A Review of the CD
"Hamiltoons"
by Jack Hamilton
"Hamiltoons"
by Jack Hamilton
copyright 1997
Jack Hamilton
P.O. Box 1241
Taylor, MI 48180-5641
ph: (734)-287-1808
http://www.fortissimo.org/artists/hamilton/
mailto:jhamilton@webbernet.net
This review is written by Kevin McCarthy, 11/98
"Kevin and Maxine’s Celtic & Folk Music CD Reviews"
http://www.icogitate.com/~celticfolkmusic/index.html
mailto:celticfolkmusic@icogitate.com
Germinated by his travels throughout Canada and the United States, Jack
Hamilton has assembled nine tales and one instrumental, in this, his initial
CD. Utilizing Nelson Wood on bass, harp, pedal steel dobro, mandolin, and
acoustic guitar; Matt Combs on fiddle; and himself on acoustic guitar,
Hamilton covers coming-of-age territory, lost love, the "purples" (a step
beyond the blues), the travails of dining alone, being the last person
still drinking and unsettled among a group of buddies, the down-and-out
life, and groupies (or patrons of the arts) as he so delicately puts it.
The strongest track is "Behind Your Eyes," an especially poignant tale
of thoughts about and interactions with a person who is slowly dying. His
melancholy lyrics capture the situation well, while his sad delivery, serviced
by low-key, background guitar play, fits the mood exactly. He sings:
"...Sometimes you think you're somewhere else
Distant places, distant days
The suddenly you're home again
Unaware you've been away
I don't know if you hear me
I don't know what to say
I don't know how far behind your eyes
You are today..."
Anyone who has faced such a situation will see the truths here. Anyone
hearing this song can't help but be moved.
"In The Morning, All The Time," a wistful ode to a broken relationship
and the resulting absence of one still loved, has a compelling chorus:
"...I miss you in the morning
You're the first thing on my mind.
Want to wrap myself around you
Tell the world to take it's time.
It'll have to get along without me
I need yours more than it needs mine
I miss you in the morning, all the time."
The use of the pedal steel dobro and fiddle create an effective "countrified"
feel for the song.
In both "Sheet Music" and "Sea Note," Hamilton covers the time-honored
territory of musical supporters. "Sheet Music" is the more literate offering.
He sings:
"...She approached the stage, increased my wage
And asked for a song I thought I knew.
But when it was over, she said "That just won't do
I've got something at home I think you can use..."
The chorus then follows with:
"...Sheet music, sheet music
She had all the words
Sheet music, sheet music
Harmonies I'd never heard
Sheet music, sheet music
She played all the parts
Sheet music, sheet music
She supports the arts..."
"Shelby and First" displays a nice touch on the fear experienced by an
"uptown" individual venturing to the other side of the tracks. As advice
offered by a down-and-outer, Hamilton sings:
"...Donations accepted and sermons endured
If it makes you feel better, if it makes you feel cured
You can give to the Lord, you can give unto me
Your reward can come later or immediately
We each have our way of relieving your fear
If you dread the hereafter, if your worried about here..."
Continuing the transposition of who has the advantage in this situation,
the chorus goes:
"...Save all your pity and save all your scorn
'Til the day that you die
You won't know if you're born
To good luck or misfortune.
Are you blessed, are you cursed
Are you up town or down here
On Shelby and First..."
The musical accompaniment to each song is spare but suitable. There is
a country sound on some tunes, probably due to the use of the pedal steel
dobro. Hamilton's voice, while limited, fits his music well. It would be
nice to have more than 35 or so minutes of music here but what does appear
is mostly solid work.
Track List:
-
Harry's Lunch (4:02)
-
In the Morning, All The Time (2:32)
-
Sheet Music (4:11)
-
Shelby And First (3:33)
-
Behind Your Eyes (3:19)
-
Purples (4:16)
-
Dining Alone (3:10)
-
Sea Note (3:22)
-
All My Friends (3:15)
-
Washburn (2:00)
All songs written by Jack Hamilton.
Copyright © 1998-2008 Kevin & Maxine’s Celtic & Folk Music CD Reviews. All rights reserved.
Ownership, copyright and title of this folk music CD review belongs
to
me, Kevin
McCarthy. Ownership, copyright and title are not transferable or assignable
to you or other parties regardless of how or if you or other parties use,
copy, save, backup, store, retrieve, transmit, display, publish, modify
or share the CD review in whole or in part. Please read the "Terms,
Conditions and Disclaimer" section on my web site for additional information
about using, quoting, or reprinting this CD review.
Send inquiries to: celticfolkmusic@icogitate.com.
Return to Kevin and Maxine’s Celtic & Folk
Music CD Reviews home page.
To return to the last web page you visited, click the "Back"
button that appears immediately below: