Headed For The Hills

Amazon.com
Even when he collaborates with someone as down-home as bluegrass king Ralph Stanley, Nashville singer-songwriter Jim Lauderdale's grass roots are often tinged with a hint of latter-day, tongue-in-cheek surrealism. No surprise that when Lauderdale hooks up with longtime Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter to write an album's worth of songs, they emerge as a quintessential "cosmic cowboy" tag team. Loopy, narrative frolics like "Trashcan Tomcat" and "Crazy Peg and Darby Doyle" sound like the Beverly Hillbillies set to Zap Comics, while lovely ballads like "Tales From the Sad Hotel" and "Head for the Sun" wed earnest country melodies to goofy, inscrutable lyrics that make you want to weep and chuckle all in the same breath. --Bob Allen

Tracks:

High Timberline
Looking Elsewhere
Sandy Ford
Headed For The Hills
Trashcan Tomcat
Paint And Glass
Tales From The Sad Hotel
Crazy Peg And Darby Doyle
Leaving Mobile
Joanne
I'll Sing Again
Head For The Sun
Upside Down

Product Description

1. High Timberline
2. Looking Elsewhere
3. Sandy Ford (Barbara LEE)
4. Headed for the Hills
5. Trashcan Tomcat
6. Paint and Glass
7. Tales from the Sad Hotel
8. Crazy Peg And Darby Doyle
9. Leaving Mobile
10. Joanne
11. I'll Sing Again
12. Head for the Sun 13. Upside Down

Format: CD

Amazon.com

Even when he collaborates with someone as down-home as bluegrass king Ralph Stanley, Nashville singer-songwriter Jim Lauderdale's grass roots are often tinged with a hint of latter-day, tongue-in-cheek surrealism. No surprise that when Lauderdale hooks up with longtime Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter to write an album's worth of songs, they emerge as a quintessential "cosmic cowboy" tag team. Loopy, narrative frolics like "Trashcan Tomcat" and "Crazy Peg and Darby Doyle" sound like the Beverly Hillbillies set to Zap Comics, while lovely ballads like "Tales From the Sad Hotel" and "Head for the Sun" wed earnest country melodies to goofy, inscrutable lyrics that make you want to weep and chuckle all in the same breath. --Bob Allen

Customer Reviews:

One Amazing CD.......2006-08-06

If you like true "roots" music this CD is a must-have. The combination of Robert Hunter's wonderful lyrics and Jim Lauderdale's beautiful melodies make for a body of work that will be treasured in anyone's music collection. The last track is a little out of character in my opinion (I dont think the drums were particularly necessary for this CD,) but that certainly doesn't stop me from giving the CD a full five stars.

+ 1/2 stars...A Thoroughly Satisfying Album.......2004-11-06

Over the past several years, Jim Lauderdale has become my favorite singer/songwriter. While HEADED FOR THE HILLS is not the overtly bluegrass album as his two collaborations with Ralph Stanley, there are enough dobros, fiddles and mandolins to make this one of the most satisfying albums of Lauderdale's career.

In addition to guest musicians like Emmylou Harris, Tim O'Brien and Gillian Welch, lyricist Robert Hunter co-wrote each of these 13 tracks with Lauderdale, lending the album a backporch feel missing from much of today's country music. Even the idiosyncratic country sounds of Donna the Buffalo on "Upside Down" fit nicely on this collection of old timey country songs. Highlights include "High Timberline," "Crazy Peg and Darby Doyle" and "Head for the Sun." HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

stories and melodies come together .......2004-09-04

I purchased this cd about two months ago and have listened to it about 15 times. Originally, I purchased it on a whim due to Robert Hunter's participation in the lyric process. I have so much music it is hard to listen to something often, but this cd I am calling the best release of 2004 (thus far). Go inside the stories, hear the tunes. This cd really is a winner cover to cover. 5 stars is only reserved for *really* good albums. This is one.

It's Good.......2004-07-01

I had a hunch that I would like this CD. I had never heard Jim Lauderdale's music before "Headed for the Hills", but I had heard of him, and being a fan of Robert Hunter, I knew this would be a good place to hear him for the first time. One thing that almost held me back from getting this CD was the thought, "what if Hunter's lyrics are really bad?" I dig almost every song Hunter ever wrote with Jerry Garcia, but I don't have the same confidence in Hunter's ability to write for other Dead members and stay away from any post-Jerry songs that Hunter has written for the Dead because, in my opinion, they can't stand up to the classic ones he wrote with Garcia. The first time I listened to this CD I could tell that the lyrics weren't bad, but I wasn't sure I liked the phrasing or singing style of Lauderdale. However, I felt compelled to listen again. It's funny how differently music sounds the first time you're hearing it compared to when you've become accustomed to it. I scrutinized the lyrics and was ready to be very critical of them. Fortunately, after listening to this CD over a half dozen times now, I can say there isn't much to criticize about it. I quickly got over my aversion to Lauderdale's voice and phrasing. It sounds extremely natural. It's really starting to sink in. The melodies, which I understand were written by Lauderdale, take shape after time and start to stand out. The one or two songs that have yet to win me over probably will eventually. If I had to criticize anything it would be that although the musicianship is top notch, a lot of guests sit in, it is rather conservative at times. I would like to have heard a little bit more "music" between verses, but that's not too big of an issue. This album is going to make me a fan of Jim Lauderdale. I'm already planning on buying the album he did with Donna the Buffalo called "Wait 'Til Spring" and the one he did with Ralph Stanley called "Lost in the Lonesome Pines". I may even get more after that. With Lauderdale, Hunter has found a new voice for his words, and I hope to see the two on them collaborate again in the future.

Pan of Gold.......2004-06-06

Finally, a country and western record that plays more western than country. Not so much cowboy as it is prospector.
Though the beautiful instrumentation is inspired appalachian, the vocals and stories reflect a world of grizzled seekers in the promised land somewhere past the Big Muddy.
Cinematic and nearly animated, there is an edgy mirth spun here with Lauderdale's earthy yodel rooting the tales of Grateful Dead icon, Robert Hunter, to the mountainside.
This disc makes for a great ride into a purple sage filled valley.

Average customer rating:

Headed for the hills
Sarah MacDougall
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000NBCR7A

Product Description

1 Pain reliever 2 Hopeless Question 3 Headed for the hills 4 My Old One-Speed Bicycle 5 Cold night 6 Different now 7 Peeling my fingernails 8 Coulee late at night 9 Doubt 10 Standing at the gate 11 Natalie 12 So long soldier

Music Album:

Music Album