Review 1 of 2

WHP517 writes:

4of 5 Stars

First off: this is not The Band, nor is there any outright intention on this tribute album to outdo the stories and musicianship Robbie, Levon, Richard, Garth, and Rick produced decades ago. Honestly, listeners who have followed the history of country-rock or classic rock in general might be better suited in picking up "The Last Waltz", "Music from Big Pink" or their self-titled album (known to some as "The Brown Album") if they're not as familiar with The Band as much as others.

Somewhere along the road, however, The Band managed to avoid the iconography that their peers would eventually receive. I've heard my fair share of Dylan, Stones, Eagles, The Who, Zeppelin, etc. from others... and yet, I don't know many who have talked about The Band in anywhere close to the same light. Ok, maybe for The Last Waltz, but what band wants to be remembered primarily for its break-up?

"Endless Highway" tries to alleviate this, and succeeds enough to prove itself a more-than-ample introduction to Dylan's former backing band. There's something for everyone here: Guster, Jack Johnson, Gomez, Death Cab for Cutie, and My Morning Jacket play on for the iTunes generation I find myself a part of, while Bruce Hornsby, The Allman Brothers Band, and Widespread Panic are chosen to intially appeal to the musical historians. Lee Ann Womack and Josh Turner show up to bring the country, a necessary and welcoming layer when listing The Band's sensibilities.

Not everything works; Jack Johnson's take on "I Shall Be Released" lacks the emotion Dylan and Danko instilled into the original, and instead sounds as if Jack recorded it straight after waking up. Steve Reynolds' "Stage Fright" has good intentions - each track does - but again, his acoustic take lacks the kick of the original.

Sill, different variation is not the kryptonite of The Band's music, as heard from The Roches' vibrant take on "Acadian Driftwood." While I've never heard the original version (something I hope to rectify soon), the sisters' harmonies are immidiately lifting and present a homegrown-feel that sounds as if it came naturally to them. "It Makes No Difference" by My Morning Jacket, recorded in Levon Helm's home studio, belts out the same confessional spirit that Rick Danko sang so many years ago, and more than adequately makes up for the lack of energy others bring to the table.

So again, you could probably do better if you're of the Woodstock faithful. But "Endless Highway" gives The Band something that they have unforgivably lacked in recent years: recognition.

Feb 8, 2007 06:17:22

Review 2 of 2

SlightlyScrewed writes:

5of 5 Stars

As a loyal reader of Rolling Stone with my ears to the Indie scene, I think that Endless Highway is a great tribute to The Band with its diverse collection of artists. With many familiar arists, and a few newcomers, their interpretations and insights show how far the influences of The Band have reached. No, it isn't the Band, but it's not supposed to be. It's supposed to be a Tribute and I think the members of The Band would be proud.

Jan 26, 2007 14:21:35