| Lookout For Hope - Jerry Douglas | |
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Reviewed by Matt Bjorke
Jerry Douglas? Now that name sounds familiar doesn't it? You probably swear that you've heard of him before. You'd be right. Jerry Douglas is one of the many musicians who contributed to the O Brother Where Art Thou? soundtrack. Jerry didn't get any solo acknowledgements but now is a full fledged member of Alison Krauss' Union Station band.
You may say that being on "O Brother" is all fine and dandy but you still swear that you have heard his name before. You'd be right again. Jerry Douglas is known as a supreme Dobroist, a guy who plays the Dobro, who has appeared on many artists' records. Some artists for whom Jerry has played for include Clint Black, Garth Brooks, Linda Davis, Glen Campbell, Billy Dean, Sara Evans, Tyler England, Vince Gill, The Dixie Chicks, and well just about anyone else who needed a dobro player.
If you were to do some research on Jerry Douglas, you'd find out that he has released several "solo albums." Jerry released his first album in 1978 and 24 years later has his 11th record with Lookout For Hope. The album as a whole is a magnificently constructed album with some astonishing playing on it. Lookout For Hope features guests like Phish Guitarist Trey Anastacio, Nickel Creeks' Chris Thile, Sam Bush, Byron Sutton, Viktor Krauss of Union Station, and Stuart Duncan.
The title track is a 10-minute opus that was written by legendary Jazz guitarist Bill Frisell. With the multitude of changes and tones, the song is without a doubt the centerpiece of the whole album. "Little Martha" is a track that was written by Duane Allman and it is neat to hear it given the "newgrass" styled treatment. "Cave Bob" features a jazzy sound complete with a saxophone, courtesy of Jeff Coffin. "Patrick Meets The Brickbats," "Monkey Let The Hogs Out" and "The Suit" are all uptempo songs that sound like one long "jam session" that leave the listener feeling that he's just witnessed some of the best darn acoustic playing that could possibly be heard.
There are two tracks that contain vocals. "Footsteps Fall" is a wonderful ballad that showcases the angelic vocals of Celtic musician Maura O'Connell. Backing her up is the wonderful Chris Thile who also plays mandolin throughout the album. "The Suit" is the surprise track of the whole album. Written by Hugh Prestwood, who is famous for his "Ghost In This House," "The Suit" features the incomparable James Taylor on vocals. While it won't get any airplay on any radio stations besides adventurous Americana stations, the song is a wonderful story song about how a simple man loves his suit that he is wearing.
With as many guests as a rap album, just kidding, Lookout For Hope is one astonishing album that any true music fan would love to have in their collection.
Song List:
Album cover used with permission of Sugar Hill.
Sound clips courtesy of Barnes & Noble.
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