Dave Alvin – Blackjack
David (Super Audio Compact Disc)
Music: B PCM CD
Stereo: B+ DSD Stereo: A Multi-Channel DSD: N/A
Its been about a quarter century since The Blasters beat
the more commercial Stray Cats to the punch in bringing back Rockabilly, but
they also had their Rock, Country, and Blues strengths in check. So good they were that their work on Slash
Records landed the label distribution by Warner Bros. by 1981, and
guitarist/lead singer Dave Alvin was at the center of this great band. By 1986, they called it quits.
Alvin has been solo since, and Blackjack David
(1998) is a Country genre album for the most part, in the best sense of the
word. For those sick of the genre being
watered down by its abandonment of its Blues roots and general history for
quick-buck commercial success. This is
in the tradition of the best Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings offer; based in a
reality we do not hear enough in Country.
It also has the spontaneity of the most straightforward Country-like work
you’d hear form Chris Isaac or Gordon Lightfoot.
Eleven songs in all are offered,
including “Abilene”, not to be confused with the George Hamilton IV hit
form the early 1960s. This is not bad,
but the best tracks are the title song (a traditional piece rethought), “Mary
Brown”, and “Tall Trees”.
This is thought-out material and producer Greg Leitz takes Alvin into
directions that are a plus. In the
liner notes, Alvin considers his approach “orchestral”, but the album remains
on the paired down side. It still
benefits from a certain richness it would not have otherwise with this
approach.
The PCM CD tracks are really nice for that format, but the
2.0 High-Definition Direct Stream Digital (DSD) tracks are stunning! The clarity and articulation are demonstration
quality. The musicianship and Alvin’s
vocals are very dynamic on these tracks, feeling more intimate. The live feel is great, giving even
non-Country fans reasons for listening.
Alvin has a very experienced voice, with phrasing that feels like he
knows the history of Country, our country (i.e., the U.S.), and with a feeling
of worn experience that makes listening to him very convincing.
Some of this might have the simpler feel Country is known
for, which might alienate some listeners, but that simplicity (and the illusion
thereof, for how complex this album really is) is the point. This new Mobile Fidelity SACD has a nice
booklet that includes new notes to go with the original liner notes. In total, it’s a fine music disc fans of the
aforementioned genres should really enjoy, and the rest of us will be impressed
enough with.
- Nicholas Sheffo
