This review is written by Kevin McCarthy, 5/06
"Kevin and Maxine’s Celtic & Folk Music CD Reviews"
If "Gong Show" host Chuck Barris was able to get his autobiography, "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind," filmed by George Clooney, then imagine what an innovative director could do with the life story of Darryl Purpose.
The various sections on Purpose's resume include episodes as a professional gambler,
an anti-nuclear activist and participant in the 1986 Great Peace March for
Global Disarmament, a charity founder, of course, a musician, and probably
a few roles he has not shared or yet to inhabit. Is that Quentin
Tarantino on line one?
For Purposes' latest release, two types of media are available--both a CD
amd a DVD recording of him and violinist/singer Julie Beaver in concert
at the Coalesce venue in Morro Bay, CA. It is a 'Best Of' offering,
combining cuts from Purpose's previous releases with a new song and a
Dave Carter cover.
The latter song, "Red," first appeared on Carter's initial
release, "Snake Handlin' Man," and as Purpose says, it's the creepiest
entry in the repertoire of the genius singer-songwriter who died in
2002. Carter's former partner, Tracy Grammer, apparently also has a
version of "Red" coming out sometime this summer.
The newest Purpose song, "We Become The Stories That We Tell,"
is an engaging one. Sung by Beaver and portraying the times we
currently live in,
Purpose frames the choices we have in either drawing the world closer
together or in building lines of demarcation. He takes particular
umbrage at the political fabulists who, for nefarious purposes, create
the public alternative universe they need to influence others.
"Late For Dinner," also sung by Beaver, ranks right up there
with John Prine's "Sam Stone" as one of the best Vietnam War song ever.
The ambivalent woman character in the song perfectly illustrates the
divide in our country during that turbulent time.
"Singer/Songwriter Heaven" sadly contains a new name,
Dave Carter, but it's a classic tour involving so many of the musical
talents who departed this earth far too soon. Mentioning Jim Croce,
Harry Chapin, Graham Parsons, Kate Wolf, Townes Van Zandt, Steve
Goodman, Nick Drake and Stan Rogers, Purpose cleverly situates them all
on cloud nine and, in particular, on writer's block.
Beaver, a heretofore unknown, displays remarkable talent both with the violin and a very fine singing voice.
To the uninitiated, this will be an exceptional introduction to
the artistry of Darryl Purpose while also serving as a handy collection
for those already familiar with the man and his music. So which to
purchase, the CD or DVD? More than likely that depends on whether one
is visually or aurally dominant. But for those already a member of the
Purpose flock, the DVD provides the unique offering of sound and
picture.
Track List:
Send inquiries to: celticfolkmusic@icogitate.com.
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