Disc 1: Odds, Ends And Other Amazingness
Reverend Freakchild kicks off
the first disc with a strange, bluesy take on John Lennon’s most famous and
most moving song, “Imagine.” In general, I don’t like when people put their own
spin on this song, but I have to admit I dig this interpretation. His vocal
approach reminds me just a bit of Martin Sexton. He then gives us a great dose
of New Orleans fun with “Hey Pocky A-Way,” a party song originally done by The
Meters (though the first time I heard the song, it was a version by the
Grateful Dead). Reverend Freakchild does a great job with it, and there is a
section with just drums and vocals. I also love the piano. Have yourself a
little Mardi Gras party any time of the year. The fun continues with “I Still
Have Joy,” with a delicious choir joining in this gospel celebration. “Thank God I still have joy.”
Reverend Freakchild then dips
into country with a good version of “Cryin’ Holy Unto The Lord.” Of course,
this rendition has a good dose of blues, and features a wonderful vocal
performance, as well as some great stuff on guitar. And then check out the
harmonica on “Who You Do Love.” Reverend Freakchild changes the age of the
character of that song, singing, “I’m just
forty-three but I don’t mind dying.” He then delivers an interesting and
surprising rendition of Bob Dylan’s “All Along The Watchtower.” It begins sort
of like a rock rendition, then suddenly goes in a different direction, toward
ska, and with a sort of spoken word delivery. Yes, unexpected, and yet it works
really well. “There are many here among
us that feel that life is but a joke/But you and I, we’ve been through all of
that/And by no means is this our fate.” And, oddly, in the next line, “So please let us not talk falsely now,”
he starts to sing, “So please let us talk
falsely,” but catches himself on “ta-”and then corrects himself: “not talk falsely.” And what’s that, a didgeridoo solo? What a
crazy version. And it leads into “Shark Boogie,” a silly song that begins with
a nod to Jaws, then goes into ZZ
Top’s “La Grange,” sort of. “So I had
this strange dream about Jennifer Tilly and the Dalai Lama/We was in the
studio, doing some remixes, man.” There is one lick on guitar that is
repeated a few times which reminds me of The Misfits. And there is a joke about
jumping the shark.
“Sweet Sweet You” comes as a
surprise, with a kind of dark folk feel and lyrics that mention John Lennon,
Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Robert Johnson. “The only thing missing was you/Sweet, sweet you.” It’s one of my
favorite tracks. That’s followed by a fantastic, hard, powerful rendition of “See
That My Grave Is Kept Clean,” another of the disc’s highlights.
Reverend Freakchild opened the
album with a John Lennon song, and toward the end of the first disc does
another John Lennon composition, “Yer Blues,” from The Beatles’ self-titled
double album. He really focuses on the song’s heavy blues edge, and this
rendition seems to have a more serious feel than the original. Then, after “Even hate my rock and roll,” the band
changes tempo, and gives it more of a rock feel, turning the tune into a jam. “Death
Don’t Have No Mercy” is another song I first heard from the Grateful Dead, and
here Reverend Freakchild delivers a cool, loose rendition.
The first disc concludes with “Plastic
Jesus/Working On A Building,” an interesting combination, and a bizarre track. “Plastic
Jesus” contains the sound effect of a car starting after the line about the “Plastic Jesus sitting on the dashboard of my
car.” And then it just gets weird, going from John Cougar’s “Jack And
Diane” to Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” to lines from Hannah And Her Sisters, and eventually getting to a funky version
of “Working On A Building.”
Disc 2: Everything Is Now
The second disc contains
variations on “All I Got Is Now,” a song that was the lead-off track on
Reverend Freakchild’s Hillbilly Zen-Punk
Blues, which was released last year. This disc contains a lot of different
sounds, different types of music, such as blues, reggae and punk. Some are
wonderful (like the folk version), others less so (like “The Bardo Of This Life,”
which got on my nerves after a while). The first track, “Once Upon A Time
Called Right Now,” is a bit of goofy funk – goofy mainly in the exaggerated vocal
delivery. “Use some extra psychedelic mayonnaise
on it.” That’s followed by a blues
rock version of “All I Got Is Now.” “Yesterday’s
a history/Tomorrow’s all a mystery/All I got is now/I keep forgetting that
somehow.” Oh, we all tend to forget that, don’t we?
There is also a slow reggae
rendition, with an appropriate change to the Jesus line. One of my favorites is
“All Gotta Na’,” a folk version featuring harmonica. This take on the song
works really well, and has a loose, lively vibe. I also really dig the French
version. I wish this three-disc set contained more information about these
tracks; for example, who is singing on this track? Well, whoever it is does a
great job.
“Everything Is Now…” is a slow,
deliberate rendition with a haunting quality. It’s the longest version on this
disc, at more than eight minutes. The second disc then concludes with a cool,
slow bluesy instrumental version titled “Now?” This is another of the disc’s
highlights.
Disc 3: Kairos
The third disc is from Ramblin’
Jennings, and features mostly original material. This is acoustic blues, with a
great raw feel and a gospel bent. The disc opens with “Safe In The Storm,” with
a prominent harmonica. “Lord, keep me,
keep me safe in this storm/You know I’m just a lonely pilgrim.” One of my
favorites is “Please Send Me,” which begins with some loose guitar. Ramblin’
Jennings’ vocals have a soulful, rough quality. This song feels like it comes
at the end of an eventful, tough, tiring day, or even life. Then on “Sinner
Blues,” his vocals are accompanied only by harmonica. “Lord help me, Jesus/Help me change my wrongs to rights.”
“Now let’s try something a little bit different here,” he says
before starting “Silver Sandals,” another of my personal favorites. This one
has something of a sweeter, more intimate tone. “She is part of something that is beautiful/A pretty little part of a
great big plan/Somebody loves her/Somebody holds her.” It’s a passionate,
wonderful song. Ramblin’ Jennings follows that with a rendition of “John The
Revelator” delivered a cappella. The third disc then concludes with “Last Train
Blues,” a lively number featuring harmonica. “I’m going to ride that train to freedom/Won’t be coming back.”
CD Track List
Disc 1
- Imagine
- Hey Pocky A-Way
- I Still Have Joy
- Cryin’ Holy Unto The Lord
- Who Do You Love
- All Along The Watchtower
- Shark Boogie
- Pretty Boy Floyd
- Sweet Sweet You
- See That My Grave Is Kept Clean
- Big Mouth Blues
- Hell Hound On My Trail
- Yer Blues
- Death Don’t Have No Mercy
- Plastic Jesus/Working On A Building
Disc 2
- Once Upon A Time Called Right Now
- All I Got Is Now (Low Society Remix)
- All We Got Is
- All I Got Is Now (DJ Billy E Remix)
- Alla Gotta Na’
- All I Want Is Now!
- The Bardo Of This Life
- Ich Hab Nur Diesen Augenblick
- Tout ce que j’ai, c’est maintenant (All You Need Is Now)
- All Is Now
- Everything Is Now…
- Now?
Disc 3
- Safe In The Storm
- I Saw A Wheel
- Please Send Me
- Sinner Blues
- Livin’ And Dyin’
- Silver Sandals
- John The Revelator
- Last Train Blues
Illogical Optimism was released June 1, 2016 through Treated And
Released Records.
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