Wires And Wood

Amazon.com
The Johnny Staats Project arrives riding a wave of big-time media acclaim (The New York Times, People, CBS, and NBC, to name a few) and big-time expectations for Staats as a mandolin savior. Judge Wires & Wood by that criteria and you may never find it a satisfying listen. However, when you finally grasp the idea that this is a debut record from a heretofore amateur musician and full-time UPS driver in West Virginia, you start to realize that Wires & Wood is an amazing achievement. Backed by many of Nashville's finest players, Staats nimbly balances a number of styles ranging from straight-ahead bluegrass to Celtic reels to gentle lullabies to thoughtful folk. He's well versed in the "jazzgrass" style popularized by folks like David Grisman, offering several crafty, cunning instrumentals that prove him to be a surprisingly evocative and engaging composer. At the heart of it all, of course, is Staats's astonishing mandolin work: it's incredibly fleet and fluid, boasting clarity, precision, and taste at even the most ridiculous speeds. He doesn't resort to pet licks and there rarely seems to be a superfluous note amid the torrent. He's also a rich, honey-voiced tenor singer, even if his voice is not his greatest strength; at the very least, his earnest vocal songs give you a chance to catch your breath. Ultimately, the Staats Project may not do anything that the Grisman Quintet or the Tony Rice Unit didn't do 25 years ago, but the fact that he does it as well says quite a bit about this no-longer-hidden talent. --Marc Greilsamer

Wires And Wood,Johnny Project Staats,Warner Bros / Wea,Bluegrass,Country,Country & Western,Pop

Average customer rating: Wondering about the Coal Tattoo Amagzing Progressive Grass Still listening after 2 years Awesome CD for anyone! Magic Mandolin

Wires And Wood The Johnny Staats Project Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Contemporary Country | Country | Styles | Music General | Country | Styles | Music General | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music Contemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Bluegrass | Country | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Bluegrass | Country | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music Similar Items: How to Grow a Woman from the Ground All the Roadrunning ASIN: B00004RJM1 Release Date: 2000-03-14

Tracks:

1. Mandolin Meltdown
2. Coal Tattoo
3. Legend Of The Ghost Coon
4. Wires And Wood
5. Shafer's Reel
6. Escape From Taiwan
7. You Can't Take It With You When You Go
8. Catch Me If You Can
9. Timbuktu
10. Jessica's Lullaby
11. John 'Barty' Jam

Amazon.com

The Johnny Staats Project arrives riding a wave of big-time media acclaim (The New York Times, People, CBS, and NBC, to name a few) and big-time expectations for Staats as a mandolin savior. Judge Wires & Wood by that criteria and you may never find it a satisfying listen. However, when you finally grasp the idea that this is a debut record from a heretofore amateur musician and full-time UPS driver in West Virginia, you start to realize that Wires & Wood is an amazing achievement. Backed by many of Nashville's finest players, Staats nimbly balances a number of styles ranging from straight-ahead bluegrass to Celtic reels to gentle lullabies to thoughtful folk. He's well versed in the "jazzgrass" style popularized by folks like David Grisman, offering several crafty, cunning instrumentals that prove him to be a surprisingly evocative and engaging composer. At the heart of it all, of course, is Staats's astonishing mandolin work: it's incredibly fleet and fluid, boasting clarity, precision, and taste at even the most ridiculous speeds. He doesn't resort to pet licks and there rarely seems to be a superfluous note amid the torrent. He's also a rich, honey-voiced tenor singer, even if his voice is not his greatest strength; at the very least, his earnest vocal songs give you a chance to catch your breath. Ultimately, the Staats Project may not do anything that the Grisman Quintet or the Tony Rice Unit didn't do 25 years ago, but the fact that he does it as well says quite a bit about this no-longer-hidden talent. --Marc Greilsamer

Customer Reviews:

Wondering about the Coal Tattoo.......2005-07-07

Make no mistake: I love this album and wear out my ears listening to it. I love Johnny Staats' sweet mountain voice, the best this side of Dan Tyminsky. But Staats' version of Coal Tattoo deletes the the verse about the union. Here is how it goes (from the songbook Rise Up Singing):
"I've stood for the union, walked in the line/Fought against the company/Stood for the U.M.W.A./Now who's going to stand for me? /I got no house & I got no pay/Just a worried soul/ And this blue tattoo on the side of the my head/Left by the number nine coal."

Amagzing Progressive Grass.......2004-05-24

This musicainship on album is so good it will enthrall even non bluegrass fans.

The crisp, clean, taught string artistry wound by jim hurst and johnny staats will draw you in. Music and compostion this good transcend genre.

Escape from Taiwan resembles Steely Dan. Blow some old New York hippies mind turn them on to bluegrass. This is the album to do it.

Still listening after 2 years.......2002-06-21

I'm still listening to this cd about once a month even after owning it for 2 years. All I have to say is that it's time for another one. I've been ready for 2 years!

Awesome CD for anyone!.......2002-05-16

I had the wonderful opportunity to meet and work putting together a concert for Johnny Staats a few years ago. What a wonderful person! I admit, I'm not much of a fan of this type of music for the most part. I'm in college, and I love to listen to rap and pop, but when I heard this CD, I immediately fell in love with it! If you appreciate talented artists, you will love this CD!

Magic Mandolin.......2002-04-27

I've listened to a lot of mandolin, from classical Italian to US bluegrass, and Johnny Staats is the most amazing musician I've ever heard. He wears my ears out trying to listen, sometimes to the point that I don't even know what instrument I'm listening to. Some of this music simply defies stereotypical description. It came to me from a recommendation of a friend of mine, and it's the most pleasant surprise I've had in years!!!

Average customer rating:

Wood, Wires & Bone Eric Madis Manufacturer: Luna Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Blues | Styles | Music Acoustic Blues | Blues | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music ASIN: B000CAG340 Release Date: 2003-12-23

Tracks:

1. Travis Sensei
2. 8: 15 to Bloomington
3. North Wes
4. Tutonian Rag
5. Aspire to Inspire
6. Swimming in the Sound
7. Third Step
8. 'Ela 'E
9. Swimming in the Duwamish
10. Blue Vagabond
11. Gift of Gab
12. Alika's Mele

Average customer rating:

Wires & Wood The Johnny Staats Project Manufacturer: Giant ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Contemporary Country | Country | Styles | Music General | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music Contemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music ASIN: B0002521A0 Release Date: 2000-03-14

Tracks:

1. Mandolin Meltdown
2. Coal Tattoo
3. Legend of the Ghost Coon
4. Wires and Wood
5. Shafer's Reel
6. Escape from Taiwan
7. You Can't Take It With You When You Go
8. Catch Me If You Can
9. Timbuktu
10. Jessica's Lullaby
11. John"Barty" Jam [*]

Music Album:

1. 18 Great Songs [Import]
2. A Great Big Western Howdy From Riders In The Sky
3. A Proper Introduction to the Carter Family: Keep on the Sunny Side
4. Abnormal [Live]
5. Ain't Gonna Cry
6. All Hat No Cattle
7. All in the Family
8. Best of Billy Joe Royal
9. Best of Norma Jean
10. Bluegrass from the Gold Country

Music Album