Gathered

Reviewed: 2019-07-07
Genre: Ja
FCCs: none
Review: Singer/songwriter Howe Gelb has made his name with desert-rock/alt-country pioneers Giant Sand, but he also has a lengthy solo career, and his 24th album finds him in his usual excellent form. Listening to this disc is like being at a dinner party with Gelb at the head of the table, telling stories, offering his sagacity, and taking the listener on clever lexical excursions. It features a host of international guests,who add their various vocal flavors. It’s a lovely collection of songs that offers sonic variety, wit, wisdom and intimate moments seemingly issued straight from the heart.
If You Like: Leonard Cohen, Tom Waits, Neil Young, Darcy Windover
Track Review (favorites denoted by *):
*1/ On The Fence – guitar starts> slow song on depression & end of a relationship> quick stop
2/ A Thousand Kisses Deep – spoken word intro> slow song on failed relationship interspersed with spoken word> vocal duet> cello joins> guitar solo> slow duet song> spoken word> fade
*3/ Not The End of The World – spoken word with guitar starts> slow song> joined by female vocal> muted trumpet solo> piano solo> slow duet song> fade on muted trumpet
*4/ Anna – guitar/piano starts loud> midtempo rocking instrumental> quick stop
5/ Give It Up – guitar starts> slow slinky song on broken relationship> quick stop
6/ The Open Road – guitar starts> short uptempo surf rocker> quick stop
*7/ Moon River – piano starts> slow song featuring female vocal> guitar solo> slow song> quick fade
**8/ Flyin’ Off The Rails – vocal starts> slow love song builds to midtempo> guitar solo> midtempo song> fade
*9/ Gathered – spoken intro> midtempo song about marriage with female chorus> quick fade on vocal
**10/ All You Need To Know – piano starts> midtempo song about getting over a breakup> piano solo> midtempo song> fade on piano
11/ The Park At Dark – spoken word intro – guitar starts> spoken word spooky story with guitar accompaniment and chorus> midtempo song to fade
***12/ My Little World – guitar/bass/drums jazzy start> mellow uptempo song about fantasizing> bass solo> piano solo> uptempo song> quick fade
*13/ Presumptuous – piano starts> slow song> female vocal joins for a duet>
*14/ Storyteller – piano starts> slow autobiographical song> short piano solo> slow song> chorus joins> slow song> chorus joins> slow song> fade on piano
**15/ Steadfast – vocal starts> midtempo song, perhaps about a dream> quick fade