Look, it’s really really rare that I fall stupid in love with an album. It probably comes down to the fact that I just might hear more new music in a week than most people do in 6 months, but the point is, I can get pretty jaded. That said, Otis Gibb’s new album, Joe Hill’s Ashes, walked into my head, didn’t say a single word and whooped my blogger jadedness and said “You will love me now!” And love it then, I did.
When I wrote about Otis’ last album, When Grandpa Walked A Picket Line, I said, “if Todd Snider and Otis Gibbs could make a baby it would be the Woody Guthrie, Hunter S. Thompson and the Jack Kerouac of its generation.” At the time I was pointing towards Otis’ political leanings and Todd’s wit. Joe Hill’s Ashes has treated me to a brand new appreciation for Otis’ pure songwriting ability. That coupled with his voice, a voice that invites you into its sunny 78 degree porch for Old Fashioneds and asks you to stay and spin yarns, makes this an album that immediately feels comfortable. As awesome as that is, had this been the first Otis Smith Gibbs album I’d ever heard, I’d have been more apt to juxtapose him with Seasick Steve.
Okay, I’m gonna gonna go old school with y’all. If you were reading this site back in 2k7 you were really well versed in my midnight drunken ramblings sans an editor or a sober eye prior to posting so you should be (albeit: rusty) used to this…This album is fucking fantastic. I wanna be more “professional” about it, but I can’t. It’s stupid how good it is. If I were still getting a regular paycheck that allowed me to go to bars, I’d be passing CD-R’s (yes, I do that) of this album out to people, saying, “This album is by a guy called Otis Gibbs and it’s fucking fantastic!.” If they asked what it sounded like I’d say, “Go home and listen to it, if you like it I’ll pass along similar artists.”
So, Otis Gibbs – Joe Hill’s Ashes. Fucking fantastic. Essential Listening. And available for streaming. Listen. Love. Buy. Burn a CD for your bar mates. This is how we make our music a movement.
< /drunken diatribe >
Otis Gibbs – Ballad of Johnny Crooked Tree
Otis Gibbs – Kansas City
Otis Gibbs – Joe Hill’s Ashes
Otis Gibbs’ Official Site, Otis Gibbs on Bandcamp, Buy Joe Hill’s Ashes
Autopsy IV
Part time blogger. Full time hater.
Nice review, man, don’t ever be more professional! This is what I come here for! I ordered it today, listened to the stream last week and loved it as much as I hoped I would. Grandpa Walked A Picketline is easily one of my favorites of the last decade, and – again – if it hadn’t been for 9B I might have never heard about it. Can’t wait to hold the new album in my hands, Otis (Smith? what did you just say about editors and sober eyes, hehe…) is one of a kind!
Cheers!
oops.
LOL.
brilliant! love your site, i check in everyday, and found out about some great music already i would have never found out about if not for this site
…keep up the great work!
that’s definitely some black label sippin’ music. f’n great stuff. ordered both cds and headed to the liqueur store.
good one, thanks.
It is indeed one of the best CDs of the year. If it were vinyl we would have already “wore the grooves off”. Goes great with Blanton served neat.
Amazing.
Simply amazing.
Great review. Album is one of the best of the year in my opinion. My kids and I listen to it all the time.