Album Review: Joe Ely – Silver City
It was barely a month ago that Joe Ely put out Happy Songs From Rattlesnake Gulch, something he describes as the “rough and tumble” side of his road life. Today he released Silver City, an album of ten songs he wrote between 1968 and 1972 but weren’t recorded until the past year and a half. I didn’t review Rattlesnake Gulch here on The 9513, but I did listen to it and it wasn’t my particular style of music. After listening to Silver City I’m happy to say that I actually enjoyed the album. The album starts off with the title track, “Silver City,” which has been recorded before, but this time it’s just Ely. My favorite track “Wounded Knee” is a heavy duty song if you listen to the lyrics – “my daughter was raped by the calvary, I wish them all to hell.” Ely calls the album the “easy side” of things. It’s just his voice, the guitar, and some of the first songs he wrote when he was starting out; back before he performed with a band.
Basically if you’re looking for some good story songs from a legendary Texas Troubadour, Silver City is your album.
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March 6, 2007 at 4:51 pm Permalink
Who is that young kid! He looks about 12 in that picture. Thanks for the review.
I wish the Flatlanders would come back through town. I love those guys so much. Each one so talented, and together it’s dyn-o-mite.
March 7, 2007 at 9:01 am Permalink
Haha yea, I thought it was interesting that they used the particular picture. Some people might think it was an old album if they saw it on the shelf at a store.
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