Alligator Records
1999
Greens From The Garden
About This Album
Greens from the Garden is nothing short of a tour de force for Corey Harris. Progressing from the solo acoustic blues of Between Midnight and Day and the stripped Dixie influence of Fish Ain't Bitin', Harris' third album is a mixture of 20th century Americana that hits home runs in every genre in which it comes to bat. The diversity of styles in Greens from the Garden is reminiscent of Ry Cooder's Paradise and Lunch, in which the musician's personality is the glue holding all the styles together. Harris commits himself to the spirit of the songs here; despite his versatility, he never comes off as a dilettante, but rather a devoted auteur. Harris' New Orleans roots are deepened and widened, with affecting forays into French-sung Cajun waltz, "Pas Parlez" and several funk excursions worthy of the Neville Brothers and the Meters (in "Wild West" and "Honeysuckle"). Most startling is how well Harris' modern lyrical outlook fuses with 20th century traditional styles; by trusting in the integrity of the music, he's able to steer the listener toward the spiritual sides of topical arguments in "Basehead" and "Lynch Blues" without once resorting to preaching or heavy-handedness.
Track List (try tracks 2,3,5,7,9,10,12,15,17,18 and 20)

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