[.ca] Clock Without Hands

From Amazon.co.uk:
Once Nanci Griffith moved away from "folkabilly" in favour of a middle-of-the-road sound, her albums often took on a self-important archness that detoured their journey from her heart to ours. The fact that she titled Clock Without Hands after a Carson McCullers novel telegraphs bad omens until you remember that many of her best, early records also honoured her literary heroes. Clock Without Hands, her first album of mostly original material since 1997, turns out to be an elegant and gratifying surprise. While the production is a bit too pristine and dry, and Griffith's sometimes irritating delivery goes over the top on "Shaking Out the Snow", the album is a thoughtful and effective meditation on the awakening and thawing of a heart grown cold. With two songs meant for a seriously ill parent and three set in Vietnam--one a deeply felt tribute to ex-husband Eric Taylor, whose life was forever changed there--Griffith seems to be making amends, healing old wounds and finding the strength to move on. This is a beautifully wrought record about the mysteries of love, longing laid bare and the importance of living in the moment. It may be the most honest album of Griffith's career; certainly it's one of her most enjoyable. --Alanna Nash

Yet another great Griffith album:
This album features some of Nanci's best arrangements to date -- nothing too overwrought or glitzy this time around, but some adventurous and engaging stylistic gadding about. The songwriting gets a little dense in places, but that's to be expected in an album named after a Carson McCullers novel -- Nanci makes no bones about her literary interests. Mostly this is a pretty engaging album. Her vocals seem a little soft, though, lacking the sparkling brightness we've come to associate with Griffith's work... I guess time may be catching up with our winsome, perpetually youthful lassie... But if this album is an clue to how she'll be dealing with a change in her range, indications are good that we're still in good hands. Nanci fans will want to check this one out!

What IS wrong here?:
I listened to this CD a while ago, and couldn't get it out of my player fast enough. A friend recently loaned it back to me, and I gave it a second try. It was better the second time around, but I still cannot enjoy it. I read the reviews here, but nobody nailed it for me, so here I go... Delivery -- her affected little girl voice, to her affected country accent, to her muddled pronunciations, she sings every song differently. Listen from "The Ghost Inside" (muddled with the cry at the beginning of EVERY phrase) going into "Truly Something Fine" (little girl). Is it the same singer? I think "Where Would I Be" is in the wrong key, because she just fades right out. She's ticking with every pronunciation in the title song. She swoops down into notes, swoops up sometimes, over enunciates. Knowing her previous work, this CD is just a worsening of a trend we've seen. Lyrics -- Weak. Metaphores galore. How many times can you say Missoula in a song? And use Enderby too, a place no one knows (North Alaska, guys). There are no more clock metaphores, all have been used in the title track. In Roses On The 4th Of July, we have a mystery of the wedding ring, and then it just slips in that he takes it off to see his buddies, but why? I'm left hanging. Vietnam at every turn (Give it a rest, unless this is supposed to be an activist album for a war gone by). Obtuse reference to things we cannot identify with: persimmons, Liverpool, Liffy, places in Vietnam, Rio, Samuel Barber and Gershwin melodies, South Dakota abound. Awkward placements, like the references to Amazing Grace and You Were On My Mind. Repetitious. I lost him in the sun how many times? Love is fine over and over? Missoula, Missoula, Missoula. Love -- She's just ticking and that's all. You mean love will never find our Nanci? Is she giving up? She's so resigned. She's run from love. Her deceased lover still haunts her. OK, we get it! Don't give up on it, Nanci, it will still come around. Activism -- OK, enough with the Vietnam. Honor the men and women who served, but don't remind them of their pain. In Armstrong, she's faulting us for going into space instead of feeding the children. Nice song, but annoying preaching, especially after listening to Vietnam up until that point. Finally -- Shaking Out The Snow. Enough has been said about the horrible delivery and inappropriate growling and yelling, so I won't say any more about that. The verses just do not support the chorus. Driving with a friend, her nasty brother's trick on her at 4 years old, Tennessee, and snow plows. What do these have to do with her "frozen" heart? Nothing. It's just a collection of lyrics that only tie together by the "frozen" metaphore. All that said, Pearl's Eye View and In The Wee Small Hours are the only seemingly cohesive songs for me. I think we all hope that there are greater songs in Nanci's warm and loving heart that will appear in future albums, sung in the clear, strong voice that we all love. She has such a wonder band; let's hope they will guide her to be the artist she truly is.

Solid album:
Nanci's voice has matured but not mellowed. She's lost the little-girl quality that some of the other reviewers seem to miss so, and gained a richness and depth and edge that I find extremely appealing. I could listen to her sing John Stewart songs all day, and would love to see her put out an entire album of them. This is a fine addition to any Nanci Griffith collection.

Not the time to buy:
If you're not already a rabid Nanci Griffith fan, skip this one - she has a dozen recordings that are lovely. If you are a long-time fan like me, take serious note of the Amazon reviewer's comment about one song. "Irritating" is an understatement - Nanci trying without success to belt out "Shaking Out the Snow" shockingly out of key is absolutely horrifying. The lyrics are great, but what has happened to the beautiful voice I've been listening to for 20 years? I like some Nanci albums better than others, and I've enjoyed seeing her perform live both in her youth and in her middle age. But I haven't been this disappointed (or disappointed at all) in any of her other CD's except Late Night Grande Hotel. Like that CD, there is only one good song here - the title track, in this case - and the rest is somewhere between mediocre and unlistenable. The song for her mother is nice. I don't mind when one of her recordings has a little filler, but there should be more than one or two really good songs. I've always bought whatever Nanci recorded. With the release of "Clock Without Hands," I plan to be much more careful in the future. I don't entirely regret buying it, because I'm unlikely to buy a greatest-hits package (already have all her albums), and the title track is one of her best songs ever. I'm glad to have it. But I tend to rush to get it out of the CD player when that one song is over. Nanci Griffith is one of my favorite singers when doing original material, and her two CD's covering great folk songs were both enjoyable and a great contribution to the world of folk music. I've tried really hard to like this CD, with repeated listenings, and I just can't manage it. You can't go wrong with most of the others - consider buying one of them first. This is simply a bad CD. I can't think of a nice way to say it. A valiant effort gone wrong?

Back on track:
Ever since being SO disapointed with her work on "Other Voices, Too" and writing a SCATHING review I decided to take another chance....and my I am not disapointed this time. This is the Nanci Griffith I had fallen in love with in her earlier works. It is so nice to hear her puting out music again which is thoughtful and pleasant to listen to with great words. Congrats Ms. Griffith....you have scored well with this release and I am now sorry I was so harsh in my previous review! Though...that CD WAS a major stinker I am sorry to say. We can't all do our best every time I suppose and one cannot please everyone everytime. But this one please me greatly...thanks.

• Clock Without Hands
• Traveling Through This Part OF You
• Where Would I Be
• Midnight In Missoula
• Lost Him In The Sun
• The Ghost Inside Of Me
• Truly Something Fine
• Cotton
• Pearl's Eye View (The Life Of Dickey Chapelle)
• Roses On The 4th of July
• Shaking Out The Snow
• Artstrong
• Last Song For Mother
• In The Wee Smll Hours