Continuing his obvious affinity for Southern U.S. roots-blues, Mr. Gibbons, of Slingblade fame, has taken up the banjo (enhanced with his guitar and harmonica) to create an unusual fusion of originals best referred to as �delta bluesgrass�. �Slim Tim� is infamous for selling his music only to those who care enough to attend his live performances, and the limited pressings are often sold out very quickly. I�m still searching for two of his earlier CDs to complete my collection.
Crow in Winter is a fairly good quality barebones recording (care of Bent Knees Music � no contact information provided), characterized mainly by Tim�s trademark mellowness. The CD begins with �TreeSitter Song�, a tribute to the human beacons (or �candles�) protesting the destruction/reconstruction of Hamilton�s Red Hill Valley and the adjoining at-risk native burial grounds in favour of a highway aimed at improving the economic prosperity of Hamilton.
�Bordello of Time�, Tim�s contribution to the Red Hill Valley tribute CD, Keepers of the Sacred Fire, is included here, as well. It�s a haunting ballad, enhanced by minimal electric blues guitar, but the lyrics are somewhat muffled and the connection to the cause is not patently clear to me. �Old Woman in the Wind� speaks to poverty of the belly, but I sense a parallel being drawn to poverty of spirit. As old women are often referred to as "crows", I'm sure there's a lot more going on here that meets the eye, but that's only speculation on my part.
Another track I was already familiar with - �Tophat full of�Tears� (from his Things Get Bad CD) - is reprised in a much looser format that took a few listens to adjust to, but I eventually ended up preferring this extended version offering a glimpse into a woman�s unwavering devotion to her man.
�Sidewalks�, �Leave the Snow Outdoors� and �Bad News the Banjo Boy� all deal with the darker side of life � the homeless, the drug-addicted and the heartbroken, but �Dooley� is a more upbeat and delightful little ditty about an unruly girl that �sends me to rock�n�roll�. Speaking of rock�n�roll, there are subtle instrumental and lyrical references to the Stones and Buddy Holly on more than one song.
�Keep on Blues� is a gently rollicking toe-tapper paying homage to the human spirit�s persistent efforts to survive against life�s adversities, and it is followed by �Duck and Cover�, an echoing renegade roots-rocker featuring hell-bound blues-harp and chugging banjo licks, which closes the CD with a triumphant howl. |
