Blackjack David [Enhanced]

Amazon.com
Dave Alvin has become one of America's great unsung songwriting heroes. His unflinching portraits of modern romance-on-the rocks set the Blasters apart from their roots rocking peers in the early 1980s. In the 1990s, his solo work moved closer to contemporary folk, meaning that the same guys who once tried to steal his guitar licks are now trying to copy his lyric lines. They'll find plenty to plunder here, from the outstanding "Abilene" to "The Way You Say Good-Bye." Occasionally, as on "New Highway," Alvin starts to repeat himself, but he does it with such authority, with such a world-weary sigh, that it hardly matters. Steel guitar whiz and longtime Alvin compadre Greg Leisz offers tasteful, mostly acoustic production throughout. --Michael Ruby

Blackjack David,Dave Alvin,Hightone Records,Americana,Pop,Rock,Rock & Roll,Rock/Pop,Roots Rock,Singer/Songwriter

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Blackjack David [Enhanced]

Average customer rating: My favorite CD Solid 5 star effort Compared To...... Touches your soul Poignant luxury..

Blackjack David Dave Alvin Manufacturer: Hightone 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 Public Domain: Songs from the Wild Land Ashgrove Interstate City West of the West ASIN: B000006NI1 Release Date: 1998-06-16

Tracks:

1. Blackjack David
2. Abilene
3. New Highway
4. California Snow
5. Evening Blues
6. The Way You Say Good-Bye
7. Mary Brown
8. Laurel Lynn
9. 1968
10. From A Kitchen Table
11. Tall Trees

Amazon.com

Dave Alvin has become one of America's great unsung songwriting heroes. His unflinching portraits of modern romance-on-the rocks set the Blasters apart from their roots rocking peers in the early 1980s. In the 1990s, his solo work moved closer to contemporary folk, meaning that the same guys who once tried to steal his guitar licks are now trying to copy his lyric lines. They'll find plenty to plunder here, from the outstanding "Abilene" to "The Way You Say Good-Bye." Occasionally, as on "New Highway," Alvin starts to repeat himself, but he does it with such authority, with such a world-weary sigh, that it hardly matters. Steel guitar whiz and longtime Alvin compadre Greg Leisz offers tasteful, mostly acoustic production throughout. --Michael Ruby

Customer Reviews:

My favorite CD.......2007-02-25

I own over 300 albums and this one is my favorite. I have listened to it at least 100 times and chills still run down my spine during certain songs. Dave Alvin has a gift for writing authentic songs about the common human experience, which is often tragic. I don't think Dave Alvin is technically a "good singer" but the inflection in his baritone voice conveys the perfect emotion to match the lyrics. For instance, "Mary Brown" is a masterpiece. As a criminal defense attorney, I recognize the "Charlie Thomas" in that song. He recognizes that his crime is objectively wrong but, at least in his clouded mind, subjectively right and "for the love of Mary Brown [he'd] do it all again." Dave Alvin's inflection one this one is melancholy, eerie, and at times sinister--almost snarling--and it makes the song perfect. "California Snow" is tragic, haunting, sublime, and it's the best song on the album (Dave, I believe, co-wrote this w/ Tom Russell, who also sings it on one of his albums, but not as well). I'm against illegal immigration but this song puts a human face to it that's hard to forget. "Abilene" and "From a Kitchen Table" convey the bleakness of everyday lives and the lyrics stick with you. "1968" is a memorable portrait of the undying bonds of male friendship/comraderie. There are some good bluesy rockers on this album too, but it's the ballads that makes it great. Dave Alvin's story songs on this album bring to my mind St Augustine's famous prayer: "Thou hast made us for Thyself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee." Do yourself a favor and add this album to your collection. You will savor it.

Solid 5 star effort.......2007-01-15

Ordered this a couple of weeks ago and have been listening to it all the time. It has an alt-country flavor to it that is intensely satisfying. Truly a great album. Alvin is overlooked for some reason and I can't figure out exactly why. Is it simply because he can not be pigeon-holed into one narrow genre? I don't know. For those who love honest good music, pick up this disc. You won't be disappointed.

Compared To.............2006-05-02

Dave Alvin's "Blackjack David" is better than any American record since Springsteen's "Nebraska" which makes it one of the greatest albums of all-time (in my humble opinion !).A true classic which no fan of this type (or indeed any type) of music should be without . The songs on here cut real deep and may take a while to get beneath your skin but once they do you'll be stuck with them forever. Beautiful music , superb record. PS regarding the "best since Nebraska" statement , i meant with the exception of Johnny Cash's "American Recordings" naturally !

Touches your soul.......2006-02-23

Dave Alvin again demonstrates his singer-songwriter style with great words full of strong emotions. We saw Dave live in concert recently just after the release of Ashgrove. This album moves you. The title song "Blackjack David" reminds us of a traditional English folk tale, while the other songs run the gambit of love, revenge, and heartache. The album itself has a great feel that touches your soul.

Poignant luxury.........2004-07-14

The song From A Kitchen Table is his masterpiece period! Every artist has that hope to be the best they can be someday. This would be it and who knows he just might be ornery enough to do it again....especially since almost no one noticed this time...judging from the reviews. Keep on Dave ...you hit the heart.

Average customer rating: A Taste of Americana

Blackjack David Dave Alvin Manufacturer: Mobile Fidelity Koch ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD 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: This Time Good Morning Aztlán Lost in Space Drive The Sermon On Exposition Blvd. [Deluxe Limited Edition --- includes 5.1 SACD version and 40 minute DVD of making the record] ASIN: B00006SF9F Release Date: 2003-04-22

Tracks:

1. Blackjack David
2. Abilene
3. New Highway
4. California Snow
5. Evening Blues
6. Way You Say Goodbye
7. Mary Brown
8. Laurel Lynn
9. 1968
10. From a Kitchen Table
11. Tall Trees

Customer Reviews:

A Taste of Americana.......2003-06-22

I didn't know much about this artist till an audiophile friend told me to just go out and buy it. Man, he was right, I was blown away. I am not a musicologist but I know what I like. This is a true "Americana" album, full of great stories of being on the road and life's heartaches. Great vocals and lyrics, acoustic guitars, etc. It sounds amazing too!

Average customer rating:

Foundations Forum '92 (Cd Sampler) (3 Cd Set) Cathedral , Extreme , Kyuss , White and Blue Dead , Non-Fiction , Cannibal Corpse , Copperhead , David La Duke , T-Ride , and Praxis Manufacturer: Foundations Forum ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Rock | Styles | Music ASIN: B000EG61OE

Product Description

3 CD SET - Foundations Forum '92 (CD Sampler) //Foundations Forum Inc. FF9201-FF9202-FF9203 Disc 1 1.Cathedral - Autumn Twilight 2. Extreme - Rest in Peace 3.Kyuss - Green Machine 4.Dead, White and Blue - Chills 5. Non-Fiction - Reason To Live 6. Cannibal Corpse - Hammer Smashed Face 7.Saturday Night with Lonn Friend on Pirate Radio 8. Copperhead - Busted 9.David La Duke - Love My Baby 10.T-Ride - Fire It Up 11. Praxis - Crash Victim Crash Science Navigator 12.Blackjack - To Thine Own Self Be True 13.Tragic Romance - Love and Revolution 14.Vertical After - Sellout 15.Skeleton - Hit the Floor Disc 2 1. Circle of Soul - One Man's Poison 2. Animal Bag - Hate Street 3. Skew Siskin - If the Walls Could Talk 4. Exodus - A Good Day to Die 5. Forte - Mein Madness 6. Crystal Pistol - Heart of Stone 7.Condemned - Addictive 8. Scorcher - That Look In Your Eyes 9. Abby Normal - Yard of Toys 10. Totem - Come Fly With Me 11.Eyewitness - Can't Stop 12. Lazarus - Intracranial Mass 13. False Face Society - Confessor 14. Repulsa - I Never Promised You a Rose Garden Disc 3 1. Epic Mystery Metal Myriad Contest 2. Pantera - Cowboys From Hell (Live in Moscow Oct., '91) 3.Arcane Opera - Words That Heal 4. Emerald Zoo - What's It Gonna Do For You 5. Hard Knox - Run For the Money 6.Schnitt Acht - Rage 7.Cyperus - Sanity Management 8.Aragathor - Jury of Spyders 9.Rampage - Your Rules 10.Deadline - Do You Believe 11.Crash 9-Teen - Sandra Scream 12.Scarred For Life - So Trashy 13 Yvette Deluxe & the Ugly Bastards - Stripicide I and II

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