PRESS REVIEWS OF THE NEW PUNK BLUES - ED'S NEW 2007 RELEASE The New Punk Blues of Ed Pettersen Despite the title, this 1/23/07 release is steeped in folk and country influences with a crew of stellar sidemen including Muscle Shoals guitarist Reggie Young, bassist Bob Babbitt, keyboardist Catherine Marx and pedal steel ace Al Perkins.
Many of these songs remind me fondly of an album I loved in bygone days, Steve Earle's "Copperhead Road." The tale of "Jimmy Parker," who "liked to get a little crazy and disappear for days on end"; the fearful truthfulness of "Gather The Family 'Round"; and Ed's tribute to his former roommate and mentor, Scott Kempner (Dictators, Del-Lords) all have the honest, heartfelt feeling that Earle conveyed.
All around, "New Punk Blues" contains a tasty mix of acoustic numbers and songs featuring the all-star band, which I really enjoyed. Get it locally or at www.edpettersen.com. Look for that old fashioned Blue Note sleeve! Ricky Flake is a former punk rocker, working musician (he sings with South Mississippi's Tribute to the Ramones, COMMANDOS; and, drums with the Deacons) and music fan who lives in Biloxi. Reach him at lobotomy3857@wmconnect.com. Amazon Editorial Review
Amazon.com
The Nashville indie veteran shows a songwriting range beyond this release's (inscrutable?) title with 12 cuts that include acoustic folk, propulsive rock, and topical commentary. His collaboration with Scott Kempner (formerly of the Dictators and Del-Lords) on "Gather the Family 'Round" provides the album with a populist opening anthem, while the later "Top Ten" finds Pettersen paying tribute to Kempner's influence. While the stripped-down acoustic intimacy of "Burning Up" shows the songwriter's confessional side, he's as easily adept at stepping into a character, assuming the perspective of a missing girl in "Tabitha" and of a soldier taking the long way home from the war in "June 1945." Both "Jimmy Parker" and "I'm Not Coming Down" benefit from a rough-hewn dynamic reminiscent of Neil Young's music with Crazy Horse. And as the slide guitar that drives "$500 Car" attests, Pettersen even incorporates a bit of the (non-punk) blues into his sound. --Don McLeese New Recordings In the strictest sense, there is no punk or blues on the latest album from Ed Pettersen. But attitude, hurt and heart do run through this varied collection of songs. It's all held together by the Nashville-based ex-Long Islander's ability to cut close to the bone.
Folk strains dominate the hauntingly evocative "Tabitha" and "Chelsea," and there's a rootsy tang to the likes of "Jerry Parker" and "$500 Car." Soul music informs the horn-inflected "Magic Glasses," while rock appropriately comes to the fore on "Top Ten," Pettersen's tribute to his friend and ex-roommate, former Dictator and Del-Lord Scott Kempner, who also cowrote the rocker that opens the set, "Gather the Family 'Round."
- Nick Cristiano Ed Pettersen is infectious -- or rather the music from his latest album, The New Punk Blues of Ed Pettersen. Despite the genre-blending title, Pettersen's groove is entirely addictive folk and acoustic rock and roll with earnest lyrics about relationships, families, and politics (which sorta makes sense, since Janet Reno is his aunt-in-law). Pettersen is touring the nation, performing at a slew of engagements from Nashville to Chicago to herald the release of his album, and your chance to see him is tonight.
- Damaris Hay Frankly, singer-songwriter Ed Pettersen looks a bit, well, scary. Scary in the same way as fellow songwriter Ed Hammell of Hammell On Trial. It also doesn't help that Pettersen hawks his craft - his new album is The New Punk Blues of Ed Pettersen (Dig) - in Nashville, which is the last place anybody would think to find an individualist such as Pettersen. The rub - Pettersen is one whale of a varied songwriter (don't let the title of his album fool you, as it's neither punk nor blues in the way you might expect). The mighty Scott Kempner of the Del-Lords is his partner, and songs, all detailed character studies that gnaw on the bones on discarded America - move from reflective acoustic anthems to blastfests that would do Neil Young and Crazy Horse proud. Pettersen is set to hit the road to promote his new (and quite good) album, but he found the time to share with relish five of his favorite CDs.
- Ed Bumgardner This is maybe the one record recorded this year that celebrity producer Rick Rubin has had absolutely nothing to do with, although he might as well have – it's that different, and it's that good. Rubin has proved, through his association with old country stars, hiphop artists, and even schmaltz kings like Neil Diamond, that he can bring greatness to any genre. I'd love to speculate as to what Rubin might have done with Pettersen, who is a subtle genius in his own right. Nah, it's not punk and it's not blues. Not even close. This is actually a folk album, and a thinking man's folk album at that. Maybe the two will hook up and at least meditate in the coming year. *** stars
-Dave Good Pettersen is a less melancholy Paul Westerberg. His infectious good spirits and engaging set of solo acoustic Rock n Roll brought smiles to even the most tired and testy weekend warriors. Pettersen’s work…typifies the essence of the Americana format at radio. Pettersen proves he’s got all the right stuff. From the first note you know that Ed Pettersen falls firmly in the contemporary folk genre. alt-country-clash Pettersen trades in the sort of bighearted, populist roots rock that never goes out of style. Ed's song DWIOU is #35 on Dance Card Magazine Hottest Country Dance Chart right below Pam Tillis and Wynonna!
October 15, 1997 Roots-rockin and country-rollin' is one way to sum up Ed Pettersen's fine approach to laying down some great songs. the personal warmth with which Pettersen creates will call to mind the traveling troubadour of a Woody Guthrie. John Mellencamp, Bruce Springsteen, and Elvis are abducted by aliens who not only probe them but mix and match their parts. He put on a helluva show. Ed Pettersen can strap on an acoustic guitar in an EV club at midnight and make you feel like you're drinking burnt coffee by the campfire at sunrise. Reviews of Somewhere South of Here Strong songwriting and good rock n roll chops dominate this collection..
(CRLM) Dirty Linen, Dec 1997 Somewhere South of Here is high energy, acoustic-based roots-rock in the hands of a music-loving master.
ASCAP NEWS This is one of those discs you'll put on time and time again (Somewhere South of Here)
JS this is a meat-and-potatoes set of songs that sticks to your ribs like chicken-fried steak....Pettersen could surface as something of a music biz success story.
Chris Schwartz The songs are well-crafted, catchy tunes with interesting lyrics. |