So Rebellious A Lover
"So Rebellious a Lover" is an album that comes along only a few times in a lifetime. It represents a true moment of inspiration for Gene Clark and Carla Olson. Clark was a founding member of The Byrds, whose career had been on the skids for several years when his manager suggested he team up with Olson, a little-known singer/musician/songwriter from the Textones. The resulting collaboration, "So Rebellious a Lover", is considered by some to be the genesis of the alt-country movement (along with Gram Parsons' two studio albums). If true, I can certainly understand the interest that this movement generated.
Clark and Olson's voices seem to merge and weave as if they've sung together together for a lifetime. Instrumental accompaniment is wisely kept to a minimum, allowing the voices and songs to shine.
And what songs they are. Highlights of this gem include: "Gypsy Rider", a slow, country-folk number, with a haunting Parsons vocal; "Fair & Tender Ladies", a traditional folk song turned inside-out, resulting in a light country number, with gorgeous harmonies from Olson; and "Deportee", a Woody Guthrie song, sung primarily by Olson, with Parsons shining on harmonies.
"So Rebellious a Lover" manages to avoid the pitfalls of many country-folk CDs. The album never sounds too traditional or too modern; rather, it occupies a comfortable middle-ground, allowing its quality and the chemistry between Gene Clark and Carla Olson to shine through.
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