Daniellanois.Com
2005
Rockets
About This Album
Rockets is a collection of unreleased demos, live and rehearsal tracks, and leftovers. It was created as a "renegade CD" to be sold only at gigs and on Daniel Lanois' website. Lanois is a meticulous producer, so the rough and ready -- even raw -- nature of much of this is startling. That said, his leftovers are often more desirable than the choice material of other songwriters. The consistency of the material is the only guiding thread to what's here. And there are no credits; one has to go to the artist's website to get track-by-track information. The spectral, spare pedal steel instrumental "JJ Leaves LA" -- recorded live in Dublin with drummer Brian Blade -- is haunting and bittersweet. On the ragged, distorted whomp of "Sweet Soul Honey," tempos shift and slip, as Lanois is accompanied by Blade (and the sound from his guitar amp bleeds copiously into the drum mikes) and a big bass Indian drum walks the entire proceeding on a razor wire. This could have been an outtake from For the Beauty of Wynona. The title track is an edited live guitar-and-drum wanker jam, but that's OK since Lanois never really does them. The live "Devil's Bed" doesn't replace the studio version; with pedal steel this track takes a countrified approach.
Track List (try tracks 1,2,3,5 and 9)

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