Search - Dar Williams :: Promised Land

Best Dar Album in a Couple of Years

B. A. Chaney | Baltimore, MD USA | 09/20/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I'm a pretty big Dar Williams fan--I have all of her albums and I've seen her in concert a few times. I like Dar Williams because of her funny, storytelling folk rock style; for me her best songs are always the ones like "The Babysitter's Here", "Christians and the Pagans" and "Spring Street" which capture a narrative in song.



I was a disappointed by Dar's last album "My Better Self" which I thought lost some of her signature narrative style in favor of adult pop appeal. "Promised Land" brings that narrative style back. While its not quite as strong as it was in some of Dar's earlier albums, it is clearly there, taking you back to the old Dar. The album is enjoyable to listen to and sing-able like the best of Dar's work.



I would recommend this album to fan's of Dar William's older work. People who are only familiar with "My Better Self" may be surprised, but I think this album is still worth a listen."

It's okay.

Chronos467 | Pelham, Alabama | 10/14/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I've been a fan of Dar's since the beginning. I purchased the Honesty Room before it was on Razor and Tie and I think her first three albums are some of the best albums of the nineties. However, unlike Diane Zeigler whose debut album came out around the same time as the Honesty Room and has remained consistent although not as prolific, Dar's work has gotten progressively less interesting. I still like it -- just not as much as I did.



I was excited when I read that she was working with producer Brad Wood and was going for a more pop sound on this record, but the results were more to the folk end of the spectrum. Don't get me wrong - I love folk music -- but this album was just not very interesting.



It's funny. When I got this record I popped it in my car player and one song really jumped out at me -- Troubled Times. I thought, "Wow. That's the best song that Dar has written in years. What a great melody." Then I read the liner notes and found out it was written by Collingwood and Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne. No wonder it had a great hook.



I don't dislike this album; I just don't like it that much either."

Another very good listen

Patrick | Honeoye NY USA | 12/23/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It seems funny to me that whenever someone branches out and tries different things...or god forbid becomes more popular with the masses that they are either a sell-out or not as interesting as an artist any more.

It is true that this CD has more of a pop element to it, but it is very well done. The songs are well written and catchy as one would suspect from Dar Williams and as a whole the entire thing sounds gorgeous.

I would certainly steer people who are new to Dar Williams back to her earlier work if only to see how she has moved stylistically from that point to this one.

The bottom line is that if her name is on the cover, you can be sure that you are in store for a pleasurable experience from one of this generations truly gifted singer-songwriters.

I for one am glad that Dar Williams has just not stuck to one sound and aimed to churn the same album out time after time.

"