Here Come the Choppers

Here Come the Choppers

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Folk's most engaging open wound, Loudon Wainwright III, returns with a dozen new tunes that range from the acerbic to the affecting to the profound. "My Biggest Fan," the album opener, skewers every well-meaning slob who fights his way backstage to prove his merit. "No Sure Way" takes a subway ride into an elegiac past. And "Hank and Fred" walks a circuitous path to link the great Hank Williams with Mr. Rogers. But as usual, Wainwright best burrows into the brain with songs of 3 a.m., head-holding pain, e.g., "Had to Be Her," in which he declares that "love is a lesion." Things get darker from there, believe it or not, and shrinks have labels for what most of these songs evoke. Wainwright, deftly and notably backed here by Bill Frisell on electric guitar and Greg Leisz on lap and pedal steel guitar, never bores, and he never disappoints. But buyer beware: The Prozac nation had best keep its distance. --Alanna Nash

Here Come the Choppers,Loudon Wainwright III,Sovereign Artists,Contemporary Folk,Folk,Multiple Grammy Nominee, Loudon Wainwright III has recorded a new album of contemporary songs, written and performed by Loudon and his all star band.,Pop,Rock,Singer/Songwriter,United States of America

Average customer rating:

Not my Cup of Tea, but maybe it's yours

One of his best ever

Brilliant song-writing, spellbinding presentation

BETTER TITLED 'HERE COMES THE BARGAIN RACK'

like good tequila

Here Come the Choppers
Loudon Wainwright III
Manufacturer: Sovereign Artists
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music
Singer-Songwriters | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music
General | Folk | Styles | Music
Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music
Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
General | Rock | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B0007Z9R7U
Release Date: 2005-04-19

Tracks:

My Biggest Fan
No Sure Way
Had To Be Her
Hank And Fred
Half Fist
To Be On TV
God's Country
Make Your Mother Mad
When You Leave
Nanny
Here Come The Choppers
Things

Product Description

1. My Biggest Fan (6:01)
2. No Sure Way (5:29)
3. Had To Be Her (5:02)
4. Hank and Fred (4:55)
5. Half Fist (4:12)
6. To Be On TV (4:03)
7. God's Country
8. Make Your Mother Mad (4:06)
9. When You Leave (5:22)
10. Nanny (3:12)
11. Here Come The Choppers (6:41)
12. Things (4:05)

Format: CD

Amazon.com

Folk's most engaging open wound, Loudon Wainwright III, returns with a dozen new tunes that range from the acerbic to the affecting to the profound. "My Biggest Fan," the album opener, skewers every well-meaning slob who fights his way backstage to prove his merit. "No Sure Way" takes a subway ride into an elegiac past. And "Hank and Fred" walks a circuitous path to link the great Hank Williams with Mr. Rogers. But as usual, Wainwright best burrows into the brain with songs of 3 a.m., head-holding pain, e.g., "Had to Be Her," in which he declares that "love is a lesion." Things get darker from there, believe it or not, and shrinks have labels for what most of these songs evoke. Wainwright, deftly and notably backed here by Bill Frisell on electric guitar and Greg Leisz on lap and pedal steel guitar, never bores, and he never disappoints. But buyer beware: The Prozac nation had best keep its distance. --Alanna Nash

Customer Reviews:

Not my Cup of Tea, but maybe it's yours.......2006-06-28

As one grows older, some things don't work as well as they used to, especially with us 50-something American males. With me, it's my knees, eyes and hearing, especially my hearing. I just don't hear the lyrics as well as I did 20 years ago.

So when I was listening to HCTC for the first time, I cheated by looking at the liner notes for the lyrics. Bummed was I when I found only half of them listed. Why?

Most of Loudon's appeal comes from his clever use of language and his uncanny ability to weave imaginative word stories. I was disappointed that LWIII didn't provide the tools for a hearing-impaired old geezer to enjoy them.

On *Here Come the Choppers*, many things don't work for My Man as well as they used to. He falls a bit short on the lyric frequently. And in another duplicitous turn he is often drowned out by an albeit magnificent backing band.

His selection of songs come from familiar sources---love gone wrong (or twisted), New York, nostalgia for his screwed up family life, and things that affect him. In the old days, you'd painlessly feel his pain. Here it seems like he's singing in the third person, disconnected, not all there. In the past he spoke from his heart, or ego, or liver. Like on *Hank and Fred* he never tells us WHY he's sad about Fred `s death, nor tells us why he connects Fred with Hank.

*When You Leave* has the greatest impact. Another favorite and skilled songwriting subject, Regret, is tearfully represented. *Nanny* is a bouncing Western boogie-ditty about his not-so-conventional Granny. A fun nostalgic ride thru Loudon's youth.

I promise that if I listen to this and begin to appreciate it more, I'll write a new review with the additional insight of familiarity.

One of his best ever .......2006-02-25

Can't get this one out of the changer. You know how some artists in this time of their lives get caught up in the same old thing? This isn't the case with LWIII. Very fresh sounding, and the work by Bill Frisell is a perfect fit. Great job.

Brilliant song-writing, spellbinding presentation.......2005-12-06

This cd rewards careful listening, each song a rich, concisely-told story. Country economy at its best. Prodded by a previous review belittling the insights in the 9/11 song No Sure Way, I'll just mention a few of the obvious ones: the odd feeling of surviving when others have died, the disturbing nearness of such suffering ("hell's not far below"), and the feeling of being out of place where such violent things happen. This cd is rich in songwriting. The acoustic playing is gorgeous. No peripheral connection between Hank Williams and Fred Rogers, as argued earlier, in the song Hank and Fred. Just to point to the most important: a life's suffering (Williams) ameliorated by the encouragement and presence of such a positive influence as Fred Rogers ("One New Years Day, Hank slipped away, slumped over in the back. I hope he had his cardigan, on in that cadillac.") Finally, where has there ever been such a cogent, gentle description of the near-death experience of extended tv watching? ("Everyone is dying to be on tv") Here "To Be on TV" can have the double connotation of being "on" a drug. This is great country/folk/blues/whatever song writing, and this cd is full of great songs.

BETTER TITLED 'HERE COMES THE BARGAIN RACK'.......2005-08-08

It will give you some idea about how Wainwright is straining for material that one of this CD's songs is about 9-11. Now four years into the history books, Loudon seemingly has nothing better to say about the tragedy than he noticed white tiles in the New York subway.

There isn't a "Westchester County" to be found on this offering. "My Biggest Fan"--just to cite one example--seems pointlessly indulgent even from egotist Wainwright. There's no "aha" in the song and Wainwright comes off as mean-spirited towards an inconsequential target that few will be able to relate to.

The CD a few years back that followed his mother's death exhibited poetry and beautiful melodies, such as "White Wine." But "Here Come the Choppers" is just a Shake-And-Bake of half-conceived songs you'll never listen two weeks after purchasing the CD.

Wainwright is a notoriously uneven artist, but "Here Comes the Choppers" is an under-inflated balloon at a party where you can't help but yawn.

like good tequila.......2005-07-29

Loudon Wainwright III's music is earthy and raw, but somehow as sophisticated as its more respectable competitors. Like always, he uses humor as a shield here, and like always, not too effectively. He's at his best when not trying to be too serious. Funny songs about his grandmother, or the death of Fred Rogers, tell us more about him than the serious mask of his trip past the WTC on the subway.

The killer track of the album, though, is the one that says the least about him personally - "Here Come the Choppers" uses his trademark humor to wrap a view of the terror of a chopper attack - only this time, it's on the streets of LA, not some faraway village of strangers. I bought this album two hours after hearing that song!

A HUGE plug must be made here for his A-list band, including Bill Frisell on guitar and Jim Keltner on drums. Just... wow. It's a full yet loose sound, rocking or swinging or bouncing or crying as needed.

Average customer rating:

Here Come the Choppers
Loudon Wainwright III
Manufacturer: Evangeline
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music

Folk | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B0007WL7GW
Release Date: 2005-04-05

Tracks:

My Biggest Fan
No Sure Way
Had to Be Her
Hank and Fred
Half Fist
To Be on TV
God's Country
Make Your Mother Mad
When You Leave
Nanny
Here Come the Choppers
Things

Album Description

An even dozen class contemporary songs, written and performed by Loudon Wainwright III and accompanied by the cream of present day recording instrumentalists. On this follow up to 'Last Man On Earth' Loudon is backed by Bill Frisell (E. Guitar). Greg Leisz (Lap Steel, Pedal Steel, Mandolin and Electric Guitar) long time session man and Dave Alvin cohort. David Pitch (Acoustic and Electric Bass) and the Legendary Jim Keltner (Drums and Percussion) who is widely regarded as the finest drummer in the world. Universal. 2005.

Album Details

An Even Dozen Class Contemporary Songs. Backed by Bill Frisell, Greg Leisz, David Piltch and Jim Keltner.

Music Review: