[.ca] Shaking Off Gravity

Perhaps Vance's best:
I have now heard all of Vance Gilbert's CDs and seen him live three times. There is no substitute for his live performances---a concert he did with Ellis Paul last year was the best show I have ever seen---but this album comes close. I sort of miss the half-spoken poetry that he has on Edgewise, and "Twice Struck" is not a song that I can listen to repeatedly. Other than that, I have no reservations about this album. It is poetry, lyrical and parts of it have seductively catchy melodies.

My life's sountrack:
I seems Vance only gets better with age. This CD does not have a single weak track, I never skip over track when I listen to it. Although faulted in the past for "fluffy lyrics" this album is full of powerful stories and unblinking introspection. This album is second only to his latest -live- release, available on his website.

If you only buy 1 CD this year.....:
This gifted folk performer has it all: the vocal quality and range that makes one green with envy, masterful guitar skills and lyrical storytelling. Any of these gifts, alone, would make him worth listening to. He has ALL THREE! I put this CD on when I first arrive home and the whole day just dissolves. You absolutely MUST see him in concert but, if you can't, this recording is a close substitution. Thanks, Vance.

Don't wait another day:
This album is one everyone should own, even if you don't consider yourself a "folk" fan. His lyrics are powerful and honest--"Twice Struck," is a favorite and "Charlene" breaks my heart every time I hear it. See a live show if you can (vancegilbert.com has dates and more).

A great album by a dynamic singer/songwriter:
My first exposure to Vance Gilbert was a convert he performaed at the Cla-Zel theater in Bowling Green, Oh. His performance had me in tears of laughter one moment, tears of sadnes the next. Vance loves to work the audience. Noticing that my young daughters working their way down the aisle back to their seats, he asked their names and proceded with an imprompteau song featuring their names and the name of the girl seated next to them. While there is no substitute for seeing Vance live, Shaking off Gravity exudes Vance's energy and passion. Highly recommended.

• Hey Lah Dee Dah Song
• Taking It All to Tennessee
• Twice Struck
• Watching a Good Thing Burn
• Just Can't Go Like That
• House of Pain
• Fly
• Charlene
• Do What You Gotta Do
• Icarus by Night
• Oh Little Town
• Could You Believe
• Nothing for You