Silver Lake (album)

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Silver Lake
Studio album by
Vic Chesnutt
Released2003
LabelNew West
ProducerMark Howard
Vic Chesnutt chronology
Left to His Own Devices
(2001) 		Silver Lake
(2003) 		Ghetto Bells
(2005)

Silver Lake is an album by the American musician Vic Chesnutt, released in 2003.[1][2] Chesnutt supported the album with a North American tour that included shows with M. Ward.[3][4]

Production[edit]

Recorded over two weeks in Silver Lake, Los Angeles, the album was produced by Mark Howard.[5][6][7] It was a more musically expansive album; Chesnutt, perhaps ironically, had initially intended to make "a big giant record, a ponderous, overproduced monstrosity."[8] Chesnutt did not know his backing band before entering the studio.[9] He claimed that the album contains references and secret messages to Victoria Williams.[10]

"In My Way, Yes" expresses gratitude for Chesnutt's achievements.[11] "Styrofoam" is about the interior life of a Styrofoam cooler.[12] "Sultan, So Mighty" is about a harem eunuch.[13] "Second Floor" is based on a Chinese poem from the fifth century.[14] "I'm Through" describes a breakup.[15]

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Detroit Free Press[16]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[17]
Knoxville News SentinelA[18]

The Knoxville News Sentinel wrote that "the sometimes lush production adds drama the Chesnutt's sweet, quirky vocals."[18] The Arizona Republic deemed "Band Camp" "entertaining, uplifting, with an underlying hint of sadness and despair."[19] The Boston Globe called the album "adventurous and compelling music" and "the most diverse and deeply textured work of his career."[20] The New York Times noted that "Chesnutt has the scratchy voice of a young codger, an ear for modestly inspirational tunes and an eye for the homely, off-kilter detail."[21]

The Washington Post opined that "Chesnutt's straight talk can be merely bratty and stereotypical, and his songs tend to meander aimlessly."[22] The New Yorker labeled Silver Lake "one of his rootsiest—it sounds like a pine forest at dusk—and strongest efforts"; the magazine named it one of the best albums of 2003.[12][23] The Globe and Mail considered "In My Way, Yes" "possibly his loveliest to date, where intensity and uncertainty join hands."[24]

Track listing[edit]

All tracks are written by Vic Chesnutt

Silver Lake track listing
No.TitleLength
1."I'm Through"6:42
2."Stay Inside"4:46
3."Band Camp"4:34
4."Girl's Say"3:24
5."2nd Floor"6:15
6."Styrofoam"4:56
7."Zippy Morocco"4:05
8."Sultan, So Mighty"8:18
9."Wren's Nest"5:16
10."Fa-la-La"5:21
11."In My Way, Yes"5:17

References[edit]

  1. ^ Farber, Jim (23 Feb 2003). "Magician on the Margins". Showtime. Daily News. New York. p. 14.
  2. ^ Darragh, Tim (5 Apr 2003). "Vic Chesnutt Silver Lake". The Morning Call. p. D6.
  3. ^ Takiff, Jonathan (4 Apr 2003). "Deserving voices". Features. Philadelphia Daily News. p. 61.
  4. ^ Thomas, Rob (17 Apr 2003). "Vic Chesnutt has been called...". Rhythm. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 22.
  5. ^ Puckett, Jeffrey Lee (12 Apr 2003). "Music". Courier Journal. p. S4.
  6. ^ Wagner, Vit (10 Apr 2003). "CD Reviews". Toronto Star. p. G13.
  7. ^ Morris, Chris (Apr 5, 2003). "Silver Lake". Billboard. 115 (14): 37.
  8. ^ McKeough, Kevin (18 Apr 2003). "Chesnutt finding light in his very dark tunnel". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. 6.
  9. ^ Krochak, Gerry (12 Aug 2004). "Vic Chesnutt: A Legendary Wordsmith". Regina Leader-Post. p. D1.
  10. ^ Guarino, Mark (18 Apr 2003). "Vic Chesnutt's Silver Lining". Time Out!. Daily Herald. Arlington Heights. p. 5.
  11. ^ Hasted, Nick (4 Apr 2003). "Dark side of the tune". Features. The Independent. p. 21.
  12. ^ a b Greenman, Ben (Apr 7, 2003). "Left of Eccentric". The New Yorker. 79 (7): 22.
  13. ^ Luke, Paul (13 Apr 2003). "'I'm always motivated, but I'm not always inspired'". The Province. p. D3.
  14. ^ Newcomb, Brian Q. (8 May 2003). "Themes of Struggle, Coping Are Among These Chesnutts". Get Out. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 26.
  15. ^ Piccoli, Sean (14 July 2003). "Vic Chesnutt, Jim White Travel Southern States of Mind". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. p. 3D.
  16. ^ Byrne, Steve (13 Apr 2003). "Roots". Detroit Free Press. p. F3.
  17. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 2. MUZE. p. 324.
  18. ^ a b Bledsoe, Wayne (30 Mar 2003). "Chesnutt's songwriting shines on 'Silver'". Knoxville New Sentinel. p. G8.
  19. ^ Miles, Brent (3 Apr 2003). "CD Spins". The Rep. The Arizona Republic. p. 39.
  20. ^ Capobianco, Ken (4 Apr 2003). "CD Pick". The Boston Globe. p. C13.
  21. ^ Pareles, Jon (11 Apr 2003). "Pop and Jazz Guide". The New York Times. p. E24.
  22. ^ Jenkins, Mark (4 Apr 2003). "Vic Chesnutt Silver Lake". The Washington Post. p. WW7.
  23. ^ "Pop Notes". The New Yorker. 79 (41): 14. Jan 5, 2004.
  24. ^ Wilson, Carl (10 Apr 2003). "The passionate uncertainty of Vic Chesnutt". The Globe and Mail. p. R5.
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