10 July 2009

CD Review - Fred Smith - "Texas" ****1/2

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Canberra’s Fred Smith is one of Australia’s most prolific and insightful singer songwriters of his generation. He has made several successful albums and was involved with the peace monitoring operations in Bougainville where he collaborated with local musicians and the Australian Army to record peace songs. He has also been the subject of radio national’s “The Planet” which offers its viewers an international perspective on the arts, politics, science and diverse and traditional music.

His latest album “Texas” was inspired by his travels through America. Each song is thought provoking, such as when he describes the US Civil War in “Don’t Dig My Grave Too Deep”. Whereas “God Bless America” is a funny yet disturbing insight to modern day America “detox boys watch botox girls.”

Smith travels through blues, country and folk to create a wry and observational look at the most powerful country in the world. We are instantly transported into the open plains of rural America, where dusty gas stations and suspicious locals chew tobacco and talk about the small happenings.

The album channels the likes of american folk hero Pete Seeger and the prolific Woody Guthrie.

Four and a half Lone Stars.

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He has a website! http://www.fredsmith.com.au go to “shop” all the details are there! you can order one in via the post, or buy a copy from landspeed or Abel’s.

pullinapailin9:45 pm 10 Jul 09

Nice review. where can we get a copy of the cd?

Texas is a superb album and well worth the high accolades. Personal faves are title track ‘Texas’ and the autobiographical ‘Seven Ways to Pass the Time of Day’.

One point: ‘Don’t Dig My Grave Too Deep’ is a cover (Rich Deans?); I think it’s the only cover on the album.

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