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Otis Taylor doesn't suffer fools lightly, and his songs are full of defiant reclamations of history and tender vignettes of people struggling to survive in hostile cultural territory. Now he wants to talk about love. Taylor began his career playing bluegrass banjo, but switched to guitar (and the blues) in the late '60s, working in various bands and as a solo artist before walking away from it all 1978. He re-emerged a couple decades later in the mid-'90s with an utterly unique and modal-driven blues style that made full use of his gritty singing voice; his quirky songwriting skills; and his raw, driving guitar and banjo playing. Taylor really hasn't been idle since, and Pentatonic Wars and Love Songs is his tenth studio album in 14 years. Following on the heels of 2008's Recapturing the Banjo (which did exactly what its title says), this set finds Taylor turning his attention to love, but these aren't love songs in the normal sense, and more often than not these songs chart the course of love in dramatically unstable and even dangerous relationships. No moon and June stuff. Not even close. Much bleaker. The album opens with "Looking for Some Heat," and yeah, it's about love, but things don't end well at all. "Lost My Guitar," which is all about the loss of love in the truest sense, uses guitars and fatal car accidents as central metaphors. Nope, love isn't all roses in Taylor's view of things. And the sound of this album is different, too, with frequent use of solo cornet, giving these tracks a kind of dark, jazzy feel, particularly on cuts like "I'm Not Mysterious" that feature jazz pianist Jason Moran and Ron Miles' cornet. Irish blues-rock guitarist Gary Moore pops up on three cuts, and Taylor's daughter and bassist Cassie Taylor handles lead vocals on a few songs, including the striking and wonderful "Maybe Yeah." Pentatonic Wars and Love Songs ends up being an urgent, stubborn, and sometimes overly dark view of love in all of its unavoidable permutations. In other words, it's exactly the kind of album of love songs you'd expect from Taylor, one that is direct and as baffling as it is challenging.
© Steve Leggett /TiVo
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Otis Taylor, Producer, Guitar, Vocals, Recording Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Tarus Mateen, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jason Moran, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Nasheet Waits, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Ron Miles, Cornet, AssociatedPerformer - David Glasser, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nicole Wiemann, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mohammed Alidu, Drum, AssociatedPerformer - Gregg Jackmann, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Matt Sandoski, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mike Yach, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mawuenyaega Mensah, Drum, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2009 Telarc International Corp.
Gary Moore, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Otis Taylor, Producer, Guitar, Recording Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jason Moran, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Ron Miles, Cornet, AssociatedPerformer - David Glasser, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cassie Taylor, Bass Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Nicole Wiemann, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gregg Jackmann, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Harry Tuft, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Sandoski, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mike Yach, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Valerie Levy Franzese, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Chuck Hugenberg, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2009 Telarc International Corp.
Otis Taylor, Producer, Guitar, Vocals, Recording Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jason Moran, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - David Glasser, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cassie Taylor, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Nicole Wiemann, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jae Taylor, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Gregg Jackmann, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Fara Tolno, Drum, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Sandoski, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mike Yach, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Valerie Levy Franzese, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Chuck Hugenberg, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2009 Telarc International Corp.
Gary Moore, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Otis Taylor, Producer, Guitar, Vocals, Recording Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Tarus Mateen, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jason Moran, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Ron Miles, Cornet, AssociatedPerformer - David Glasser, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cassie Taylor, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Pat Franzese, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Nicole Wiemann, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gregg Jackmann, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Fara Tolno, Drum, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Sandoski, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mike Yach, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chuck Hugenberg, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2009 Telarc International Corp.
Otis Taylor, Producer, Guitar, Vocals, Recording Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Tarus Mateen, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jason Moran, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Nasheet Waits, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Ron Miles, Cornet, AssociatedPerformer - David Glasser, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nicole Wiemann, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gregg Jackmann, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Matt Sandoski, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mike Yach, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2009 Telarc International Corp.
Otis Taylor, Producer, Guitar, Vocals, Recording Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Tarus Mateen, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jason Moran, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Nasheet Waits, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Ron Miles, Cornet, AssociatedPerformer - David Glasser, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cassie Taylor, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - John Richardson, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Nicole Wiemann, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gregg Jackmann, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brian Juan, Organ, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Sandoski, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mike Yach, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2009 Telarc International Corp.
Otis Taylor, Producer, Banjo, Vocals, Recording Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Tarus Mateen, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jason Moran, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Nasheet Waits, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - David Glasser, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nicole Wiemann, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gregg Jackmann, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Matt Sandoski, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mike Yach, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2009 Telarc International Corp.
Otis Taylor, Producer, Guitar, Vocals, Recording Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Tarus Mateen, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jason Moran, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Nasheet Waits, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Ron Miles, Cornet, AssociatedPerformer - David Glasser, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nicole Wiemann, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gregg Jackmann, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Fara Tolno, Drum, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Sandoski, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mike Yach, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2009 Telarc International Corp.
Otis Taylor, Producer, Guitar, Vocals, Recording Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Tarus Mateen, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jason Moran, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Nasheet Waits, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Ron Miles, Cornet, AssociatedPerformer - David Glasser, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nicole Wiemann, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gregg Jackmann, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Matt Sandoski, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mike Yach, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2009 Telarc International Corp.
Otis Taylor, Producer, Guitar, Recording Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Tarus Mateen, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jason Moran, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Nasheet Waits, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Ron Miles, Cornet, AssociatedPerformer - David Glasser, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cassie Taylor, Bass Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Nicole Wiemann, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gregg Jackmann, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Fara Tolno, Drum, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Sandoski, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mike Yach, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2009 Telarc International Corp.
Otis Taylor, Producer, Guitar, Recording Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Tarus Mateen, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jason Moran, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Nasheet Waits, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Ron Miles, Cornet, AssociatedPerformer - David Glasser, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cassie Taylor, Bass Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Nicole Wiemann, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gregg Jackmann, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Fara Tolno, Drum, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Sandoski, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mike Yach, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2009 Telarc International Corp.
Otis Taylor, Producer, Guitar, Vocals, Recording Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - David Glasser, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nicole Wiemann, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gregg Jackmann, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Matt Sandoski, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mike Yach, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2009 Telarc International Corp.
Gary Moore, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Otis Taylor, Producer, Guitar, Vocals, Recording Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jason Moran, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Nasheet Waits, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Ron Miles, Cornet, AssociatedPerformer - David Glasser, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cassie Taylor, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Nicole Wiemann, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gregg Jackmann, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brian Juan, Organ, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Sandoski, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mike Yach, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Valerie Levy Franzese, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Chuck Hugenberg, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2009 Telarc International Corp.
Album review
Otis Taylor doesn't suffer fools lightly, and his songs are full of defiant reclamations of history and tender vignettes of people struggling to survive in hostile cultural territory. Now he wants to talk about love. Taylor began his career playing bluegrass banjo, but switched to guitar (and the blues) in the late '60s, working in various bands and as a solo artist before walking away from it all 1978. He re-emerged a couple decades later in the mid-'90s with an utterly unique and modal-driven blues style that made full use of his gritty singing voice; his quirky songwriting skills; and his raw, driving guitar and banjo playing. Taylor really hasn't been idle since, and Pentatonic Wars and Love Songs is his tenth studio album in 14 years. Following on the heels of 2008's Recapturing the Banjo (which did exactly what its title says), this set finds Taylor turning his attention to love, but these aren't love songs in the normal sense, and more often than not these songs chart the course of love in dramatically unstable and even dangerous relationships. No moon and June stuff. Not even close. Much bleaker. The album opens with "Looking for Some Heat," and yeah, it's about love, but things don't end well at all. "Lost My Guitar," which is all about the loss of love in the truest sense, uses guitars and fatal car accidents as central metaphors. Nope, love isn't all roses in Taylor's view of things. And the sound of this album is different, too, with frequent use of solo cornet, giving these tracks a kind of dark, jazzy feel, particularly on cuts like "I'm Not Mysterious" that feature jazz pianist Jason Moran and Ron Miles' cornet. Irish blues-rock guitarist Gary Moore pops up on three cuts, and Taylor's daughter and bassist Cassie Taylor handles lead vocals on a few songs, including the striking and wonderful "Maybe Yeah." Pentatonic Wars and Love Songs ends up being an urgent, stubborn, and sometimes overly dark view of love in all of its unavoidable permutations. In other words, it's exactly the kind of album of love songs you'd expect from Taylor, one that is direct and as baffling as it is challenging.
© Steve Leggett /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 13 track(s)
- Total length: 01:08:40
- Main artists: Otis Taylor
- Composer: Otis Taylor
- Label: Telarc
- Genre: Blues/Country/Folk Blues
© 2009 Telarc International Corp. ℗ 2009 Telarc International Corp.
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