Chris Smither : Train Home

The All Music Guide rating for this album on a 1-9 scale (9=best) is: 5

The All Music Guide rating for this album among this artist's works on a 1-9 scale (9=best) is: 5

  Anita Suhanin - Vocals, Vocals (Background)
  Bonnie Raitt - Vocals (Background), Slide Guitar
  Chris Smither - Guitar, Vocals, Vocals (Background)
  David 'Goody' Goodrich - Guitar (Acoustic), Banjo, Bass, Mandolin, Piano, Guitar (Electric), Guitar (Rhythm), Slide Guitar, Hi String Guitar, Reed Organ, Ambience
  Louise Ulrich - Bass
  Mike Piehl - Cymbals, Drums
  Richard Downs - Horn

Chris Smither settles into his distinctive combination of folk and blues with this excellent release. Although not pushing established boundaries, his rich, velvety voice and mature spoken-sung vocals convey a sense of truth and add depth to these introspective compositions. A bit of early Tom Waits creeps into his leathery vocals on a jaunty cover of Dave Carter 's 'Crocodile Man,' but Smither is best defined by the fingerpicked folk-blues . Bonnie Raitt , a fan from way back, contributes harmony vocals and slide guitar to his gentle eight-minute version of Dylan 's 'Desolation Row.' Some tunes are percussion-free, providing the singer's honey growl of a voice and clean acoustic guitar the most space to maneuver. Smither is loosest lamenting about his stolen car and its psychological effects on 'Let It Go,' a track that, with his muttering and grouching, seems to have been recorded in an impromptu moment. A gentle cover of Mississippi John Hurt 's 'Candy Man' -- the album's only unaccompanied performance -- shows Smither 's rather evident roots, and his closing waltz -styled version of Buffalo Springfield 's 'Kind Woman' reveals less obvious ones. Accompaniment by right-hand man David 'Goody' Goodrich , who plays keyboards, guitars, and even something called a pinewood diddley bo, subtly enhances nearly every track on this quiet gem. ~ Hal Horowitz, All Music Guide