Back in 2016, guitarist, singer, and songwriter Anders Osborne simultaneously summed up his career and pushed it forward with two albums: Flower Box, which compiled excellent shelf tracks from three different sessions, and Spacedust & Ocean Views, a collection of new songs rooted in NOLA's soil and musical traditions. These appeared on his Back on Dumaine label and stand in sharp contrast to the blown-out six-string pyrotechnics from his trio of recordings for Alligator that established him as a bona fide guitar hero ...
Read More
Back in 2016, guitarist, singer, and songwriter Anders Osborne simultaneously summed up his career and pushed it forward with two albums: Flower Box, which compiled excellent shelf tracks from three different sessions, and Spacedust & Ocean Views, a collection of new songs rooted in NOLA's soil and musical traditions. These appeared on his Back on Dumaine label and stand in sharp contrast to the blown-out six-string pyrotechnics from his trio of recordings for Alligator that established him as a bona fide guitar hero possessed by a harrowing vision of the world. Buddha and the Blues signals another shift; it recalls the one that occurred when he released 2007's Coming Down after 2001's woolly Ash Wednesday Blues. This is a rock & roll, singer/songwriter's outing, one that acknowledges the influence of the Laurel Canyon scene of the '70s and early '80s. Osborne cut it in California with a stellar cast of session players including keyboardist Benmont Tench, guitarist Waddy Wachtel, bassist Bob Glaub, backing vocalist Windy Wagner, and drummer/producer Chad Cromwell. Strummed acoustics and slapped snares introduce opener "Alone." Osborne delivers a lyric that expresses openness toward and acceptance of life's wildness and contradictions. Jangling electric guitars and a Jerry Lee Lewis-styled pumping upright piano add force, and the tune becomes an anthem to joy. "Fields of Honey" borrows a lick from Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side" in the intro with fingerpicked acoustics on a jazzy folk tip as Osborne delves deeper into his present tense, expressing concerns about self-centeredness, honesty, relationships, continued sobriety, and above all, gratitude. "Running" is a straight-up roots rocker fueled by ringing electric and slide guitars, soaring backing vocals from Wagner, and Osborne delivering truths as profound as any he's expressed on earlier records. It simultaneously nods to Delaney & Bonnie and early Joe Walsh. Osborne stitches in just enough New Orleans R&B and blues to engineer Niko Bolas' deliberately L.A.-drenched mix. Other standouts include the relaxed, Crazy Horse-esque "Smoke and Mirrors," the tender, soulful country-rock of "Aching for Your Love," and the psychedelic folk in the title track -- the guitar interplay between Osborne and Wachtel is breathtaking. The tender "The One I Love" is sun-dappled and smooth, with Osborne delivering his best vocal on the album. "Traveling with Friends" offers a nasty little slide guitar and electric piano before it commences, shuffling with a sweet, multi-layered melody and a soulful, hooky chorus; its melody is worthy of the Beatles. He circles back with a solo reprisal of "Alone" that sounds like a demo, using only his warmly distorted electric guitar for accompaniment. After all the battles with himself over the past two decades, Osborne sounds content, relaxed, and wide open; he's embracing sounds he has long credited with influence. And while he has always been a fine songwriter, Buddha and the Blues reveals that he's worked hard enough at it to take it to a new level of excellence. ~ Thom Jurek, Rovi
Read Less
Add this copy of Buddha and the Blues to cart. $20.99, fair condition, Sold by Service First Media rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Taylorsville, KY, UNITED STATES, published 2019 by Back On Dauphine.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Fair. Ex-Library rental. Disc(s) are professionally cleaned and may contain only light scratches that do not effect functionality. Includes disc(s), case, and artwork. May be missing booklet. Disc(s), case, and artwork may contain library/security stickers and ink writing. ARTWORK IS UNORIGINAL AND PRINTED BY LIBRARY. Case and artwork may show some wear. Case may not be an original jewel case. All disc(s) are authentic.
