Townes Van Zandt - Townes (10 tracks) +Album Reviews

A genuine classic

Brian Watson | Texas | 07/31/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Nope, it's definitely not lively folk music (see other review below). This is pure lyric poetry with simple acoustic accompaniment, and it is powerful and beautiful. No siamese cats on shoulders or baggy pants on Picasso here, this stuff is real and it's deep. It is one of the CDs that should be at the foundation of a good TVZ collection."

Great songs

Brian Watson | 12/05/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I, too, am a great fan of Jimmie Rodgers, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, et al, and cannot possibly understand how anyone could appreciate them and consider this to be trash!None But the Rain, Quicksilver Daydreams of Maria, and Lungs are all permanent classics of acoustic country/Americana. And every other song is somewhere between good and great."

Townes' Best Album?

Lee Charles Kelley | New York City | 08/02/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"
I've been waiting for this record to come out on CD and here it is. I think it may be Townes' best album. I'm also partial to DELTA MOMMA BLUES but overall I think this is a little better.

Here's why: most Townes Van Zandt albums have a clinker or two mixed in with the greats. I mean, you've got the inimitable "Pancho and Lefty" on THE LATE GREAT TOWNES VAN ZANDT, but you also have to put up with "German Mustard" and "Heavenly Houseboat Blues", which is okay, but it ain't Townes at his best. Plus, there are three non Van Zandt compositions on that album. When you're the best songwriter in the world, hands down, why record a Guy Clark song? I mean, yeah, he's a good guy, and a pretty good songwriter, and maybe you owed him a favor for letting you sleep it off on his couch on night or something, but it doesn't belong on a Townes Van Zandt album. (However, I really like Townes' version of "Fraulein".)

Even my other favorite album, DELTA MOMMA BLUES, has a couple of less than stellar tunes, "The F.F.V." (again not written by Mr. V.Z.) and "Turnstiled, Junkpiled", which is okay, but once again it's not his best work.

On the other hand, every single song on TOWNES VAN ZANDT is a gem. The only one you might get tired of after a while (and I've been listening to this album since the early 70s and haven't gotten tired of it yet) is FARETHEEWELL, MISS CAROUSEL.

So if you've been hearing about Townes but haven't heard him yet, this would be the first CD to buy. (You can buy all the others later.)"

Won't you lend your lungs to me, mine are collapsing...

Ben Smith | NC | 06/22/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"About a year ago I heard "Waiting Around to Die" on a local college radio station and I was absolutely blown away. Never before had I heard such a sad yet beautifuly told story. I own hundreds of CDs and listen to everything from hip hop to folk music but I find myself listening to Townes more than anyone else. Do yourself a favor and pick up this CD or "Our Mother the Mountain" or "Delta Mamma Blues.""

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