I, too, had never heard this album before this release. I think it was
@GOS 's dogged commitment to pick up the box set that convinced me to drop more money than I ever had on a single album, albeit in a lavish package. I'm with
@Greg Z -- this is worth every penny. Unlike him, though, I've only listened to the SACD (TV should be coming soon so I can check out the blu ray!).
The album starts off pleasantly enough with a catchy little Byrds-esque country rock number, "Life's Greatest Fool," that made me think I'd be listening to an album full of such songs, mixed tastefully but not so very discretely. But when the second song, "Silver Raven," kicked in, it was clear to me that this had the possibility of being something very special indeed. Somehow the mix seemed to be opening up, the darkness of the song, Clark's falsetto, the haunting chorus taking the album to the next level, grabbing my attention--demanding it. And then comes the title track--and another sonic direction and much more going on in the rears. This is no country song--unless Sly Stone wrote the groove! And the song just continues to build, lyrically, musically, philosophically, transcendently! But wait, next is "Strength of Strings"! Holy Shit! Man, the mix just kept on opening up as does Clark's songwriting. What a testicular title for a song, and balls if he doesn't deliver! The lushness, the layers of the production really come through in the surround mix. And the album keeps getting farther away from country while somehow retaining its country roots . . . I have no idea how it happens because this song sounds almost modal, and the majesty of the lyrics and Clark's vocal tug at my heart and mind--sublime. "A Silver Phial" is up next with its beautiful harmonies and druggy anti-druggy tale. And then . . . the album's longest cut at 8:10, "Some Misunderstanding." What a track! That country feel is back and the majesty and melding of genres remains as Clark sings about how great it feels to be alive and the slide guitar and strings and background vocals underscore the epic beauty of it all. "We all need a fix at a time like this," and this is
it, affirming life in its gospel-like flow. And away we go, back to the straight country feel of the opener with the penultimate song, "The True One." It's almost like these two country-rock numbers serve as bookends to all that comes between and all that blew me away with just how far Clark has taken the possibilities of country-rock. But he's not done. The album ends with the second-longest cut (6:04), "Lady of the North," a beautiful and penitent love song to his wife, who left him down in Southern California in the wretched excess of the recording process and partying and alcohol and drug use dragging on and dragging down, and to whom he would return, not really realizing his marriage was basically over. The backstory makes the song so much more powerful, especially coupled with the knowledge of the ultimate, inexplicable critical dismissal of the record and its subsequent commercial failure that resulted in a depression from which Clark never recovered. It all echoes through the song's final poignant notes.
The record itself strikes me as a timeless classic, a release of rare perfection lovingly restored and given a surround mix that enhances Clark's spiritual yearning and underscores the transcendence of Art. One of the true treasures of my collection and an undeniable TEN! Thanks
@neil wilkes !
