Search - Jim White :: Transnormal Skiperoo

Jim White's Best Yet....and that's saying a lot

wm | ...onward....thru the fog! | 10/03/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Please see US version of CD. This was a review of the import edition."

Jim White's Best Yet....And That's Saying A Lot

wm | ...onward....thru the fog! | 03/04/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A while back, Jim White opened for Ollabelle, his backing band on several tracks on "Skiperoo". After the show, I commented to him that "A town called Amen", the opening track, sounded like Jim White channeling John Prine. Jokingly or not, White said "that's exactly what I was doing on that song". For my money, Jim White does John Prine better than Prine himself.



"Skiperoo" is a new chapter in Jim White's quirky adventures from the south. By his own description, it's a happier chronicle of the goings on in his world than previous albums, but fear not, there's plenty of dark, mysterious and mystical stuff lurking around every corner, just like on his past records.



As you listen to "Skiperoo", you'll soon get the feeling that White has made peace with some of the demons that have haunted him in the past, although on "Jailbird", the first of several gorgeous, contemplative songs, he reflects on the difficulties of leaving one's past behind, a theme that has often emerged on his previous records. As a lonely harmonica trails off at the end, you can just picture the player sitting on a front porch in the Appalachians. The end of the song is so similar to the end of "Sleepy town" from White's debut album "Wrong Eyed Jesus" that you might find yourself listening for that lonesome dog barking in the neighbor's yard down that dirt road, but it's not there this time.



White has a great sense of humor too, and isn't afraid of changing the mood on his albums. The first offbeat, not to mention infectiously addictive party song, is "Crash into the sun". Some say the lyrics are subtly political, but with its trumpets, handclaps, and "woo-hoo" chorus, it sure is a lot of fun, and guaranteed to stick to the neurons in the back of your brain.



Things can get dark and spooky "out in the junkyard of the pines of the south". "Fruit of the vine" makes you feel like you're in White's BBC documentary "Searching for the Wrong Eyed Jesus". Sit back and enjoy some great slide guitar and White working his magic on his unique electric banjocaster on this one.



White likes to "road test" his songs, often for years, before they show up on a record. He's done a dizzying series of arrangements of "Take me away" live over the years. You can be sure when you see him live, that the song will have changed once again. Like Dylan, White treats his songs as living, changing creations, rather than trying to replicate the studio versions as so many musicians do.



The album cover has a turquoise house on it. "Turquoise house" the song, is White's goofball ode to all the alternative lifestyles that some of the morally self righteous characters in the current US government are so deathly afraid of. Listen for the great Fleetwood Mac mandolin quote on this song too.



There has always been a distinct cinematic quality to just about all of White's music, probably not coincidentally because of the fact he's a film graduate of New York University. "Diamonds to coal" is a great example of that. Lyrically, it's also a great metaphor for not ruining a good thing.



Someone sent me a list from the internet where White's own "Christmas Day (1998)" was listed as the third saddest song ever recorded (In case you're wondering, "Lonesome whipporwill made the No. 1 spot). Well, folks, if "Christmas Day" was sad, "Plywood Superman" is even sadder, but more on an internal, instead of shattered love level.



Some of the greatest musicians often comment they don't know the meaning of their own songs until years later. I've also heard musicians say they've found new meanings in their songs after hearing a listener's interpretation of a song. "Pictures of heaven", according to White, is dedicated to his daughters. Before I read his description of the meaning of the song, the words made me think of a good friend of mine and his young sons, who recently lost his wife and their mother to cancer.



"Skiperoo" is the best record Jim White has made yet. And that's saying a lot.



Be sure to visit jimwhite dot net for more."

Yes You Blow Minds

Karen Lee Price | Dallas, Tx | 11/29/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I didn't think Jim could blow me away, once again...but he has. I keep all of his music at my fingertips but I've barely been able to listen to anything else but this since I got it. "Crash into the sun" is an incredible political statement and fabulous party song. "Turquoise House" is also delightful and all of his music speaks to my heart and soul, especially some of his darker songs. THANKS JIM !"