Through a Glass Darkly

Through a Glass Darkly

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
American folk music has always been a storyteller's medium. From its roots in Scottish, Irish, and African traditions, it has been a way for plain "folks" to sing out their stories, histories, and myths. David Olney does his storytelling with such far-reaching technique that he's almost more a literary figure than a folksinger. With songs that give shine and sensuality to day-to-day lives, Olney creates a suite of stories that throws light on the complications of his characters. He sings of a French prostitute who can offer temporary respite to a weary soldier, an honest thief, and the "Suicide Kid" who tries every possible way to kill himself but who is rebuffed by Death. His arrangements mix traditional and more offbeat instrumentation, including harps and oboes. Olney's singing isn't what you'd call polished or resonant, but his flat, Western drawl gives these songs the stamp of honest authorship. --Lois Maffeo

Tracks:

1917
Dillinger
Avery County
JT's Escape
Little Bit Of Poison
The Suicide Kid
Snowin' On Raton
C'mon Through Carolina
Ice Cold Water
Race Track Blues
The Colorado Kid
That's All I Need To Know
Lilly Of The Valley
Lay Down Your Kingdom
Barabbas
Dogwoods

Amazon.com

American folk music has always been a storyteller's medium. From its roots in Scottish, Irish, and African traditions, it has been a way for plain "folks" to sing out their stories, histories, and myths. David Olney does his storytelling with such far-reaching technique that he's almost more a literary figure than a folksinger. With songs that give shine and sensuality to day-to-day lives, Olney creates a suite of stories that throws light on the complications of his characters. He sings of a French prostitute who can offer temporary respite to a weary soldier, an honest thief, and the "Suicide Kid" who tries every possible way to kill himself but who is rebuffed by Death. His arrangements mix traditional and more offbeat instrumentation, including harps and oboes. Olney's singing isn't what you'd call polished or resonant, but his flat, Western drawl gives these songs the stamp of honest authorship. --Lois Maffeo

Customer Reviews:

Not a Place to start on Olney.......2006-09-20

The title aptly reflects my response to this CD. Having tasted Olney on the fullsome, 'Wheel' I wasn't prepared for the uneveness of the writing or performances herein. There are some upbeat gems, but too few, and all towards the latter third of the disc from,'That's All I need To Know' through to,'Dogwoods' The storytelling aspect on this album is somewhat dislocated from the musical settings, and prioritised. Apart from my irritation at his rattling off so many names and States from track to track, disorientating in itself, these appellations are employed as if their mere annunciation earns some special pleading for our attention. Crucially, Olney doesn't sound too convinced. There's decidedly more of a countrified feel to this than,'Wheel' but it comes over as a poor man's, John Prine minus the humour, or a John Stewart which is a sad report when Olney, clearly has better material in him.

OLNEY'S BEST -- IN MY HUMBLE OPINION.......2001-06-01

I haven't listened to David Olney for very long -- I only discovered his music when this album was released, but I went back and obtained everything I could after hearing it. I was so impressed by this release that I knew I had opened a treasure chest of fine songwriting. This man is a storytelling master.

After listening to several of his other releases, and finding a lot of work there to admire (especially the album 'Deeper well'), I found myself returning to this cd again and again. None of the others seem to hold together as a whole like this one does. Not a concept album in the strictest sense, the songs are still linked together by the fact that they all concern events that happened in the first 30 years or so of this century.

'1917' begins the album, telling the story of the horrors of WWI, from the point of view of a Paris prostitute entertaining a young soldier, whom she sees as doomed -- all related with incredible understatement and sensitivity. 'Dillinger' takes the much-told myth of John Dillinger as 'Robin Hood' and explodes it before out eyes (or ears), exposing him for the callous, hardened animal that he was. 'Avery County' contains chilling echoes from the classic 50s Robert Mitchum film 'Night of the hunter' -- 'JT's escape' follows right behind, with some much-needed (at this point) humor. 'Little bit of poison' is a great look at the nature of love, life and relationships -- taking the bitter with the sweet. (Denice Franke does a nice cover of this on her new cd, 'Comfort')

David Olney was a friend and admirer of the late Townes Van Zandt -- and he pays tribute to him here in two ways: 'The suicide kid', an Olney original, looks at the self-destructive tendencies that have taken Townes and too many other great artists from us; and David follows it with a wonderful version of one of Townes' best-loved songs, 'Snowin' on Raton'.

The cd ends with two incredible songs. 'Barabbas' looks at the story of the Crucifixion through the eyes of the thief who was spared by the wishes of the crowd -- and speaks eloquently of the burden he must have borne. (For another well-written take on the life of Christ, check out 'Jerusalem tomorrow' on David's 'Deeper well' cd.) 'Dogwoods', the closer, is simply one of the most beautifully-written songs I've ever heard.

The musicianship is stellar throughout -- but the listener never gets the idea that the players were having anything but a good time. This is just about as perfect a collection of songs as I can imagine -- right down to the programming order. As a result of hearing this cd, I'll give anything David Olney puts out a listen -- but it's going to be hard to top this one!

Another great album by David Olney.......2000-06-30

This is more like a project, containing songs about the USA in the first half of this century. More country influences than usual on David Olney's albums. The first 2 songs are my favorites, 1917 about the 'relationship' between a prostitute and her 'customer'. And the second about John Dillinger, who in this song is not much of a hero, but a heartless criminal. Both are examples of the superb story-telling talent of David Olney. And by the way, this album also contains a cover of one of the greatest Townes van Zandt-songs, Snowin' on raton.

The Guitar Music of Meyer Kupferman, vol. 1: Echoes From Barcelona

Average customer rating:

Kupferman the survivor
Anderson Rocks Kupferman

The Guitar Music of Meyer Kupferman, vol. 1: Echoes From Barcelona
William Anderson , Oren Fader , and Joan Forsyth
Manufacturer: Soundspell
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00000BKDL
Release Date: 1998-10-13

Customer Reviews:

Kupferman the survivor.......2000-10-29

I regularly return to the music of flamboyant Meyer Kupferman. After thinking that I know what flamboyant gesture he'll do next, that I've heard it all before, I discover a disc like this one, where guitarist William Anderson proves that Kupferman endures. Four of the five pieces stand out as examples of top-drawer Kupf. Through a Glass Darkly (solo guitar) has nothing extraneous; Strumming (solo guitar) consists of 3 miniatures culminating in an epiphany in strumming; Poetics 3 (for 2 guitars) is bluesy and bluegrass--dueling banjos, or like Bela Fleck and the Flecktones; and Exordium (for the unlikely combination of guitar and piano) is almost apocalyptic. Echoes From Barcelona is a bit over the top for me, but I admire his idea of creating a big 15-minute surrealist-flamenco that time-trips to the Spanish Baroque.

Anderson Rocks Kupferman.......2000-10-14

Meyer Kupferman is known in the jazz world as much as the classical world. He is America's most prolific composer, having written dozens of symphonies, ballets, hundreds of chamber music pieces. Less known, to date is that he has written dozens of fabulous pieces with guitar. The performer of this collection of guitar pieces by Meyer Kupferman is William Anderson, who is quite well known for his recordings and concerts in Europe, the U.S., Latin America and Japan. One of the works on this recording, entitled Through a Glass Darkly, was dedicated by Kupferman to Anderson. Anderson has been one of Kupferman's major advocates on the concert stage. My favorite works on this recording are Poetics 3, for two guitars; and Exordium, for guitar and piano. For the guitar duo Anderson is joined by his long-time duo parter and friend Oren Fader (the other guitarist in Anderson's ensemble, Cygnus). Poetics 3 is in two movements, the first movement begins with lush, impressionistic harmonies (Messian-like), followed by a long, bluesy melody. The second movement is electric, with powerful ostinati figures bouncing between the two instruments. In Exordium, for guitar and piano, the piano begins with delicate rapid passages that gradually build to a cataclysm. Pianist Joan Forsyth plays exquisitely, and Anderson is one of the few guitarists who have the dynamic range to match a piano, with its tons of string tension. Through a Glass Darkly, for solo guitar is a deep, and often dark exploration of contrasts. Kupferman wrote it after recovering from major surgery in 1988. Echoes From Barcelona is a 15 minute guitaristic tour de force, taking aspects of spanish guitar music and flamenco and weaving them into a bizarre musical fantasy. The opening track is Strumming--which is rollicking, rock 'n' roll with a quiet interlude in harmonics.

Average customer rating:

Through A Glass Darkly

Manufacturer: Musea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B0000DK3NM
Release Date: 2003-09-29

Tracks:

End Of The Race
Travelling Lady
Sermonette
The Days Of Man
Analonihium
A Beautiful Child
Through A Glass Darkly
Cryptical Purple Browne Orcharde
Can't Find A Reason
Everything Is Coming To An End
Another Rude Awakening

Album Description

Breaking news ! A world event is about to happen ! According to our sources, a real treasure may have been discovered: after the famous THE BEATLES' lost tapes, here is a complete album of previously unheard musical material, recovered in a dusty corner of the British capital underground system ! It seems that the tapes, recorded by a previously unknown group, had remained there since the late Sixties, forgotten by everyone. According to authorized sources, this unique music would be typical of its time, and benefits from a quite remarkable level of production. Our informators also mention that it would include an astounding Hammond organ, a perfect rhythm section, relatively psychedelic guitars and a saxophonist as a guest… The tracks would be both concise and energetic, bluesy and ambitious. So British ! In a nutshell, all the characteristics of a hidden ATOMIC ROOSTER ! Definitely not a surprise if you could find a cover version of "Can't Find A Reason" here,! as well as "Travelling Lady" (Manfred MANN CHAPTER THREE). One and only clue to lead the investigators to the solution of this riddle, a simple name scribbled on the tape: LONDON UNDERGROUND… But, wait a second ! Ladies and Gentlemen, I've just been told that the mystery has just been solved: it was actually an hoax !… This operation has been so beautifully created that we can't actually blame its authors. Those facetious Italian musicians are not beginners, given that some of them had previously done criminal acts under the name STANDARTE, and then created the first LONDON UNDERGROUND eponymous album in 2000 (More than three thousand happy victims as today !). But still, "Through A Glass Darkly" (2003) is definitely an exceptional album, ready to come to you with the force of a tidal wave ! Would we dare say that this is one of the majors new issues in current Progressive rock ?!?…

Average customer rating:

Through a Glass Darkly
London Underground
Manufacturer: Musea Records France
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B0000DZGZ9
Release Date: 2006-06-01

Tracks:

End of the Race
Travelling Lady
Sermonette
Days of Man
Analonihum
Beautiful Child
Through a Glass Darkly
Cryptical Purple Browne Orcharde
Can't Find the Reason
Everything Is Coming to an End
Another Rude Awakening

Average customer rating:

Through the Dark Glass Shining

Manufacturer: Riding the Dragonfly Ltd
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000CAJLIA
Release Date: 2004-12-21

Average customer rating:

Down by the Drowning Creek
Christian Lopez
Manufacturer: Fiddlebone Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000CAGXOK
Release Date: 2005-01-25

Tracks:

Miller's Daughter
Patrick Delaney
Bounty Jumper
Under the Mountain
Julia Bulette
One Fine Spring Day
Little Red Cap
Mossy Grove
Cold Frosty Morning
Vesey's Hotel

Average customer rating:

Through a Glass Darkly
London Underground
Manufacturer: Griffin Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B0002B6Z4W
Release Date: 2004-01-06

Average customer rating:

Pythikos Nomos / Through a Glass Darkly
Elias , Reiner , Kelly , and Versteegh
Manufacturer: Col Legno
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B00008EWQ1
Release Date: 1995-12-01

Music Review:

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