Jericho
It seems I've changed my mind about this album a couple times, but this time I've changed it for good.
There are many cases in rock and roll history when a principle songwriter leaves a group and assumes he's left his bandmates in the dust; the remaining members regroup and go on to continued success, but their fan base and their critics become divided as to whether they're still "the real deal" or not (the likes of Pink Floyd and Supertramp come to mind). And who knew The Band would join those ranks when they released "Jericho" in 1993, their first studio album since 1977's "Islands," and their first without former songwriter Robbie Robertson (and member Richard Manuel, who committed suicide in 1986).
Robertson's claim as to why he has not participated with his former colleagues is as follows; "We'd made a movie [The Last Waltz] about it and everything. I didn't want to say 'Just kidding!'" However, the album "Jericho" itself has not made "The Last Waltz" a lie; even Robertson says that the Waltz was meant to be an end to their touring days only, and that The Band had intentions of continuing their studio career. In fact, Band members were talking about the possibility of another studio album as late as 1980. However, the "reunion tours" of the 80s did make "The Last Waltz" a questionable event. But since the Waltz only represented the end of touring, a new studio album does not hender the original meaning of one of the greatest concert films of all time. If that was the case, "Islands" would have made The Band liars in 1977. But since that's not the case, "Jericho" is nothing more than a triumph for The Band.
Longtime members Rick Danko, Garth Hudson, and Levon Helm welcome sidemen Jim Weider, Richard Bell, and Randy Ciarlante to make one of their most sincere, honest albums. Of course, the reunited Band now has the same symptom as the reunited Pink Floyd...that is adding a slew of unnecessary sidemen and outside songwriters. But once you ignore that, "Jericho" is a moving and powerful album; 'Too Soon Gone' finds The Band mourning for their lost mate Richard Manuel, while the ghostly but lovely 'Country Boy' includes vocals by the late singer, recorded just five months before his suicide. 'The Caves of Jericho' features a great vocal performance from Helm, and 'Blind Willie McTell' is The Band's first version of a Bob Dylan song since 1971, and a rousing cover of Bruce Springsteen's overlooked 'Atlantic City' is The Band at their best.
There are many cases in rock and roll history when a principle songwriter leaves a group and assumes he's left his bandmates in the dust; the remaining members regroup and go on to continued success, but their fan base and their critics become divided as to whether they're still "the real deal" or not (the likes of Pink Floyd and Supertramp come to mind). And who knew The Band would join those ranks when they released "Jericho" in 1993, their first studio album since 1977's "Islands," and their first without former songwriter Robbie Robertson (and member Richard Manuel, who committed suicide in 1986).
Robertson's claim as to why he has not participated with his former colleagues is as follows; "We'd made a movie [The Last Waltz] about it and everything. I didn't want to say 'Just kidding!'" However, the album "Jericho" itself has not made "The Last Waltz" a lie; even Robertson says that the Waltz was meant to be an end to their touring days only, and that The Band had intentions of continuing their studio career. In fact, Band members were talking about the possibility of another studio album as late as 1980. However, the "reunion tours" of the 80s did make "The Last Waltz" a questionable event. But since the Waltz only represented the end of touring, a new studio album does not hender the original meaning of one of the greatest concert films of all time. If that was the case, "Islands" would have made The Band liars in 1977. But since that's not the case, "Jericho" is nothing more than a triumph for The Band.
Longtime members Rick Danko, Garth Hudson, and Levon Helm welcome sidemen Jim Weider, Richard Bell, and Randy Ciarlante to make one of their most sincere, honest albums. Of course, the reunited Band now has the same symptom as the reunited Pink Floyd...that is adding a slew of unnecessary sidemen and outside songwriters. But once you ignore that, "Jericho" is a moving and powerful album; 'Too Soon Gone' finds The Band mourning for their lost mate Richard Manuel, while the ghostly but lovely 'Country Boy' includes vocals by the late singer, recorded just five months before his suicide. 'The Caves of Jericho' features a great vocal performance from Helm, and 'Blind Willie McTell' is The Band's first version of a Bob Dylan song since 1971, and a rousing cover of Bruce Springsteen's overlooked 'Atlantic City' is The Band at their best.
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