Ashgrove

Amazon.com
As a teenager Dave Alvin frequented legendary L.A. blues clubs like the Ashgrove, where he soaked up the licks and the spirit of T-Bone Walker and Big Joe Turner. Alvin's first collection of new songs in six years repays these debts with the meanest electric blues he's ever played--and some of his most vivid, and most elegantly arranged, character studies. "Out of Control" nails the seediest of L.A. night-crawlers, the autobiographical "Nine Volt Heart" reveals the wonder of growing up with soul-era radio, and "Everett Ruess," the story of a desert drifter who happily disappears forever, questions how much we'll ever understand the human heart. Song for song, Ashgrove is Alvin's best record since King of California. All the narrative poise, lyrical soul, and guitar muscle of an American music master is here. --Roy Kasten

Ashgrove,Dave Alvin,Yep Roc Records,Americana,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop,Roots Rock,Singer/Songwriter,United States of America

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Ashgrove

Average customer rating: a feast for the ears Wow! A+ An outstanding guitarist Ashgrove Is The Real Thing ashgrove

Ashgrove Dave Alvin Manufacturer: Yep Roc Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Alt-Country & Americana | Country | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Roots Rock | Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: King of California West of the West Out in California Blackjack David Interstate City ASIN: B00028HOEA Release Date: 2004-06-15

Tracks:

1. Ashgrove
2. Rio Grande
3. Black Sky
4. Nine Volt Heart
5. Out Of Control
6. Out of Control
7. Sinful Daughter
8. The Man In The Bed
9. Black Haired Girl
10. Somewhere In Time

Amazon.com

As a teenager Dave Alvin frequented legendary L.A. blues clubs like the Ashgrove, where he soaked up the licks and the spirit of T-Bone Walker and Big Joe Turner. Alvin's first collection of new songs in six years repays these debts with the meanest electric blues he's ever played--and some of his most vivid, and most elegantly arranged, character studies. "Out of Control" nails the seediest of L.A. night-crawlers, the autobiographical "Nine Volt Heart" reveals the wonder of growing up with soul-era radio, and "Everett Ruess," the story of a desert drifter who happily disappears forever, questions how much we'll ever understand the human heart. Song for song, Ashgrove is Alvin's best record since King of California. All the narrative poise, lyrical soul, and guitar muscle of an American music master is here. --Roy Kasten

Customer Reviews:

a feast for the ears.......2007-05-18

I wasn't disappointed with my choice of Ashgrove. Dave sings with great feeling. He will sing you a story. Thanks Dave Alvin, D rhodes

Wow! A+.......2007-01-14

I was lucky enough to see Alvin in concert this past summer and boy was I impressed. It's hard to sort through all of the 'fluff' music out there and find the gems that exist. Alvin is one of the true gems and hasn't received the recognition he deserves. He was touring in support of his new album 'West of the West' which hadn't been officially released yet. At the end of a stellar show I purchased this album and was incredibly impressed. It's definitely a 5 star album with a great blues-rock sound. I would recommend this album to anyone. And I would add that if you want a solid album with a country feel instead to go with 'Blackjack David'.

An outstanding guitarist .......2006-07-14

I had the first Blasters album on LP and loved it but I never kept up with the group or Dave Alvin until recently. I've bought all the Blasters and a few of Dave's CDs and, of the solo recordings, this is my favorite. Alvin doesn't have a voice with a lot of range but it's a voice appropriate to the music. In this particular recording, the voice is deeper and better than usual and the guitar-playing is outstanding.

The recording is a tour of late-night blues clubs, parking lots, cheap hotels, "the sound of the rain and the smell of gasoline". But it's also a sympathetic and warm look at aging ("The Man In The Bed"), the memories of childhood ("Nine Volt Heart") and those who just don't fit into a world of cities and cathedrals ("Everett Ruess"). The only weak cut, in my opinion, is the somewhat choppy and redundant "Somewhere In Time". It drags the recording down at the end until the final bars put down a groove that fades too quickly. Still, it's a powerful recording and the weakness of one song does nothing to diminish that power.

Ashgrove Is The Real Thing.......2005-08-08

In a music world gone astray with false musicians and American Idols, it is comforting to know that the real thing exists. Dave Alvin is the real thing. Mr. Alvin inhabits the exclusive group of gifted American singer-songwriter guitarists, which include the likes of Springsteen, Dylan, and Cash, who tell stories about this big country and its ordinary folks in songs the radio mostly seems to miss.

To be sure, the radio does miss Dave Alvin's material. And we are shortchanged because of it. Mr. Alvin has a deep, resonant voice mellowed by perhaps a few too many cigarettes, is a virtuoso guitarist, and has a wonderful pen for music and lyrics. Mr. Alvin generally delivers excellent CDs ("Public Domain" won a Grammy) and "Ashrgrove" is no exception.

"Ashgrove" is really two CDs in one with its ten cuts shifting back and forth in song style between blues-rock and country-folk. I like both sounds on the CD, but I find the country-folk songs particularly strong musically and lyrically.

In "Rio Grande" Mr. Alvin tells the story of the restless pursuit of a lost love, which, for those that have experienced it know, rolls endlessly like a river to the sea. "Nine Volt Heart" is wonderful song about family life built on the potency of music on the radio. Maybe this is Mr. Alvin gentle reminder that music does matter and can make a difference in the quality of life.

"The Man In The Bed" contemplates the inevitability of growing old from the view of a man whose body fails, but whose mind remains sharp. He thus becomes trapped in his body, trying to convince everyone, including himself, that the person in the bed is an imposter. In "Somewhere In Time," Mr. Alvin muses about the interrelation between thoughts, time and true love and seemingly transforms them into a physical law of nature: even if disconnected for the present moment, they will all reunite at some other instant.

The title track describes the time when American music was polished in live clubs. Ashgrove is a burned down blues club that Mr. Alvin tries to revisit. By bringing us back to Ashgrove, Mr. Alvin also perhaps tries to resurrect music to point that it really does matter. This is an appropriate trip for Mr. Alvin to lead, because his music does matter in this excellent CD.

ashgrove.......2005-06-13

One of the best recordings of the year. Each song is a great snapshot of a beautiful and emotional memory from one of our best songwriters. The back-up music and arrangements are excellent throughout. Dave and Guilty Men also put on a fantastic live performance, as recently witnessed at the Bamboo Room in Lake Worth, FL.

Average customer rating: Godly! This is my favorite disk ever! Much, much better than I expected

Legacy of Hope Manufacturer: Ashgrove ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B0001FU94Q

Product Description

A tapestry of timeless hymns

Customer Reviews:

Godly!.......2006-03-24

In "Legacy of Hope", Deborah Klassen's quality of voice, her professional delivery, the instrumentation behind the lyrics, the recording mix . . . ALL bring many great hymns of the Church into the 21st century. Expect the same quality of delivery, instrumentation and recording on all of her CD's. Anointed by God is a good description of her music.

This is my favorite disk ever!.......2005-03-13

I have been an audiophile since 1967, and have nearly a thousand vinyl records in storage and hundreds of CD's currently loaded on my IPOD. This is my favorite CD of all time, and, I believe, Deborah Klassen is my favorite artist of all time.

I am a Bible teacher, and doctrine is very important to me. Deborah sings Scripture, and the lyrics resonate in my soul. Additionally, I am a techoloogy freak, and I find the quality of this recording impeccable. Not only is her voice extremely well disciplined, and not only does she have an incredible range, but the recording itself is technically excellent.

I heard Deborah last year at a Bible conference in Chattanooga, and was humbled by her witness and faith in Jesus Christ. I have since spoken with her husband, and understand a little better the furnace in which she has been refined. I commend her to you as an annointed messenger of God's grace.

Much, much better than I expected.......2004-10-23

Klassen has an amazing set of pipes, but I didn't expect to like this CD very much because I'm not much a fan of all those old hymns and their pompous 'thees' and 'thous'. But as the title of this review indicates, I was taken by surprise. This is an amazingly *restful* recording, in part because Klassen is teamed up with rich, superb production (by Canadian Bruce Stacey, himself a Christian recording artist dating back to the late 1980s) and arrangements by Howard Baer, Pat Caya and Tim Schwindt. They've surrounded Klassen with classical guitar, flute, organ, choirs and very little pounding percussion. The result is so gentle, peaceful, worshipful and downright elegant that I really like to play it while working on computer.

Here's the songlist:
The Lord Is My Shepherd
Unto The Hills
Praise My Soul The King Of Heaven
Doxology
Immortal, Invisible
I know That My Redeemer Lives
My Hope Is In The Lord
Jesus, Thy Blood and Righteousness
When I Survey The Wondrous Cross
Take My Life & Let It Be
Be Still My Soul
My Saviour First Of All
Jesus, The Very Thought Of Thee

Here's what Klassen says in her liner notes:
"During the recent past, a concern has been growing within me regarding the move away from the hymns of the church, both past and present. This, I believe, would be a mistake. To lay aside the hymnbook, the reading of music and text is, in my opinion, to weaken the fibre of our heritage -- the rich foundation that has been given to us. I want my children to know the words to the great hymns of the past. I want them to share in the legacy that we have been given."

Before hearing Legacy of Hope, I might not have agreed with her. But now I do. And since Amazon says this CD is unavailable, you might try ordering it through her website, www.deborahklassen.com

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