Search - Rodney Crowell :: Sex and Gasoline

Sex and Gasoline
Rodney Crowell
Sex and Gasoline
Genres: Country, Folk, Pop, Rock
 
  •  Track Listings (11) - Disc #1

Americana literati Rodney Crowell continues down the path blazed by his previous three records with ''Sex & Gasoline''. Crowell bounded onto the music landscape in 1988 with the Top 40 crossover album ''Diamonds and Di...  more »

     
?

Larger Image

CD Details

All Artists: Rodney Crowell
Title: Sex and Gasoline
Members Wishing: 3
Total Copies: 0
Label: Yep Roc Records
Original Release Date: 1/1/2008
Re-Release Date: 9/2/2008
Genres: Country, Folk, Pop, Rock
Styles: Contemporary Folk, Adult Contemporary, Singer-Songwriters, Adult Alternative, Folk Rock
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 634457218727

Synopsis

Product Description
Americana literati Rodney Crowell continues down the path blazed by his previous three records with ''Sex & Gasoline''. Crowell bounded onto the music landscape in 1988 with the Top 40 crossover album ''Diamonds and Dirt'', which produced an astonishing five number one singles and a Grammy Award for the single 'After All This Time.' As part of Emmylou Harris' original Hot Band, Crowell's musical pedigree is unquestionable, at one time even earning him the right to remake Johnny Cash's singular 'Ring of Fire' with Cash himself singing Rodney's reworked melody. With his new album ''Sex & Gasoline'', he continues to write about contemporary themes. ''Sex & Gasoline'' was produced by Joe Henry and contains what Crowell says are, ''some of the best performances I've given to date.'' For the new material Crowell and Henry brought in some of music's most skilled sidemen including Doyle Bramhall II (acoustic and electric guitar), Greg Leisz (acoustic and electric guitar, pedal and lap steel, mandolin, mandocello and dobro), Patrick Warren (piano, pump organ and Chamberlin), David Piltch (upright and electric bass) and Jay Bellerose (drums and percussion).
 

CD Reviews

A touching, thought-provoking country/folk record
DanD | 09/09/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Rodney Crowell started off as a country music traditionalist; remember all those hits from DIAMONDS & DIRT? But somewhere in the 90's, he found a new calling: that of the country/folk troubadour. Beginning with THE HOUSTON KID, then onto FATE'S RIGHT HAND and THE OUTSIDER, he crafted some of the best socially aware, rockin' folk music out there--which happened to be rooted firmly in country music. SEX AND GASOLINE follows strongly in that vein, and gives FATE'S RIGHT HAND a run for its money as his best record.



Crowell's lyrics, as on the past few albums, range from the scathing to the tender. The emphasis here is upon social concerns, definitely; the opener argues that the world (and your mama's world) runs on the two titular items. The groovin' "Who Do You Trust" combines sarcastic lyrics with choir vocals. "The Rise and Fall of Intelligent Design" is a rather tongue-in-cheek look at the world today (and features some of the album's few directly-political lyrics, with Crowell lamenting about the flooding of New Orleans, and what it would be like to be the first female president). Later on in the album, he tackles Hollywood and celebrities ("Honey, screw the money!" he demands), as well as political correctness (and lack thereof; both are ripe for parody). The closing autobiographical "Closer to Heaven" will make you laugh...until you realize he is talking about YOU as well as himself.



Then there's the lover ("First comes love like it always did/Or we wouldn't be talkin' 'bout the Houston Kid" he once sang). "The Night's Just Right" sounds like it could have been on Kristofferson's THIS OLD ROAD album; it is a truly beautiful, touching tune about growing old gracefully, and about true love; "Forty Winters" follows in a similar vein. "I've Done Everything I Can" is beautiful (it's a shame lyrics aren't included with the album; many of these songs would read as beautifully as they sound). Two other tracks, "Moving Work of Art" and "Truth Decay," beautifully combine the two sides of Crowell featured on this album, providing anchors from one movement to the next.



Rodney Crowell is easily one of the best singer/songwriters working the scene today. His latest record, SEX AND GASOLINE, definitely leans more towards folk/rock than the country he is traditionally classified with (there's a lot of Dylan and Kristofferson on this album), but it doesn't matter what genre you attempt to classify it under; it is a beautiful, evocative record that will get you thinking. It is intimate and engaging, beautiful, and proof that Rodney Crowell is destined to go down in history as one of music's best (and surely most underrated, at least commercially) songwriters."
An Excellent Release from a Modern Day Songwriter
William Parr | Seymour, IN | 10/01/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)

"As of this writing, there have only been two reviews of this CD. Does this mean that the CD is not selling well? Or does it mean that the buyers do not care to write a review?



I hope the latter. This is a great CD. A little more "acoustic" than his previous two releases, but still some great songwriting and musicianship. It doesn't get much better than Doyle Bramhall II playing lead guitar.



Rodney Crowell's music is neither country or rock, but is better than anything you will hear on either country or rock radio. I hope he continues to make music that appeals to himself rather than the commercial audience.



If you are a fan of Americana or just great songwriting and musicianship, pick this one up. You'll not be sorry."
Was expecting more
J. Cadigan | 09/11/2008
(3 out of 5 stars)

"Great songs! Intelligent lyrics, excellent musicianship, and maybe most of all, great hooks. Memorable songs that make me look forward to taking my friends to see Rodney and his group put on a great live show. Over the years, each new Rodney Crowell record has upped the ante. Not this time. Since 'The Outsider", I've been eagerly awaiting his next effort and tour, but I'm disappointed this time out. While it is worth adding to my Crowell collection, I know this is not one that's going to reside in my car's CD player for long. I'm sure that for many, this is a fine record. Not for me, though... I hope that Sex and Gasoline represents a different kind of record that Rodney wanted to make, and that he will return to recent form for the next one. Hope to see it soon."