Search - R.E.M., Cracker, Live :: Sweet Relief II: Gravity of the Situation - The Songs of Vic Chesnutt

One of my favorite records!

Kari O'Leary | Minnesota | 12/15/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a great record. Each of the musicians does justice to Vic's music while at the same time expressing their own style. Even though he's not well-known, Vic Chesnutt is highly respected in the music world, which is why musicians like R.E.M., Madonna, and Live wanted to cover his songs. Kristin Hersh does an absolutely beautiful version of "Panic Pure" on this record- as good as Vic's, which makes me suspect that she's actually his female counterpart. R.E.M. said it all in their comment, "Vic is cherry pie." If you want to get a Vic album after hearing this, I recommend "Drunk" or "West of Rome.""

The only album of covers that is as good as the original.

Zeba Crook (zcrook@chass.utoronto.c | Toronto, Canada | 01/23/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I lost this cd recently, and I need to replace it. Quickly. It is one the only times that I have found the cover songs are nearly as good as Vic Chesnutt's own versions. They are artistic entities in their own right. The muscicians on this album do not simply reproduce these songs, they re-create them. And it is a testament to the incredible song writing of Chesnutt."

Terrific Introduction to Songwriting Genius

Brent Jordan | Philadelphia, PA | 06/04/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I suspect that most people are going to discover this album, like I did, trying to complete collections of songs by their favorite artists. I was a Cracker and Sparklehorse fan which led me to this album. Now arguably I am a much bigger Vic Chesnutt fan than I am of either of those bands. In fact the Cracker and Sparklehorse covers on this album aren't all that great. I give this album 4 stars because the songs are all VC classics and should be heard by those unfamiliar with his work, but inevitably the covers are of hit-and-miss quality. On the weak side are the Hootie cover of "Gravity of the Situation", and the Smashing Pumpkins cover of "Sad Peter Pan", which really pale to the original upon repeated listening to both. Those are two VC classics that probably no one could cover successfully. On a positive note, the Dog's Eye View, Live, Joe Henry and Soul Asylum covers are terrific, as good as I've ever heard those artists. In short, if you are unfamiliar with VC, you may, upon gaining greater familiarity and upon repeated listening to this album, soon begin to think at times that VC should be spending more time writing music for others to perform -- it would make the music world a better place."