Paul Bowles fans, take note of 'Blood Oranges'
04/14/1999
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This isn't my favorite Tom Russell album, there are others that I certainly prefer. One thing about Tom Russell, even the stuff that's not his 'best' is better than 98% of what's out there. I bought Box Of Visions because it includes 'Blood Oranges', a song based on Paul Bowles short story 'A Distant Episode'. The short story is one of the most disturbing things I've ever read, and the song manages to capture Bowles eerie images of Moroccan 'random violence/vengance?' so well that it makes me shudder every time I hear it, almost caused me to wreck the car the first time I heard it on the radio. A well crafted song should evoke emotions, and this one can certainly do that for me, goosebump city. It's a reminder that not everything that's well done has to be 'pretty'. As always with Tom Russell, excellent songwriting, but if you're not already familiar with his work, or are easily 'creeped out', start with 'The Long Way Around' or his latest 'The Man From God Knows Where'. Not a shudder in the bunch on those, unless it's one of those catlike sheer delight shudders that hits just before ecstasy sets in and the mind goes blank. Hey, Tom does good stuff. You don't believe me, find a place where it's safe to pass out and listen."