Silver Lake (album)
| Silver Lake | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 2003 | |||
| Label | New West | |||
| Producer | Mark Howard | |||
| Vic Chesnutt chronology | ||||
| ||||
Silver Lake is an album by the American musician Vic Chesnutt, released in 2003.[1][2] Chesnutt supported the album with a North American tour that included shows with M. Ward.[3][4]
Production
Recorded over two weeks in Silver Lake, Los Angeles, the album was produced by Mark Howard.[5][6][7] It was a more musically expansive album; Chesnutt, perhaps ironically, had initially intended to make "a big giant record, a ponderous, overproduced monstrosity."[8] Chesnutt did not know his backing band before entering the studio.[9] He claimed that the album contains references and secret messages to Victoria Williams.[10]
"In My Way, Yes" expresses gratitude for Chesnutt's achievements.[11] "Styrofoam" is about the interior life of a Styrofoam cooler.[12] "Sultan, So Mighty" is about a harem eunuch.[13] "Second Floor" is based on a Chinese poem from the fifth century.[14] "I'm Through" describes a breakup.[15]
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Detroit Free Press | [16] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [17] |
| Knoxville News Sentinel | A[18] |
The Knoxville News Sentinel wrote that "the sometimes lush production adds drama the Chesnutt's sweet, quirky vocals."[18] The Arizona Republic deemed "Band Camp" "entertaining, uplifting, with an underlying hint of sadness and despair."[19] The Boston Globe called the album "adventurous and compelling music" and "the most diverse and deeply textured work of his career."[20] The New York Times noted that "Chesnutt has the scratchy voice of a young codger, an ear for modestly inspirational tunes and an eye for the homely, off-kilter detail."[21]
The Washington Post opined that "Chesnutt's straight talk can be merely bratty and stereotypical, and his songs tend to meander aimlessly."[22] The New Yorker labeled Silver Lake "one of his rootsiest—it sounds like a pine forest at dusk—and strongest efforts"; the magazine named it one of the best albums of 2003.[12][23] The Globe and Mail considered "In My Way, Yes" "possibly his loveliest to date, where intensity and uncertainty join hands."[24]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Vic Chesnutt.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "I'm Through" | 6:42 |
| 2. | "Stay Inside" | 4:46 |
| 3. | "Band Camp" | 4:34 |
| 4. | "Girl's Say" | 3:24 |
| 5. | "2nd Floor" | 6:15 |
| 6. | "Styrofoam" | 4:56 |
| 7. | "Zippy Morocco" | 4:05 |
| 8. | "Sultan, So Mighty" | 8:18 |
| 9. | "Wren's Nest" | 5:16 |
| 10. | "Fa-la-La" | 5:21 |
| 11. | "In My Way, Yes" | 5:17 |
References
- ^ Farber, Jim (February 23, 2003). "Magician on the Margins". Showtime. Daily News. New York. p. 14.
- ^ Darragh, Tim (April 5, 2003). "Vic Chesnutt Silver Lake". The Morning Call. p. D6.
- ^ Takiff, Jonathan (April 4, 2003). "Deserving voices". Features. Philadelphia Daily News. p. 61.
- ^ Thomas, Rob (April 17, 2003). "Vic Chesnutt has been called...". Rhythm. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 22.
- ^ Puckett, Jeffrey Lee (April 12, 2003). "Music". Courier Journal. p. S4.
- ^ Wagner, Vit (April 10, 2003). "CD Reviews". Toronto Star. p. G13.
- ^ Morris, Chris (April 5, 2003). "Silver Lake". Billboard. Vol. 115, no. 14. p. 37.
- ^ McKeough, Kevin (April 18, 2003). "Chesnutt finding light in his very dark tunnel". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. 6.
- ^ Krochak, Gerry (August 12, 2004). "Vic Chesnutt: A Legendary Wordsmith". Regina Leader-Post. p. D1.
- ^ Guarino, Mark (April 18, 2003). "Vic Chesnutt's Silver Lining". Time Out!. Daily Herald. Arlington Heights. p. 5.
- ^ Hasted, Nick (April 4, 2003). "Dark side of the tune". Features. The Independent. p. 21.
- ^ a b Greenman, Ben (April 7, 2003). "Left of Eccentric". The New Yorker. Vol. 79, no. 7. p. 22.
- ^ Luke, Paul (April 13, 2003). "'I'm always motivated, but I'm not always inspired'". The Province. p. D3.
- ^ Newcomb, Brian Q. (May 8, 2003). "Themes of Struggle, Coping Are Among These Chesnutts". Get Out. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 26.
- ^ Piccoli, Sean (July 14, 2003). "Vic Chesnutt, Jim White Travel Southern States of Mind". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. p. 3D.
- ^ Byrne, Steve (April 13, 2003). "Roots". Detroit Free Press. p. F3.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 2. MUZE. p. 324.
- ^ a b Bledsoe, Wayne (March 30, 2003). "Chesnutt's songwriting shines on 'Silver'". Knoxville New Sentinel. p. G8.
- ^ Miles, Brent (April 3, 2003). "CD Spins". The Rep. The Arizona Republic. p. 39.
- ^ Capobianco, Ken (April 4, 2003). "CD Pick". The Boston Globe. p. C13.
- ^ Pareles, Jon (April 11, 2003). "Pop and Jazz Guide". The New York Times. p. E24.
- ^ Jenkins, Mark (April 4, 2003). "Vic Chesnutt Silver Lake". The Washington Post. p. WW7.
- ^ "Pop Notes". The New Yorker. Vol. 79, no. 41. January 5, 2004. p. 14.
- ^ Wilson, Carl (April 10, 2003). "The passionate uncertainty of Vic Chesnutt". The Globe and Mail. p. R5.