Word: smithers
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...Watson and Chris Smither. There may be a flatpicking bluegrass guitarist better than Doc Watson. Then again, there may not be. Doc and his son, Merle, a blazing banjo player in his own right, brought their repertoire of traditional ballads, mountain rags, re-interpreted standards and blues to Sanders Theater last Spring. Not even Paul Freund gets the ovations they got. The foot-stomping and clapping were too spontaneous to be corny, even with Doc's shaggy-dog stories thrown...
...Drag On--Chris Smither (Poppy). An artist like Chris Smither is less likely to scale Himalayan peaks than a joni Mitchell, but this album flies consistently at a remarkably high level. A folk singer whose music is closer to rock and blues than to the classics, Smither has a powerful voice with a controlled roughness. Don't It Drag On is a supremely economical album; each track is strong, the moods are well balanced from sedate to raucous, and Smither never stifles the impact of his or other people's songs with flabby arrangements or excessive lyrics...
...Down In The Flood." Smither and background pianist Eric Kaz turn in a performance that out-stomps the high-spirited Dylan original. My favorites among Smither's songs include the title cut and "I Feel The Same," both of which are dominated by Smither's acoustic and John Bailey's electric guitars. Smither is about the only folk writer I've heard who writes about loneliness without ever reverting to romantic drivel or embarassing self-pity. One key to his success over a wide range of moods is a sense of humor that keeps him from taking his crises...
Gerdes's lyrics have the same personal quality of Dylan's and Smither's, but they are not as subtle nor as consistently poetical. They are all good, but one gets the feeling he could have frequently said as much with considerably less strain. "Peas Porridge Hot" and "Real as Rain" are mellow, light songs in which Gerdes relaxes, sings smoothly, and plays his guitar well. "Time Will Let You In" and "Gardenia Lady" are also fine songs, which express with moving melancholy the dilemma of people caught in time...
Wainwright is not likely to have the broader success one might expect of Peter Yarrow or Chris Smither, simply because his style is so uncompromisingly personal. People like George Gerdes, however, are already showing Wainwright's influence. Wainwright's will be an exciting, original contribution to folk and blues, which must always be rejuvenated by forceful, gifted artists