Search - Ray Wylie Hubbard :: Dangerous Spirits

"Broken Heroes, Wasted Lovers, and Vilified Gods"

Smallchief | 05/30/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Dangerous Spirits" is perhaps Ray Wylie Hubbard's most spiritual CD. The racuous and rowdy side of Hubbard, as exemplified by "Redneck Mother," isn't much present here. The songs are mostly acoustic, thoughtful and several of them are just plain beautiful.



In addition to acoustic guitar, Ray plays a mean mandolin on a couple of cuts and a harmonica on the deep and dark spiritual "Resurrection;" a variety of girl singers, including Lucinda Williams, and top-notch guitar players like "Buffalo" Ware and Lloyd Maines contribute their talents. The sound is mostly folk rather than country or rock.



Several songs are really outstanding: "Last Train to Amsterdam and "The Last Younger Son" are what Hubbard would call "dark power ballads." "Ballad of the Crimson Kings" and "Crimson Dragon Tattoo" are exquisite up-tempo tunes with a great interplay among voices, mandolin, dobro, acoustic, and electric guitars. I could go on...and on. This CD will grow on you. The songs are quiet and unobtrusive at first listen, but you'll soon appreciate the craftmanship and quality in each of them.



Smallchief"

Excellent texas folk

loce_the_wizard | 07/08/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"i have'nt heard him live but i hope to. i listened to dangerous spirits then a townes van zant album and think there are no better songwriters than these kinds of people. i have always said that on any night you can find a bar somewhere in ark., tex., ok, or la. and find one of the best singer/songwriters you have heard. some are famous some are not, but they still get out there every night and play. sometimes they are too tired of life its own self to play but they get up there. that is what you hear in each note of this music. for someone to play bars frequently alone, sometimes for 10 people, sometimes to a full house in this part of the country is a hard way to make a living. it may take 20 years of this type of touring to learn what you need to know to write this kind of music. but, when someone with the poet in their heart learns this way it makes it a treasure the rest of us can share. the vocal talents are not exactly tony bennett but the meaning of the words can rarely be better expressed by someone else. the songs were meant to be sung by the writer."

An unwavering look at life and its hard choices

loce_the_wizard | Lilburn, GA USA | 06/09/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ray Wylie Hubbard never seems to take the easy way out. "Dangerous Spirits" sums up nicely the cast of characters he sings about in this album. Mr. Hubbard's voice may not be the strongest around, but his unwavering look at life and its hard choices, often in the face of temptation, makes for fascinating material. One character, for instance, faces the dilemma of acceding to a preacher's demands "to kneel and pray" versus his attraction to a blonde who "gets to him in a real bad way." Another hears of the latest misadventures of his ex with what seems to be pangs or remorse that ultimately are topped by glee. The curse of those who are "born to write" is explored in another track.



This recording, which is more country than rock but not dyed-in- the-wool country, sparkles with plenty of crisp playing, from multiple guitars, to catchy percussion and keyboards. The arrangements here are more open and flowing than the thick sound on "Growl" and "Delirium Tremolos."



Music about philosophy, reincarnation, spirituality, temptation, salvation, and religion never sounded as brisk and accessible as they do on this fine album.

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