Mudlark

Artist: Leo Kottke
Label: One Way Records Inc
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1

UPC: 724381846025
EAN: 0724381846025
ASIN: B000002R0I

Release Date: 1995-11-17

Related Categories:

General

| Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General

| Folk | Styles | Music

Traditional Folk

| Folk | Styles | Music

General

| Pop | Styles | Music

CDs $7 - $10

CDs $7 - $10

All Bargain Titles

All Bargain Titles

Listmania:

they give good guitar; #76 to 100
Punya Go, the Offensive Way
Beyond the Leo Kottke Primer: An Advanced Course
Favorite Americana
5 Essential items in various mediums

Tracks:

Cripple Creek
Eight Miles High
June Bug
The Ice Miner
Bumblebee
Stealing
Monkey Lust
Poor Boy
Lullaby
Machine #2
Hear The Wind Howl
Bourree
Room 8
Standing In My Shoes

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Customer Reviews:

Perhaps his best overall performance--with a blink or two.......2007-02-18

Leo really outdoes his virtuosity here, and there's even room to smile at the few songs with vocals (exceptions allowed for taste with the guest appearance on "Monkey Lust"). Melodically, with "Stealing," this may be his best: one of the most gorgeous songs ever tried throughout Kottke's career; (although truly taken from several sources) it keeps blooming each time it's played. (Hint: on hard-to-find shows from the 70s via collectors, he burned through that on a sizzling 12-string medley that starts with "Last Steam Engine Train.")

Instrumentally, Kottke and mates (among others, a nifty job by either Paul Lagos or Kenny Buttrey on drums) have left as testimony 14 nifty tracks with variety: quick-step dancing jollity and old-fashioned appeal ("Cripple Creek"), humorous bursts of male hormonal desire ("Bumblebee" and "Standing in My Shoes"), and even some J.S. Bach ("Bouree"). Kottke's urge for the bizarre-yet-appealing gets two fine slide features with "June Bug" and even better, a retooled "Machine #2," which shows how much more a song can do with the right percussion backing.

Bukka White (and John Fahey) have their roots (and fingers) in the design of "Poor Boy," but Leo's vocals and lyrics undo whatever magic "Lullaby" is supposed to make. Leave some space for "Room 8" to justify Kottke's serious treatment, because he's back again to sing "hear the Wind Howl," which may be more appropriately called "Hear {Leo} howl."

Wonderful !.......2005-11-07

I also had this album in high school on vinyl, and saw Leo at IL State live soon after, and have collected his stuff over the years. I play guitar as a hobby, and have spent time in the studio, which can be difficult. Let me say this, if LK had never recorded another note after ' The Ice Miner ' , it would have been enough for me, quite possiblly one of the most haunting, exquisite guitar instrumentals ever. It still raises the hair on my arms, and if you don't get goosebumps, you're not breathing !

Mudlark.......2005-08-09

Another great album by Leo Kottke. Mudlark shows a lot of influences from early american "Cripple Creek", rambling gritty folk of "Monkey Lust" to the Bach classic "Bourree". The starting track is Cripple Creek sounds nothing like the old traditional song but the slide guitar is superb. Eight Miles High is stripped down jazz version with some nice trills and sound build ups by Kottke. June Bug is a nice instermental with great dorbo playing. The Ice Miner returns back to the old Kottke with just an acostic guitar playing some beatiful lines that warm you up. My favorite Bumblebee is a jaunty one very popish and one that can get stuck in your head. Stealing is another instermental with Kottke dueting with himself very laidback. Monkey Lust is full of music with a guest vocalist singing some wreary words. Poorboy by Bukka White and composed by Fahey has a band backing him again just like in every other song on the album. Lullaby my least favorite on here just sways around not as good as the other material on the album. The chogging Machine #2 a follow up of Vasaline Machine Gun is the same just with the session players backing Kottke but don't avoid it the druming is hypnotizing and the bass gives it more of a marching sound. Hear the Wind Howl is another favorite with Kottke's vocals and guitar soaring in the song very good. Bourree sounds like he playing from a book because he arranged it so good very professional. Room #8 just meanders on doesn't really go anywhere but some parts do grab your attention. The beaty Standing in my Shoes ends the album with a nice folky-pop love song approch offers some blistering slide guitar in it. Mudlark should not by passed by it one of Leo Kottke's finest moments .

Superb playing.......2003-09-07

I agree with the great enthusiasm of the others here on Kottke's wonderful playing. His recently replayed "Phishy" appearance on Mountain Stage was a delight. To answer the previous reviewer, though, the "Bourree" punched up by Ian Anderson, et al. is from Bach's Suite in E Minor, BWV 996 (5th movement). For another guitar version, see Julian Bream's CD, J. S. Bach on EMI Classics, which also includes the popular Chaconne.

Bouree.......2002-11-30

Kottke played this Bach bourree about the same time Ian Anderson gave it a back beat on Jethro Tull's Stand Up. Both are still great, contemporary tributes to J. S. Bach. But does anybody know which bourree this is? Bach wrote dozens, if not hundreds (I think a bourree was a kind of dance, like a minuet). The rest of the album is phenomenal, also, even though I still like hearing the hissing and scratching of my old vinyl version, too.

Music CD:

Music CD

Music CD

Music CD

The Red Crow ~ Altan

Song of the Seals ~ Jean Redpath

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Stay ~ Giant

Kinito ~ Kinito

Luiz Claudio and Giuliano ~ Luis Claudio

Xi'an Drums Music ~ Various Artists

Songs of the Medieval Polish Bards ~ Jarek Adamow

Out For Justice (1991 Film) ~ David Michael Frank

Isolation ~ Age