Civilians

Big Fat Search

Binding: Audio CD
Published: 2007-09-11

$14.99

Editorial Review:

Since the release of 2003's acclaimed "Tiny Voices", singer/songwriter Henry has appeared mainly as a producer, working on career defining releases by Aimee Mann, Ani DiFranco, Elvis Costello, Solomon Burke, and most recently as producer and co-writer of "Strange Weirdos" (with Loudon Wainwright), the soundtrack to the film "Knocked Up". Working with this generation's finest songwriters inspired Joe to his strongest set of songs on "Civilians"; songs of a new warmth and directness and a bold sense of melody that rides atop the cutting edge arrangements he's become known for. Features legendary pianist/songwriter Van Dyke Parks (everyone from the Beach Boys to U2) and jazz guitar pioneer Bill Frisell (Elvis Costello, Norah Jones).
Though Joe Henry has recently been busier as a producer (for the Grammy-winning Solomon Burke, a well-received collaboration between Elvis Costello and Allen Toussaint, and Henry's own collaboration with Loudon Wainwright III), his first recording of his own material in four years reminds that he has few peers among contemporary singer-songwriters. On previous releases, his adventurousness has pulled his music in all sorts of different directions, but focus and cohesion characterize this song cycle--one that suggests that all politics aren't merely local, but deeply personal. From the centerpiece of "Our Song," where Willie Mays laments what the country has become and remembers what it was, Henry crafts a literate, typically inspired song cycle. Stately waltzes, chamber atmospherics, and jazz instrumentation contribute to the cinematic scope of the music, with guitarists Bill Frisell and Greg Leisz and keyboardists Van Dyke Parks and Patrick Warren providing support that leaves the songs plenty of room to breathe. On "You Can't Fail Me Now" and "God Only Knows," it's hard to distinguish poetry from prayer. --Don McLeese
Joe Henry's latest is arguably his finest. This is not meant to undermine the allure and strengths of his previous works--rather, it speaks to artistry at work, that the newest is his best thus far. His work as a producer (for, among others, Allen Toussaint & Elvis Costello, Aimee Mann, Bettye LaVette, and Solomon Burke) has clearly informed what flows forth here. Having assembled a stellar band, he rose to the occasion with this set of emotionally complex songs, rich in subtleties. Deftly drawn characters inhabit many of the lyrics, with the centerpiece being "Our Song," wherein he offers up a viable fiction: encountering baseball hero Willie Mays shopping in an Arizona Home Depot. The melancholy of time passing and expectations being shuffled about makes this a riveting and moving number. Sociopolitical circumstances inform much of the album, but never as sloganeering, always human-scaled, with warmth and a beating heart. --David Greenberger

Customer Reviews:

Avg. Customer Rating: 5.0 / 5.0

Joe Henry Is a Lion:

I'll throw two more cents in among all the beautiful words people have written on the subject of Civilians. In my view, Tiny Voices might have made a pinnacle of a great career, but somehow Joe Henry keeps getting better, stronger, just keeps growing, as a storyteller, as a lyricist, an instrumentalist. By god, I think he is even breaking new ground in the art of production: who can make something so beautiful and complex sound so natural? This guy is an artist, seriously, of the entire process, from... more info

A True Classic:

After listening to this intensely for several months, I have to say that this is Joe Henry's best album. Considering his past output, that comes as quite a statement. I'd also say that this was the best CD released in 2007, a year that in my opinion contained a bumper crop of exceptionally strong releases.
CIVILIANS signals a coming back towards home in the trajectory of Henry's music. From the Americana troubadour of his earlier work, Henry went to the stratosphere in his last couple of releases... more info

A Master Musician:

This album is solid from the first song on. The tempo is laid back. The music is diverse taking influences from jazz, blues, country, and classic rock. The songs are arranged very well. The tempo and vocals meld together seamlessly. It is a great album to listen too if your looking for something to sooth your mind and relax your body. This album is a lot like comfort food in the form of music. It has great guitar lines arranged to perfection with vocals that fit perfectly. If you are a fan of Amos Lee, The... more info

Civilians:

"Civilians" is an albumn that should go down in history as one of the greatest. It's the equivalent of Don Delillo's "Underworld," and if that's too obscure a literary reference, I urge everyone to read the book as well as buy and listen to Joe Henry's albumn. He's a gifted singer/songwriter.

Tracks: