Album review: Robbie Robertson, 'How to Become Clairvoyant'
2 stars (out of 4)
“How to Become Clairvoyant” (429 Records), Robbie Robertson’s first album since the ‘90s, is a stately, slow-moving affair, thick with smoky arrangements and songs that look back on his five-decade career with a mixture of fondness and ruefulness. The singer – a ground-breaking guitarist and songwriter in his prime -- reflects on his old road mates, the Band, and their long journey from youthful optimism (“When the Night Was Young”) to dissolution (“This is Where I Get Off”). He provides snapshots of the rock ‘n’ roll life: the sly affection of “Straight Down the Line,” the young guitarist’s awe in “Axman,” the survivor’s don’t-try-this-at-home-kids perspective of “He Don’t Live Here No More.”
Like most of Robertson’s solo albums, the overly careful, layered production comes across as a bit of a cover-up, masking his limitations as a singer. In truth, he’s got a distinctive if limited voice, a weathered narrator trolling through the back-alleys of his past. But its intimacy is compromised by the stolid music. The heavy-duty guest list includes Steve Winwood, Robert Randolph, Trent Reznor and Tom Morello. Eric Clapton plays an even bigger role, a collaborator on seven of the 12 tracks, but he adds little. Only when the guitars of Clapton and Robertson tangle on “This is Where I Get Off” does the album soar, and the listener is left wishing for more moments like that one. They never arrive.
greg@gregkot.com
i have the record and couldn't disagree more with this uninspired critic's review. Lyrically this record takes you inside places you've only dreamed about (as a big time music fan) and does it in a way we rarely get to hear nowadays. Stellar musicianship throughout, guitar based and the production is very raw and doesn't cover up anything. i guess when you're paid to listen to music instead of playing it you write garbage like this review. i give the record 3.5 out of 4 stars :)
Posted by: Barnaby | April 01, 2011 at 12:02 PM
This album is long awaited. One of Robbie Robertson's talents lies in creating characters we seem to know but haven't met. Robertson, after all, wrote “The Weight,” a song that almost didn’t make it onto “Music from Big Pink”; it was considered a backup in case an extra song was needed.
I recently posted on my Rockaeology blog at http://bit.ly/hArGWv the meaning of the song's lyrics. Surprisingly, Robertson says he did not intend the song to have a religious theme; his Nazareth is a small city in Pennsylvania. The characters -- Fanny, Crazy Chester and the rest -- are all people the group knew with stories of their own.
Posted by: Jensen Lee | April 01, 2011 at 02:16 PM
This is a beautiful album and the key reviewer has got it so wrong-why I wonder?The contribution of the guests add something but this is Robbie's album and a joy to hear-no reservations at all
Posted by: John Moore | April 03, 2011 at 09:18 AM
Strongly disagree, I think this disc has Grammy written all over it. Grabbed me immediately. Robbie Robertson is still the epitome of cool, check it out.
Posted by: alden foraie | April 06, 2011 at 06:16 PM
I've had a few listens to the album now and think Greg Kot has summed it up perfectly. Robertson's rusty voice is no competition for the three great singers he once wrote for in the Band. What's more, he no longer seems able to write the brilliant songs he once seemed to come up with so effortlessly. Where are the stories? Show me the equal of 'The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down', 'King Harvest' or 'Up On Cripple Creek' on this album, because I can't find it.
Posted by: Nick | April 11, 2011 at 01:37 AM