The Verdict on River in Reverse
The Verdict on River in Reverse
How about an old-fashioned poll...
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I'm a big ATUB fan as well but thought The Delivery Man was EC's best album since King Of America. I'd put RIR right up there with the other three as one of his best, as well. Definitely surpasses even the Juliet Letters (by a hair) for best collaboration and a really great showcase for the Imposters, who hold their own playing with Allen and the other real, honest-to-gosh NOLA musicians. Some of the other collaborations felt like side projects (sorry, Elvis!) but this one feels and sounds like an EC album, thanks in large part to the inclusion of the Imposters, and a very strong EC album, at that!!!
It's great, really really good. But it NEEDS a cracking opener, and it doesn't have one, IMHO. It's the best collaboration he's done (just) and I reckon it's abour 4-4.5 stars. Apart from the Delivery Man, his best since Brutal Youth and All This Useless Beauty.
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All things considered (!), for me this is the most exciting EC album etc in 20 years.
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It's certainly his best collaboration album in my view.
I've only heard it completely once in the car and it's amongst some other albums that I've recently purchased. But on first listening it's done more for me than previous collaboration albums.
His last three albums have been brilliant and I can't stop wondering how he does it. It justifies the (vast) money I spend seeing him in concert, the time he graciously gives us after the shows and the long drives and late nights home.
I've only heard it completely once in the car and it's amongst some other albums that I've recently purchased. But on first listening it's done more for me than previous collaboration albums.
His last three albums have been brilliant and I can't stop wondering how he does it. It justifies the (vast) money I spend seeing him in concert, the time he graciously gives us after the shows and the long drives and late nights home.
Who’s this kid with his mumbo jumbo?
It may not be cracking, but I can probably safely take back that statement. On Your Way Down is still the least exciting song on the album for me, but it's growing on me.I rather foolishly wrote:It's great, really really good. But it NEEDS a cracking opener, and it doesn't have one, IMHO.
If there were a king of fools than I would wear that crown/And you can all die laughing/Because I'll wear it proudly.
I voted for the "great...on par", but I'm ready to move higher, as I've only properly listened once. Toussaint is every bit as much of a genius as Bacharach -- though I find the collaboration here a bit less consistently fascinating than it was for me on "Painted from Memory". I love "The Delivery Man" and "When I was Cruel" so "on par" is pretty much a rave from me.
http://www.forwardtoyesterday.com -- Where "hopelessly dated" is a compliment!
My Preferred Track Order
At first I worried that River in Reverse may not have the longevity of other Elvis albums. But now after many listens, I think it will hold up quite well in the "Elvis Canon"
I changed the track order though (and removed International Echo - a song I just can't quite warm up to):
1. On Your Way Down
2. Nearer To You
3. Tears, Tears, and More Tears
4. Six-Fingered Man (fade-in on the start count)
5. Where is the Love
6. Who's Gonna Help Brother Get Further
7. The River In Reverse
8. Freedom For the Stallion
9. Broken Promise Land
10. Ascension Day
11. Wonder Woman
12. All these Things
13. The Sharpest Thorn
14. The Greatest love
and as a bonus
15. the River In Reverse (Live on Letterman)
Some of the transitions work pretty well, especially Wonder Woman into All These Things.
The Sharpest Thorn and The Greatest Love make a nice end to the album.
I changed the track order though (and removed International Echo - a song I just can't quite warm up to):
1. On Your Way Down
2. Nearer To You
3. Tears, Tears, and More Tears
4. Six-Fingered Man (fade-in on the start count)
5. Where is the Love
6. Who's Gonna Help Brother Get Further
7. The River In Reverse
8. Freedom For the Stallion
9. Broken Promise Land
10. Ascension Day
11. Wonder Woman
12. All these Things
13. The Sharpest Thorn
14. The Greatest love
and as a bonus
15. the River In Reverse (Live on Letterman)
Some of the transitions work pretty well, especially Wonder Woman into All These Things.
The Sharpest Thorn and The Greatest Love make a nice end to the album.
Ooh ooh, terrific. Outstanding album - top marks, thanks BlueChair, dear.
Hi Miclewis, welcome to this forum. I'm happy to leave the running order to the blokes who made the record aaaaand please consider the hilarious 'International Echo' hereby re-instated
Oh, and C'MON THE SOCCEROOS
Hi Miclewis, welcome to this forum. I'm happy to leave the running order to the blokes who made the record aaaaand please consider the hilarious 'International Echo' hereby re-instated
Oh, and C'MON THE SOCCEROOS
"...i feel almost possessed,
so long as i don't lose this glorious distress..."
so long as i don't lose this glorious distress..."