I, Flathead

I've always heard about Ry Cooder's sterling credentials as a musican. It's just that I had the impression that most of his stuff was on the goofy side. But, since he is one of the top slide guitar players, I wanted something from him in our collection. To my surprise this is a great album and the thing that I really like about it (besides the excellent instrumentation) is that the lyrics are so entertaining. Instead of a disc to be played a couple times and put on the shelf, this is one to be played over and over and over again.

I bought this for my husband's b'day. He has been a music connisseur forever...I sometimes hesitate wondering whether he will like an artist. He love this and so do I..I felt Ry Cooter couldn't loose and this release is enought of a change from the Ry Cooter of earlier days to be a fantastic and enjoyable trip into new territory with an old friend. Buy and enjoy....Great road, traveling music amd we're headed to the beach in a few days....I can feel it now...

This new Album from Ry Cooder is a knockout. I thought that he had topped it with Buena Vista Social Club, but this ROCKS.
It showcases every style that the man has given us........... it is SENSATIONAL.
I would LOVE to hear his next album be a classical one, as I think that that's all that is left.
For fans young and old, do yourselves a favour and buy this.

If you aren't well versed with Ry Cooder's music, you can be fairly certain that you'll get great music no matter which album of his you buy. This is the final of a trilogy about Los Angeles in the first half of the 20th century. Each has tells the story of the city and it's people. First was the album 'Chavez Ravine', the family oriented hispanic neighborhood cleared out to build Dodger Stadium. The second, 'My name is Buddy', is a fabulous ride through depression era migration and American socialism. If allegory leaves you cold, just enjoy the music. This album, 'I Flathead' is the final of the trio. If you really want a treat, the CD versions of Buddy and Flathead each include a very cool, small graphic novel within the CD case to accompany the album. Ry is one of our finest Musicologist and maybe the best slide player alive. (though Sonny Landreth is fabulous).

I love this album. I've been waiting years for Ry to equal
Boomer's Story and Borderline and his early work (most of which
I bought on casette 30 years or so ago and still have). I frequently
listen to Buena Vista Social Club, but Ry's contribution on that was
impressarial rather than musical.
This album has great electric guitar and lyrics but I believe Ry's
vocals are better than they have ever been. Maybe age has smoothed
out the gravel a bit, or maybe he just found his true voice.