Track Listing
1. False Hearted Lover Blues
2. Poor Old Dirt Farmer
3. Mountain, The
4. Little Birds
5. Girl Left Behind, The
6. Calvary
7. Anna Lee
8. Got Me a Woman
9. Train Robbery, A
10. Single Girl, Married Girl
11. Blind Child
12. Feelin' Good
13. Wide River to Cross
| Details | | Playing Time: | 51 min. | | Producer: | Amy Helm, Larry Campbell | | Distributor: | Welk | | Recording Type: | Studio | | Recording Mode: | Stereo | | SPAR Code: | n/a |
Album Notes
Though the Band are often discussed in terms of their contributions to musical Americana, drummer Levon Helm was in fact the only American-born member of the group, and his Dixie-fried, high lonesome lilt was one of the keys to their proto alt-country sound. On his 2007 solo release, DIRT FARMER, Helm returns to his roots and indulges in the bedrock American music on which the Band based their legendary sound. Joined by his daughter Amy, she of Ollabelle fame, and studio ace Larry Campbell (among others), Helm works his way through a relaxed yet sturdy set of bluegrass rave-ups, country slow-dances, and bluesy shuffles from across the centuries. And though Helm battled throat cancer prior to this recording, it hasn't diminished the power of his voice a drop--rather, it lends the album a steely sense of endurance and resolve.
Editorial Reviews
3.5 stars out of 5 -- Levon's vocals are a welcome miracle.....Helm's drawling howl is heavy with the outrage and sorrow of someone with a deep connection to the land and those who live by it.
Rolling Stone
3 stars out of 5 -- Helm's voice still retains plenty of that ragged, yearning quality that once helped define The Band...
Q
Helm not only shows he's still a marvelous interpreter, but he manages to invigorate every song with urgency and passion.
Dirty Linen
3.5 stars out of 5 -- Helms anchors an accomplished cast of players with diverse virtuosity...
Down Beat
4 stars out of 5 -- DIRT FARMER finally brings Helm into the realm of Lucinda Williams and her kind, with Larry Campbell serving as his white-knight Joe Henry.
Uncut
Helm's weathered twang remains remarkably intact....He seems right at home singing traditional bluegrass tunes... -- Grade: B+
Entertainment Weekly
4 stars out of 5 -- Expertly performed throughout, it's the seductive ruggedness of Helm's voice that really carries the record and guides the listener on a fascinating musical travelogue executed with clarity and conviction.
Record Collector
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