I explained the background to buying my first John Wesley Harding album. I don't really know why I bought another. I remember I was in big record store in Seattle in 2001, and the CD was cheap. But why? When the first one had left me unmoved.
Just possibly it was because I downloaded a live version of JWH song called Peeling Bark and really liked it. I don't think so, though, because I don't think I was downloading music in 2001.
Anyway, I feel the same about this album as the other. The songs are extremely well crafted. There's no question that this guy can write. There never was. But the production is very anonymously American. And the voice at times sounds uncomfortably close to Elvis Costello at times. That probably sums up JWH's tragedy to me: aims to be Dylan, yet ends up closer to Costello.
But if you ever get the chance to hear that solo live version of Peeling Bark, don't pass it by.
 MusicBrainz entry for this album
|
Comments