Published on Jan 15, 2001
When we last heard from Dan Israel, he was leading his band The
Cultivators through an entertaining set on
Mama’s Kitchen. And while he still is fronting that band,
something had to be possessing Israel to step out of the
country-rock shell and to record an album of modern folk with just
the slightest touch of country.
That album,
Dan Who?, is a breakthrough for the Minnesota-based
guitarist/vocalist, for this disc brings back memories of possibly
Minnesota’s most notable export… no, not Jesse Ventura. I’m
talking about Bob Dylan – and Israel often strikes a Dylan-like
note (with the exception that Israel can hit the notes fine, thank
you very much).
While I do enjoy his work with The Cultivators, I have a
personal message for Mr. Israel: you keep cranking out albums in
this vein that are this good, and you’re going to be
single-handedly responsible for a rebirth of interest in folk
music… and I’ll be the first in line to shake your hand and say
“thanks”.
What Israel has done here reminds me of Kev’n Kinney’s
Macdougal Blues, his first project away from Drivin’ ‘n’
Cryin’. Like Kinney, Israel seemed to be writing songs in a vein
that just wouldn’t have fit in the vein of The Cultivators’s music.
For that, we should all be thankful.
Oh, sure, you’re thinking… could the music on this disc from
an artist I’ve never heard of really be
that good? The answer is yes, Bucky. From the opening track
“Last Words,” Israel strikes a nerve that makes you want to hear
more… and you almost find yourself disappointed when the final
track fades out. It’s raw, it’s emotional… it’s damned good.
Tracks like “Lingering Questions,” “All My Friends,” “Looking
Out For Me” and “Tears Of Joy” ring out with the sparse power of
just Israel’s vocals and his acoustic guitar. And while the subject
matter occasionally drifts into the veins of sorrow and heartbreak
(thus the country reference), he never lets the music become
maudlin, and makes sure that while the listener pays attention to
every word, they leave the song with smiles on their faces.
Israel just can’t do any wrong on
Dan Who?, except maybe not making this a double CD so people
could have more tracks to rejoice in. Israel might not be a
household name, but this CD has the power to change that. All it
asks is that you – whether you’re a consumer or radio programmer,
club manager or label executive – give it a fair chance. Chances
are once you do, you’ll find you don’t want to take it out of your
CD player.
Dan Who? is a masterpiece, pure and simple, painted in the
colors of bare necessity. Israel has cut an album he can be proud
of… and I’m among the many critics hoping this disc becomes the
skeleton key that will open all the doors in front of this talented
musician.
2001 Christopher Thelen and “The Daily Vault”. All rights
reserved. Review or any portion may not be reproduced without
written permission. Cover art is the intellectual property of
Persistent / Hayden’s Ferry Records, and is used for informational
purposes only.