No Such Place (2001)
Dark & Dreamy Strangeness
Jim White has already been certified as an acquired taste. His 1997 debut, Wrong Eyed Jesus! – a strange and meandering set of pseudo-spiritual, country folk dreams – was unique and intriguing, but so purposely diffused that it took several listens for White’s storytelling strengths to become apparent. His surreal blend of fragile acoustics & drifting melodies may not initially make much sense… but, just give him a little space and time. White’s 2001 follow up, No Such Place, thankfully features more of the same technique – disembodied and beautiful, in a trippy, never beginning/never quite ending sort of way. But, White also pitches a few hard curve balls here, too. The first three tracks below will give you a quick, panoramic view of White’s newly expanded appeal. The philosophical hillbilly dilemma, “Handcuffed To A Fence In Mississippi,” boasts focused, defined hooks and even a sing along chorus – new colors on White’s palette. “What good is happiness when it’s just a state of mind?,” he reflectively asks. Crickets introduce “The Wound That Never Heals,” a frightening revenge story dressed up as a casual conversation. “Baby, why don’t you cry?,” White asks, and when you reach the grim lyrical payoff, his reply cuts bone-deep. “Corvair,” is a prime example of White’s aforementioned wandering ambiance. Sounds that linger like stray spirits with nowhere else to go. No Such Place is a masterful album, inhabited by characters haunted by life itself. White’s self-assurance in these surrounds will, given time, lure you even deeper into his spacey mindset. Highly recommended. As cheap as a penny at Amazon.
Handcuffed To A Fence In Mississippi
The Wound That Never Heals
Corvair
The Wrong Kind Of Love
10 Miles To Go On A 9 Mile Road
Christmas Day
Bound To Forget
God Was Drunk When He Made Me
King Of The Road
Ghost-Town Of My Brain
Hey! You Going My Way???
The Love That Never Fails
Corvair Reprise
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Hick Hop at it’s finest. Almost Tom Waits-ian at times to me which just adds to the appeal. Thanks for the post.
thanks, Willard! Never heard Jim before, but checked him out on Youtube and he seems like the real deal.
Bought this album not long after its release, because i remembered reading good critics of Wrong Eyed Jesus.
Not easy to get into, but definitely a good listen.
“Book of Angels” from the “Wrong-Eyed Jesus” album has been a favorite of mine for years. The movie “Searching for the Wrong-Eyed Jesus” is also worth checking out.
Yeah, the movie was pretty cool, too. Think I caught it on Sundance one night.
Brilliant record. Anything by Jim or Jim live is brilliant. If that’s hip hop you can Handcuff me to Fence in Mississippi… ;-)
I’ve always been partial to White’s debut, though this was certainly a more than worthy follow-up.