Out of the Reach of Tears
Lee Armstrong | Winterville, NC United States | 11/14/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Jimmy Webb's latest project is a musical family reunion with his sons Christian, Justin & James (The Webb Brothers), his father and (I assume) granddaughters on backing vocals. The set opens with an update of Jimmy's lovely tune "The Highwayman." On the 12-minute title track, Webb's voice is weathered but retains its emotional wallop on the reminiscence, "Out of the reach of tears." The Webb Brothers wrote the powerful "Hollow Victory," "Don't you have everything that you could need? Still you take what's mine from me." The Brothers' "Mercury's in Retrograde" is orchestrated, lush & lovely. Jimmy Webb's "Where the Universes Are" is spun again with his sons taking the vocal lead. The arrangement doesn't sound so different from Jimmy's earlier version, but the lovely melody shines again. The Webb Brothers penned "Old Tin Can" and give a strong performance. Jimmy Webb wrote Christmas songs that appeared on Beach Boy Brian Wilson's holiday album What I Really Want for Christmas. Here we have an upbeat happy "A Snow Covered Christmas," "Breathlessly, we spin & we whirl on a winter carnival ride." It's a sweet happy holiday track. Jimmy's dad sings the closer "Red Sails in the Sunset." "Cottonwood Farm" is a musical family reunion with the sound of celebration & affection giving the disc enduring charm. Enjoy!"
The title track is its peak
David Ackerman | New York, NY | 01/09/2010
(2 out of 5 stars)
"Let's start off positive. The title track, COTTONWOOD FARM, is nothing short of brilliant. Another MacArthur Park. Shoulda been cut by Glen Campbell a long time ago. Still could be a hit for him. This is a masterpiece. The music is chilling, sensitive as usual, and the lyric is extremely touching. The arrangement is interesting and the trading off of vocals works. I don't know whether the song is about the maternal or paternal grandfather but there is still irony to hearing Webb's own father at the end of the song. It will put you away if you have half a heart. The cover photo is also fascinating. Another highlight is Webb's SNOW COVERED CHRISTMAS although it feels very out of place here. More a show tune on this very uneven album. Webb also wrote THE HIGHWAYMAN which opens the CD. The song has been heard to death but is not done a service by Webb's sons' vocals. Webb himself performs at the end. Another Webb song entitled IF THESE WALLS COULD SPEAK has also been covered numerous times. With his vast catalog, it's a pity Webb couldn't have chosen something more interesting. WHERE THE UNIVERSES ARE is sung by Webb's sons but offers nothing more special than when Webb debuted it himself decades ago. The Webb Brothers' own songs are mediocre. No need to compare them to their father's. If they were on someone else's album, they wouldn't shine. Bob Webb (JW's father), lisp and all, is very acceptable sounding like an old country singer on his porch singing his heart out on RED SAILS IN THE SUNSET."
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1