Search - Loudon Wainwright III :: So Damn Happy

Funny, endearing, poignant, irascible and witty

hyperbolium | Earth, USA | 05/22/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As impressive as Wainwright's work has been over the past 35 years, this live album shows that the burnish and perspective of age has only deepened the quality of his work. His songs, pose contrasts to brilliant dramatic and literary effect: humor against anger, a capella singing against spoken interjections, creating a rich catalog of emotion from which he draws. Add a devoted crowd and the effortless musical backing of long-time friends (and family), and you get a live album that perfectly frames Wainwright's mastery as a singer, songwriter and stage performer.Wainwright's trademark humor is on full display, with his vision of Woody Allen's "Sleeper" future taken to the afterlife in "Heaven" ("There'll be lots of drinking in Heaven / Smoking, eating and sex / What you didn't do in this life bad for you / Will be totally cool in the next."). He pokes a sharp, ironic stick at file sharing ("Something for Nothing"), and revisits the tragedy of Tonya Harding ("Tonya's Twirls") in a song that, removed from its historical currency, is still surprisingly moving. Equally moving is the deeply sentimental autobiography of "The Picture," a lovely ode to his sister and their shared childhood.Wainwright's masterful stage presence, and the fluidity with which he sings, plays and interacts with the audience is truly staggering. The product of many, many nights just like these (taped in 2002 at Largo in Los Angeles, and the Mystic Theater in Petaluma, CA), Wainwright is completely effortless in the limelight. His accompanists (Van Dyke Parks on piano, David Mansfield on violin) and guests (Richard Thompson on guitar, and Martha Wainwright on vocals) weave their way perfectly in to his colorful tapestry.With a collection of his songs that stretches from the early 80s to the late 90s, this is a nice introduction to the last 20 years of Wainwright's writing and a singularly compelling look at his perfect showcase, the stage."

Wainwright Shares His Happiness

Steve Vrana | Aurora, NE | 02/05/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If anyone deserves a shot at happiness, it Loudon Wainwright III. Well into the fourth decade of his recording career, Wainwright continues to walk a tightrope between introspective singer/songwriter and court jester. It would stand to reason that on this (his third live album), he would not stray far from this path. He can at times be touching and poignant (the new song "Much Better Bets" or 1992's "The Picture") or he can go for the funny bone ("Tonya Twirls" and the hilarious new song "The Sh*t Song"). Of the twelve previously released songs, most were recorded since his last live album, 1992's HISTORY. The exceptions are "Westchester County" (from 1983's FAME AND WEALTH and also on HISTORY) and "The Home Stretch" with Richard Thompson guesting on guitar (from 1986's MORE LOVE SONGS). In addition to Thompson, Van Dyke Parks provides piano on three tracks, and multi-instrumentalist and longtime sideman David Mansfield appears on about half the tracks.There are three other new songs included here: "Something for Nothing," a song about file sharing (he seems to favor it), the funky "You Never Phone," performed with his daughter Martha, and the skewed look at the afterlife in "Heaven" where Wainwright declares "There will be lots of drinking...smoking and eating and sex." While I'm not going to plan on that, if Wainwright is there it certainly won't be boring. [Running Time - 60:11] RECOMMENDED"