Vermilion (Continental Drifters album)

Vermilion is an album by the American band the Continental Drifters, released in 1999.[2][3] It was first released in Germany, in 1998.[4]

Vermilion
Studio album by
Released1998, Germany
1999, United States
StudioDockside
GenreRoots rock
LabelBlue Rose
Razor & Tie[1]
ProducerContinental Drifters
Continental Drifters chronology
Continental Drifters
(1994)
Vermilion
(1998)
Better Day
(2001)

Production

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The drummer Russ Broussard played on the album, replacing Carlo Nuccio.[5] Produced by the band, Vermilion was recorded over 17 days in Maurice, Louisiana, at Dockside Studio.[6][7]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [8]
Robert ChristgauA−[9]
Lincoln Journal Star     [1]
Orange County RegisterA[10]
The Republican     [11]

Robert Christgau thought that "the lyrics resolve on home truisms, earned and learned but predictable nonetheless, just like the alt-pop songforms and country-rock groove," and singled out Susan Cowsill for praise.[9] Trouser Press called the album "mature, artistic and affecting," writing that "the eight-minute 'Daddy Just Wants It to Rain' is a monumental and powerful piece of family autobiography."[5] No Depression considered it "graceful, poetic, intimate and deliciously harmonized, but still plenty rock-minded."[12]

CMJ New Music Report wrote that "touching country-gospel harmonies dominate this album, which taps deep into the soul of American roots music."[13] Sound & Vision opined that "guitarist Robert Mache is the unsung hero of the lot, putting a personal spin on the Neil Young/Robbie Robertson tradition of thrill-ride soloing."[14] The Chicago Tribune declared that the album "vibrates with life, serving up roots rock in all its flavors: tough, tender, twangy, toe-tapping but with more urgency than the genre frequently exhibits (and without the complacency)."[15]

AllMusic called the sound "downright messy at times, with acoustic and electric guitars splayed out around indistinct bass and clattering drums and the occasional mandolin and rubboard."[8]

Track listing

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No.TitleLength
1."The Rain Song" 
2."Drifters" 
3."Way of the World" 
4."Don't Do What I Did" 
5."Spring Day in Ohio" 
6."Watermark" 
7."I Want to Learn to Waltz with You" 
8."Meet Me in the Middle" 
9."Heart, Home" 
10."Darlin Darlin" 
11."Christopher Columbus Transcontinental Highway" 
12."Who We Are, Where We Live" 
13."Daddy Just Wants It to Rain" 
14."Anything" 

Personnel

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References

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  1. ^ a b Moser, Daniel R. (October 15, 1999). "Pop Paradise". Ground Zero. Lincoln Journal Star. p. 17.
  2. ^ Pick, Steve. "Continental Drifters". Riverfront Times. Archived from the original on 2021-09-24. Retrieved 2021-09-24.
  3. ^ Jones, J. R. (June 15, 2000). "Continental Drifters". Chicago Reader. Archived from the original on September 24, 2021. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  4. ^ "The Continental Drifters, in all their permutations, to join forces at Tipitina's". The Times-Picayune. Archived from the original on 2021-09-24. Retrieved 2021-09-24.
  5. ^ a b "Continental Drifters". Trouser Press. Archived from the original on 24 September 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  6. ^ DeMarco, Jerry (20 Nov 1998). "Auxiliary Power Turned Off". The Record. Hackensack. p. 31.
  7. ^ Leslie, Karl (8 June 2000). "Drifters bring roots rock to 400 Bar". St. Cloud Times. p. E4.
  8. ^ a b "Vermilion". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 2021-07-31. Retrieved 2021-09-24.
  9. ^ a b "Continental Drifters". Robert Christgau. Archived from the original on 2021-09-24. Retrieved 2021-09-24.
  10. ^ Wener, Ben (December 24, 1999). "The Quick Hit". Orange County Register. p. F61.
  11. ^ O'Hare, Kevin (October 10, 1999). "'Vermilion' colored with soul". The Republican. p. D1.
  12. ^ "Continental Drifters – Driftin' way of life". No Depression. Archived from the original on 24 September 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  13. ^ "Triple A". CMJ New Music Report. Vol. 60, no. 638. Oct 11, 1999. p. 28.
  14. ^ Milano, Brett (Jan 2000). "Vermilion". Sound & Vision. Vol. 65, no. 1. pp. 155–156.
  15. ^ McCormick, Moira (24 Oct 1999). "Recordings". Arts & Entertainment. Chicago Tribune. p. 19.