[FM] FAME Review: laid Cleaves' Holiday Sampler written by David Schultz

[David N. Pyles]

Holiday Sampler
Slaid Cleaves (www.slaid.com)
Philo 11671-1236-2

Rounder Records Corp.
1 Camp Street
Cambridge, MA 02140
Phone: 1-800-ROUNDER (1-800-768-6337)
info@rounder.com
http://www.rounder.com

A review written for the Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange By David 
Schultz(schultz@alum.mit.edu)

Slaid Cleaves is Texas singer-songwriter not known for his sense of humor. 
His albums are usually about pretty dire topics, sung in a solemn tone.  On 
his Holiday Sampler EP, Cleaves delivers five songs that represent the 
holiday season from October through February, including two that showcase 
his rarely seen funny side.

This EP allows him to show off his sense of humor with a song like "Monster 
in Law," his Springsteen-like tribute (think "Pink Cadillac") to a creepy 
mother-in-law.  Cleaves is quick to point out in his liner notes that the 
subject of the song bears little resemblance to his own 
mother-in-law.  "Monster in Law" is an older song that, although a favorite 
of fans, has not been recorded before.

"November Skies" was written by Mark Farrington, Cleaves' Maine friend 
and  singer-songwriter for his band Cattle 
Call  (http://www.brokenwhiterecords.com/cattlecall.html).  A touching song 
about the changing of the seasons and the growing up of a young man, 
"November Skies" ranks as one of the best songs I've heard this year.

"One Good Year" is a reworking of his #1 Americana hit from his 2000 album 
"Broke Down."  The song takes on a bit more celebratory tone with the 
inclusion of Oliver Steck's wonderful trumpet.

"You Don't Have to Tell Me" is a lovely Valentine's Day love song that is 
affecting, without being sappy.  Accompanied by only an acoustic guitar and 
a lap steel guitar, it is delicately instrumented, supporting Cleaves' 
yearning vocals.

Track Listing

1. Monster in Law (Cleaves)
2. November Skies (Farrington)
3. You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch (Seuss and Hague)
4. One Good Year (Cleaves and Brooks)
5. You Don't Have to Tell Me (Cleaves)

Edited by David N. Pyles (dnpyles@acousticmusic.com)

Copyright 2001, Peterborough Folk Music Society and David Schultz. This 
review may be reprinted with prior permission and attribution.

================
David N. Pyles
Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange
P. O. Box 459
Brattleboro, VT 05302-0459
(802) 257-0336 Mon-Thur 9:30am-4:30pm
http://www.acousticmusic.com/frames
http://www.acousticmusic.com/frames/fame.htm
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