) amazing way with words is obvious everywhere. For example,



(her) I'M A SOFT PINK ROSE -- CLINGING TO THE VINE

WAITIN' FOR YOU TO -- PICK ME OFF

(him) I AM THOSE RED DROPS ON YOUR HAND -- THAT LITTLE SPILL OF WINE

COME ON -- JUST KISS ME OFF (from "Big Moon Shinin')



HERE WE ARE TOGETHER -- NO MORE PRIVATE THOUGHTS ... MMM

THERE'S A HOLE IN THE WEATHER

THE SUMMER BREEZE REPLACED THE FROST (from "Private Thoughts")



I WONDER IF YOU STILL SEE ME -- WHEN YOUR EYES HAVE LEFT MY FACE

I WONDER DO YOU STILL HOLD ME --WHEN YOUR HANDS HAVE LEFT MY WAIST (from "The Wonder of You")



The funny, orginal Chip view of religion is amply displayed in the quite wonderful, "Son of Man:" WHEN THE LORD AIN'T LOOKIN' -- JUST SNEAK ON IN



There are a few other key players who contribute to the magnificence of this new recording: Bill Frisell's sensitive electric guitar, Richie Stearns' banjo, Carrie's fiddle, and Chip's harmonica are like four other singers here--so expressive is their playing. In a few places they jam fabulously: "My Bucket's Got a Hole in It," the instrumental "Elzick's Farewell (arranged by Carrie), and the "Jenny" reprise. In other places, the arrangements and sounds underlie one of the best studio recordings I've ever heard. Whether studio recorded (LET'S LEAVE THIS TOWN and THE TROUBLE WITH HUMANS) or live (most of the cuts on the ANGEL OF THE MORNING EP), they are simply infectious and true originals. If all this isn't enough, there's a killer version of Hank Williams' "I Can't Help it (if I'm Still in Love with You)"--slow, sexy and beautiful."

The Odd Couple

Smallchief | 08/30/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the most original CD I've encountered this year. Chip Taylor is a seasoned songwriter, guitar and harmonica player, and a singer of sorts. Carrie Rodriguez is young and plays violin and sings. She bears comparison with Allison Krauss but they differ. Allison has a heavenly voice and violin, but Carrie has a nasal twang and edgy violin style.



Chip and Carrie are excellent in unison and they have created a CD with a sound all its own, about 50 percent folk and 50 percent bluegrass/country -- if it must be fitted into a genre. The oddest song on the album is an instrumental, "Elzick's Farewell," which sounds a bit like Ravi Shankar playing acid grass. My favorite tune is "Keep your Hat on Jennie." It's a toe-tapper -- and they reprise it with some fancy guitar, harmonica, and fiddle playing. Eccentricity goes a little overboard on the Hank Williams tune, "I Can't Help It" which has a scratchy background in imitation of early-day vinyl recordings. I could do without the scratch, though it's a good song.



Chip sings lead on most songs and carries the rhythm with his quick acoustic guitar and harmonica. Carrie chimes in with her stronger and more distinctive voice and a strong violin. The result is unpredictable music that fools you with its quick twists and turns and powerful harmonies. Some tracks feature banjo and electric guitar. All combine to make this a most agreeable, interesting, and downright exciting CD. I can hardly wait to buy their other CDs.



Smallchief



"

Good but get The Trouble With Humans first

Rene M. Passarieu Jr. | Carlsbad, CA | 05/26/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If you've heard the hype about Chip and Carrie, it's basically for real. This new album, Red Dog Tracks, at it's best, is downright erotic, but the covers are unnecessary as are the instrumental and reprise of Keep Your Hat On Jenny at the end.



It seems a little slicker than the last one too, maybe because they're on a major label now.



So, there are about 7 or 8 great new songs that make the purchase worth it, but if you're like me, you'll be programming around some of the filler.



Buy it, but just know that their second CD, The Trouble With Humans, had no filler and better songs, so pick that one up too!"