Thursday, July 17, 2014

#1335 Leadbelly - Take This Hammer

Doesn't come a lot more legit than this, pure pre-roots, packed with character and pathos and grit and soul, just those huge full vocals with a spare jaunt of guitar as the only backing. The recordings breathe, the performances surge with nuance, the collection itself ambles around with uncanny life.

The highlights are the tracks that put Leadbelly himself front and center. The big ole choruses of agreement swoop with haunting flow, but there's nothing to compare to that desperate man at the heart of it all. It's not easy listening, it works its way in and becomes your experience, but if you're willing to meet it halfway you'll find yourself in a strange, powerful place indeed 3.5/5

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