Thin Places

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While not a household name, Randall Bramblett has been heard in a wide variety of settings for going on thirty years. His songs have been covered by Sea Level, Delbert McClinton, Rick Nelson, B.J. Thomas, Hot Tuna and many more. As a saxophonist, keyboard player, or singer, he's played with the Allman Brothers, the Atlanta Rhythm Section, Elvin Bishop, among others.

Based in Athens, Georgia, Thin Places is Bramblett's fifth album. Backed by his regular touring band and assorted guests, the eleven songs have an honest vitality to them. Whether it's a mid-tempo shuffle ("Comin' 'Round Soon"), steamy southern funk ("Red Booth"), or Stones-like swagger ("Nobody's Problem"), it's all handled with gutsy vigor and aplomb. Nashville producer Michael Rhodes recognized that the songs could handle sophisticated arrangements and he fearlessly pushed them to their limits, when it was called for (such as on "Are You Satisfied"). Other times--such as on the emotive "Chet Baker"--he let the barest minimum carry the innate eloquence on graceful wings. --David Greenberger

Product Description
Randall Bramblett-a voice full of emotion and soul, a songwriter and a multi-instrumentalist with an emphasis on sax and keyboards. Thin Places was cut in Nashville with a couple of Randall stalwarts and a host of fine session musicians. It's a record that blurs the line between soul, pop and blues with standout tracks like the aching love song "You Can Be The Rain," the happy-go-lucky "Playing Card" and the surreal poem "Chet Baker." Thin Places is one of those albums where every song speaks to all in a strange and wonderful way.

Over the years, Randall has toured the country playing with the legendary Steve Winwood, Widespread Panic, Gov't Mule and countless others. Randall again takes center stage with the release of Thin Places.

Thin Places,Randall Bramblett,New West Records,Pop,R&B,Rock,Rock & Roll,Rock/Pop,Roots Rock,Singer/Songwriter,Southern Rock

Thin Places

Average customer rating:

Get this album now!!!!
Most Underrated Songwriter in US delivers pure magic
Eschews trends or fads yet manages to sound relevant
Something Worth a Lot of Listening
Rain, Angels & Holes in Souls

Thin Places
Randall Bramblett
Manufacturer: New West Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Roots Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

Southern Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

No More Mr. Lucky
Rich Someday
See Through Me
Forever Blue
The Best of Sea Level

ASIN: B0001CCXXE
Release Date: 2004-02-24

Tracks:

Nobody's Problem
Playing Card
You Can Be The Rain
Gotta Stop Somewhere
Comin' Round Soon
Black Coat
Confident Thieves
Are You Satisfied
Chet Baker
Red Booth
I Don't Care

Amazon.com

While not a household name, Randall Bramblett has been heard in a wide variety of settings for going on thirty years. His songs have been covered by Sea Level, Delbert McClinton, Rick Nelson, B.J. Thomas, Hot Tuna and many more. As a saxophonist, keyboard player, or singer, he's played with the Allman Brothers, the Atlanta Rhythm Section, Elvin Bishop, among others.

Based in Athens, Georgia, Thin Places is Bramblett's fifth album. Backed by his regular touring band and assorted guests, the eleven songs have an honest vitality to them. Whether it's a mid-tempo shuffle ("Comin' 'Round Soon"), steamy southern funk ("Red Booth"), or Stones-like swagger ("Nobody's Problem"), it's all handled with gutsy vigor and aplomb. Nashville producer Michael Rhodes recognized that the songs could handle sophisticated arrangements and he fearlessly pushed them to their limits, when it was called for (such as on "Are You Satisfied"). Other times--such as on the emotive "Chet Baker"--he let the barest minimum carry the innate eloquence on graceful wings. --David Greenberger

Album Description

Randall Bramblett-a voice full of emotion and soul, a songwriter and a multi-instrumentalist with an emphasis on sax and keyboards. Thin Places was cut in Nashville with a couple of Randall stalwarts and a host of fine session musicians. It's a record that blurs the line between soul, pop and blues with standout tracks like the aching love song "You Can Be The Rain," the happy-go-lucky "Playing Card" and the surreal poem "Chet Baker." Thin Places is one of those albums where every song speaks to all in a strange and wonderful way.

Customer Reviews:

Get this album now!!!!.......2007-06-14

I don't know where to begin, insert any superlative of your choosing. It will apply. This is a brilliant collection of songs by one of the finest musicians I personally have ever heard. If you like "real" music,do yourself a favor and get ready to be blown away by this record. It keeps getting better and better with each listen, and although I came to Mr Bramblett's music later than I should have, I'm making up for lost time and will be a lifelong fan. Don't wait, buy it now!!!

Most Underrated Songwriter in US delivers pure magic.......2007-04-06

Randall is without a doubt America's most underrated singer-songwriter. According to my humble opinion he's right up there with people like John Hiatt and James Tayor. And he's a respected multi-instrumentalist as well...playing with Sea Level from '77 till '80, Widespread Panic and Steve Winwood among others. But most important the man writes pure magic!!! Great lyrics (thoughtfull, at times spiritual words....food for the soul), great melodic songs that you keep singin' over and over again when you've heard them, great musicianship and his voice is a real treat too. All of his releases on New West Records: No More Mr. Lucky, Thin Places and Rich Someday are highly, highly recommended. People, give Randall Bramblett a chance, you won't regret it for a sec...

Eschews trends or fads yet manages to sound relevant .......2006-11-04

According to Celtic traditions and lore, spots where this world and the realm of the spirit come close together are "thin places." In these places, time may also shift so that one connects with the future or the past.

Randall Bramblett, who consistently turns out thoughtful, well-crafted music, surely had this notion in mind when he wrote the songs on this recording. Too few songwriters seem to be able to write music that reflects the perspectives and experience of leading one's life and growing older without sounding sappy or preachy. Mr. Bramblett does, whether he focuses on a spiritual trajectory or earthbound spiral.

His use of color and imagery throughout his lyrics creates interesting contrasts: "layin' in the sun with a black coat on"; "neon dirt is turning red as blood"; planting flowers in the cold black dirt." Put another way, he says a lot with few words, e.g., "everybody lost in the morning news."

Though he eschews trends or fads, he manages to sound relevant and up-to-date. The recording quality is excellent and his supporting cast sound comfortable and smooth throughout.

Something Worth a Lot of Listening.......2005-09-24

It seems to become increasingly difficult to find something new worth listening to. You can find great lyrics weighed down by mediocre melodies, just aural doodles to soak in the poetry or you can find soul-shaking but lyricless jazz/blues fusion that takes you away but leaves you nothing to ponder when the tune is through.

Randall Bramblett is more than a breath of fresh air; he's pure oxygen for the nearly asphixiated. Thin Places and No More Mr. Lucky are both superb discs with intelligent, insightful and thought-provoking words doused in excellent, free-flowing though complex rhythms and musical arrangements. The great horn playing and guitar licks are meshed perfectly into beats that are perfect for the songs.

Thin Places grows on you with every listen. As for lyrics, I would put Randall Bramblett on a par with Guy Clark and that is high praise, indeed. The music pulls from many sources, skillfully blended into haunting, driving or laid-back melodies perfectly suited for the lyrics each is mated to.

I cannot recommend this CD enough. The music samples cannot do it justice, but this is one you will want to keep and hear again and again.

Rain, Angels & Holes in Souls.......2004-10-13

Randall Bramblett's follow up to "No More Mr. Lucky" continues that excellent streak that brought "End of the String" & "Disappearing Ink." "Thin Places" begins with Davis Causey's great electric lead and Bramblett's passionate vocals on "Nobody's Problem," "The angel's arms are full of holes." "Playing Card" is an excellent tune with Shawn Pelton's hot drums keeping double time, "I'm just an old soul peekin' thru a hole in the wall." The track currently riding high in my personal top ten is the classic "You Can Be the Rain." Bramblett's exquisite songwriting skills amalgamating melody & lyric, the razor sharp band and his stunning vocals all collide, "Lookin' for a poem in the water stains on the floor, I'll be waiting here where the sky is clear, you can be the rain against my window." Bramblett slows down for the midtempo "Comin' Round Soon" blowing out a soulful sax for a touch of the blues, "As soon as I get it all planned out right, I'm gonna live a long & sinful life." Bramblett wails on the Hammond B-3 on "Black Coat," "There's nothing left to do but laugh & feed the angels, give 'em what they want in the February sun." Bramblett sounds like a stone-bleached Dylan on the tender "Confident Thieves," "These mudtrack boots are full of rain & nails; the dark fills in where the light has failed; neon dirt is turnin' red as blood; you can see your story written in the mud." "Chet Baker" is another excellent track with Bramblett's world-weary vocals, "I walk outside where the avalanche leans always ready to wipe this landscape clean, just a shrug of the shoulders where the tears should be." The CD concludes with the soulful midtempo "I Don't Care." "Thin Places" highlights a musician at the top of his game as a writer & singer. Bramblett's musicianship has always been stellar as his tours with Steve Winwood & the Allman Brothers would attest. His lyrics fill with images of rain, angels and the holes within souls. Enjoy this set and pick up "Mr. Lucky" too if you missed it! Bravo!