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Exploration
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Product Details/SpecificationsRecording label: New West Records EAN: 0607396606726Binding: Audio CDRelease Date: 2005-03-08Universal product code (UPC): 607396606726Number of discs: 1Album Description
"Authentic." "Timeless." "Harmonious." "Exhilarating." Any or all of these adjectives could describe the folk-rock sound created by Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion. The musical richness and psychological depth of their initial collaboration, the fittingly titled Exploration, is irrefutable proof that the disarming granddaughter of Woody/daughter of Arlo and the prodigious South Carolinian quite naturally bring out the best in each other.
Amazon.com
Harmonies highlight this studio debut by Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion, the wife-and-husband duo who previously released albums of their own. As the daughter of Arlo Guthrie and granddaughter of Woody, Sarah Lee has deep bloodlines in the folk tradition, while Johnny was a Carolina indie-rocker with Dillon Fence. With coproduction and guitar by the Jayhawks' Gary Louris and musicianship that draws from that band and Son Volt, the album matches organic arrangements to material that shows a social conscience while celebrating domestic bliss. Highlights range from a performance of Pete Seeger's previously unreleased "Dr. King" to the poppier propulsion of Guthrie's "Holdin' Back," which could pass as a Stevie Nicks/Fleetwood Mac outtake. Eric Heywood's steel guitar brings a lilt to Irion's album-opening "In Lieu of Flowers," and Dave Boquist's banjo drives "Gotta Prove" into a footstomping finale. In between, much of the music has the easy feel of a front-porch rocking chair. --Don McLeese
Kick Back and Enjoy!Review Date: 2006-11-01 Rating: 8 out of 10I know what I like and I liked this album the first time I heard it. The duet thing hasn't been done better than this, and I just took George Jones-Tammy Wynette out of the player.
I will say that I enjoy the laid back, easy going songs and sounds from these two (In Lieu of Flowers, Kindness, Swing of Things) the most but, sample sample sample and prepare to be impressed.
I borrowed another SLG CD and threw it back. "Exploration" is a keeper. Highly recommended.
ReviewsA Complete AlbumReview Date: 2005-10-19 Rating: 10 out of 10I can be a bit of a track jumper when I don't feel a whole album is on the same musical level, but this album is just so well crafted that I can put down my finger and listen to the whole thing. It is inventive and interesting with some of the best vocals I've heard in any genre lately. This album is interesting enough that you don't need to a roots music lover or a folk lover just a lover of good lyrics and strong vocals. This album is just so well crafted and fun it is worth the money to take a chance on it!The new Gram & Emmylou prove they are for realReview Date: 2005-10-01 Rating: 10 out of 10I agree with Amazon: this is one of the year's best and probably THE 2005 revelation in roots rock (if we must confine this album to a genre). Yet, I didn't give them much credit at first, because I had never heard of them and the fact that she is the granddaughter of Woody Guthrie doesn't imply that she can sing or play. Fortunately, I overcame my initial skepticism.
The album strength lies in its variety; you have a rock number where electric guitars and harmonica dominate (Gervais), but also an Appalachian-style dirge (Georgia Pine), a catchy folk-pop song (Holdin' Back) and a romantic track typical of country duets (The Swing of Things). Singer-songwriter material just consisting of harmonies and acoustic guitars is also there (Mixed Blessings), together with a committed social commentary in the wake of 60's political folk (Dr King).
The track penned by Pete Seeger is actually one of my favourites; it can be naïve ("They were singin' in marches, even singing in jail / Songs gave them the courage to believe they would not fail"), but it nonetheless gives me hope in the future every time I listen to it, thanks also to the final strophe connecting the events in 1955 Alabama with today situation. In passing, I believe this final addition must be the work of Irion and Guthrie, not of Seeger.
The closing track adds one more dimension to the CD variety, with the whirling duet of banjo and fiddle verging on bluegrass territory.
Yet for all its diversity, the album winning formula is how graciously Sarah and Johnny sing together. Their voices aren't remarkable on their own, but they blend perfectly together. It is an example of how the union can be more than the sum of the parts. To see how this "vocal" chemistry works a good starting point is "The Swings of Things", available here for download.
The accompanying band is also in top form; their discreet backing lets Johnny and Sarah's voices shine. Still, their contribution is evident throughout the album. Just listen to the pedal steel in the "In Lieu of Flowers" opening or the piano in the "Swing of Things" refrain to convince yourself.
In summary, if you like roots rock as it was done in the 70s or the duets of Gram & Emmylou, who Johnny and Sarah often remind me of, give this CD a try. Don't be skeptic as I was!
ExplorationReview Date: 2005-08-26 Rating: 10 out of 10Great sounding music a cross between Bluegrass and old time country with a little of the hip new sounds mixed in.Classic Americana.Review Date: 2005-05-22 Rating: 8 out of 10Wow! , what a discovery.
This wonderful album sounds like a cross between seventies era Fleetwood Mac and "tommorow the green grass" jayhawks period. Sarah lee sounds like a combination of stevie nicks and bobbie gentry.
The album was produced by jayhawks genius gary louris and the musicians are Alt-country fan's heaven. You hear louris touch in every aspect of this album , the production is open and airy and the harmonies are just wonderful (think Gram/Emmylou), The songs are all excellent, songwriting of the highest order.
If your'e a fan of high quality music similiar in the spirit to the jayhawks than you owe yourself this album.
Simply wonderful.
Disc 1 Tracks: 1. In Lieu Of Flowers2. Cease Fire3. Holdin' Back4. Exploration5. Kindness6. Dr King7. Mornin's Over8. Gervais9. Mixed Blessing10. Swing Of Things11. Georgia Pine12. Gotta ProvePublishers: New West Records
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