Ramblin' Jack Elliott
I Stand Alone

(Anti)

The Music Box's #24 album of 2006

First Appeared in The Music Box, July 2006, Volume 13, #7

Written by John Metzger

Ramblin’ Jack Elliott is no stranger to taking long breaks between recordings, and despite a career that spans nearly half of a century, he has scant few albums in his name. In fact, seven years have passed since his last outing The Long Ride was issued, and it’s been more than a decade since the Grammy-winning South Coast truly reminded the world of his importance. Although his latest effort I Stand Alone boasts an array of special guests — Lucinda Williams, Los Lobos’ David Hidalgo, Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Flea, X’s D.J. Bonebrake, Sleater-Kinney’s Corin Tucker, and Wilco’s Nels Cline all lend Elliott a hand — its title is wholly appropriate. The outing is all about Ramblin’ Jack, and with one fell swoop, he ruminates upon mortality in a way that puts the current folk-and-bluegrass revival into its proper perspective.

At the age of 75, Elliott’s weathered vocals sound more expressive than ever as he playfully cackles, croaks, and croons his way through the material on I Stand Alone, while paying tribute to faithful dogs, examining love, reminiscing about the old days, and laughing at death even as it stares him in the face. Squeezing 16 tracks into less than 33 minutes, he strings together seasoned interpretations of songs by A.P. Carter (Engine 143), Hoagy Carmichael (Hong Kong Blues), and Leadbelly (Jean Harlow) to form a narrative arc that feels wholly autobiographical. It’s only fitting, then, that on the concluding Woody’s Last Ride, Elliott softly speaks of his final cross-country journey with fellow folk legend Woody Guthrie, and as the song’s surreal accompaniment disintegrates, it provides a gentle reminder of the fragile, fleeting nature not only of memories but also of life.

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Ratings

1 Star:   Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!

Copyright © 2006 The Music Box