September 02, 2009

By Robert Renman - www.dolphinstreet.com

I, Flathead - Ry Cooder

I have always liked Ry Cooder. He has always been a great musical storyteller, whether it's a film score or a folk of blues tune. His latest album, I, Flathead, is the last installment in the Californian Trilogy, beginning with Chavez Ravine and continuing with last year’s My Name is Buddy.

The final CD, I, Flathead, is billed as the product of fictional musician Kash Buk and his band, The Klowns, their exploits further detailed in a 95-page novella.

It's a quirky album - it is both vintage and futuristic as the same time. There's country, rock, blues, roots, swing and jazz in here. There's also plenty of humour all throughout the album. Cooder brings out the slide as well, and Pink- Boogie is a killer tune, that's for sure.

I like this album, because it's very different. It's not guitar music of the kind I often buy. This is Ry Cooder, a man who is a fantastic guitar player and songwriter and who doesn't always go in the direction you might expext. However, he is in many ways returning to his good old self, if I dare to say so. He plays lots of great guitar on this album, and he sings great and it seems he is really having fun with this.

I give this album about 3.5 to 4 points out of 5. Ask me in a few weeks, and I might have upped it by then. It's definitely different, and I LIKE different.

By Robert Renman - www.dolphinstreet.com

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