Silver Lake | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | 2003 | |||
Label | New West | |||
Producer | Mark Howard | |||
Vic Chesnutt chronology | ||||
|
Silver Lake is an album by the American musician Vic Chesnutt, released in 2003.[1][2] Chesnutt supported the album with a North American tour that included shows with M. Ward.[3][4]
Production
Recorded over two weeks in Silver Lake, Los Angeles, the album was produced by Mark Howard.[5][6][7] It was a more musically expansive album; Chesnutt, perhaps ironically, had initially intended to make "a big giant record, a ponderous, overproduced monstrosity."[8] Chesnutt did not know his backing band before entering the studio.[9] He claimed that the album contains references and secret messages to Victoria Williams.[10]
"In My Way, Yes" expresses gratitude for Chesnutt's achievements.[11] "Styrofoam" is about the interior life of a Styrofoam cooler.[12] "Sultan, So Mighty" is about a harem eunuch.[13] "Second Floor" is based on a Chinese poem from the fifth century.[14] "I'm Through" describes a breakup.[15]
Critical reception
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Detroit Free Press | [16] |
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [17] |
Knoxville News Sentinel | A[18] |
The Knoxville News Sentinel wrote that "the sometimes lush production adds drama the Chesnutt's sweet, quirky vocals."[18] The Arizona Republic deemed "Band Camp" "entertaining, uplifting, with an underlying hint of sadness and despair."[19] The Boston Globe called the album "adventurous and compelling music" and "the most diverse and deeply textured work of his career."[20] The New York Times noted that "Chesnutt has the scratchy voice of a young codger, an ear for modestly inspirational tunes and an eye for the homely, off-kilter detail."[21]
The Washington Post opined that "Chesnutt's straight talk can be merely bratty and stereotypical, and his songs tend to meander aimlessly."[22] The New Yorker labeled Silver Lake "one of his rootsiest—it sounds like a pine forest at dusk—and strongest efforts"; the magazine named it one of the best albums of 2003.[12][23] The Globe and Mail considered "In My Way, Yes" "possibly his loveliest to date, where intensity and uncertainty join hands."[24]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Vic Chesnutt
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "I'm Through" | 6:42 |
2. | "Stay Inside" | 4:46 |
3. | "Band Camp" | 4:34 |
4. | "Girl's Say" | 3:24 |
5. | "2nd Floor" | 6:15 |
6. | "Styrofoam" | 4:56 |
7. | "Zippy Morocco" | 4:05 |
8. | "Sultan, So Mighty" | 8:18 |
9. | "Wren's Nest" | 5:16 |
10. | "Fa-la-La" | 5:21 |
11. | "In My Way, Yes" | 5:17 |
References
- ↑ Farber, Jim (23 Feb 2003). "Magician on the Margins". Showtime. Daily News. New York. p. 14.
- ↑ Darragh, Tim (5 Apr 2003). "Vic Chesnutt Silver Lake". The Morning Call. p. D6.
- ↑ Takiff, Jonathan (4 Apr 2003). "Deserving voices". Features. Philadelphia Daily News. p. 61.
- ↑ Thomas, Rob (17 Apr 2003). "Vic Chesnutt has been called...". Rhythm. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 22.
- ↑ Puckett, Jeffrey Lee (12 Apr 2003). "Music". Courier Journal. p. S4.
- ↑ Wagner, Vit (10 Apr 2003). "CD Reviews". Toronto Star. p. G13.
- ↑ Morris, Chris (Apr 5, 2003). "Silver Lake". Billboard. 115 (14): 37.
- ↑ McKeough, Kevin (18 Apr 2003). "Chesnutt finding light in his very dark tunnel". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. 6.
- ↑ Krochak, Gerry (12 Aug 2004). "Vic Chesnutt: A Legendary Wordsmith". Regina Leader-Post. p. D1.
- ↑ Guarino, Mark (18 Apr 2003). "Vic Chesnutt's Silver Lining". Time Out!. Daily Herald. Arlington Heights. p. 5.
- ↑ Hasted, Nick (4 Apr 2003). "Dark side of the tune". Features. The Independent. p. 21.
- 1 2 Greenman, Ben (Apr 7, 2003). "Left of Eccentric". The New Yorker. 79 (7): 22.
- ↑ Luke, Paul (13 Apr 2003). "'I'm always motivated, but I'm not always inspired'". The Province. p. D3.
- ↑ Newcomb, Brian Q. (8 May 2003). "Themes of Struggle, Coping Are Among These Chesnutts". Get Out. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 26.
- ↑ Piccoli, Sean (14 July 2003). "Vic Chesnutt, Jim White Travel Southern States of Mind". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. p. 3D.
- ↑ Byrne, Steve (13 Apr 2003). "Roots". Detroit Free Press. p. F3.
- ↑ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 2. MUZE. p. 324.
- 1 2 Bledsoe, Wayne (30 Mar 2003). "Chesnutt's songwriting shines on 'Silver'". Knoxville New Sentinel. p. G8.
- ↑ Miles, Brent (3 Apr 2003). "CD Spins". The Rep. The Arizona Republic. p. 39.
- ↑ Capobianco, Ken (4 Apr 2003). "CD Pick". The Boston Globe. p. C13.
- ↑ Pareles, Jon (11 Apr 2003). "Pop and Jazz Guide". The New York Times. p. E24.
- ↑ Jenkins, Mark (4 Apr 2003). "Vic Chesnutt Silver Lake". The Washington Post. p. WW7.
- ↑ "Pop Notes". The New Yorker. 79 (41): 14. Jan 5, 2004.
- ↑ Wilson, Carl (10 Apr 2003). "The passionate uncertainty of Vic Chesnutt". The Globe and Mail. p. R5.