Eliza Gilkyson – Beautiful World
by Bambi Weavil
Eliza Gilkyson
Beautiful World
Official Site: http://www.elizagilkyson.com
Released: May 27, 2008 on Red House Records
["Great Correction" live via YouTube's minorw]
Grammy-nominated songwriter Eliza Gilkyson’s Beautiful World is a celebration of beauty that shines amidst the darkest of days with a mixing bowl of Americana, rock, jazz and folk stylings. Optimistic throughout the album, Gilkyson was inspired to create this album from a monthly gathering she posted in 2007 with University of Texas professor/activist Robert Jensen and Presbyterian minister Jim Rigby called “Last Sunday.” Held at various venues around Austin, these community forums covered topics such as politics, art, spirituality and the environment. “Great Correction” was written as a way for Gilkyson “to consult myself as I grieve the devastation of the human and natural world.” This is one of the best written songs on the album and something Gilkyson should be remembered by, with lyrics such as:
“down on the corner of ruin and grace
I’m growin weary of the human race
hold my lamp up in everyone’s face
lookin for an honest man.”
This song spurred a whole cycle of songs about persevering and hope for a more beautiful world.
“Emerald Street” kicks off the album, with a optimistic radio ready jazz/pop love song that instantly reminds me of Sheryl Crow. “Wildewood Spring” has a country, easygoing styling mixed in with poetry fused lyrics, with my favorite phrasing of “urban survivors.”
“The Party’s Over” is a nice touch, remembering a previous’ night’s good times, while “Clever Disguise” gives us the great line: “I’m just a roadside flower draped in a fancy dress.”The “don’t hate and don’t pass judgment song” in a country music tempo is “Dream Lover” about being a porno star pretty much caught me by surprise. I wonder if that will make country radio? That would be interesting!
“He Waits For Me” didn’t really do much for me because I felt it didn’t fit the message of the album as much as the other songs did. “Runaway Train” was good but I would want it to be more bluesy in the future and more gritty for a greater musical impact.
“Beautiful World” is like a gorgeous audio soundscape (be prepared it’s over six minutes long and more of a relax-track) and would be appropriate for a movie or TV series background that wanted to focus on the beauty of the universe….as far as track order, this should have been at the conclusion of the album.
“Rare Bird” reminds me of a Sheryl Crow meets Beatles/John Lennon type song, and I absolutely love the message and jazz styling of “Unsustainable” – if I were to release any song to radio, it’s this one. Great mixing album by Gilkyson, I love how she tries different musical approaches with her talented songwriting and there’s no doubt that she’s eccentric and versatile with the talent to back it up.
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