Denison Witmer: Philadelphia Songs CD
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| Product Details |
| YOUR PRICE: |
$13.98 |
| Retail Price: |
$14.98 |
| You Save: |
$1.00 |
| Format: |
CD |
| Number of Discs: |
1 |
| Release Date: |
September 24, 2002 |
| Record Label: |
Burnt Toast Vinyl |
| UPC: |
634457144125 |
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Denison Witmer |
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Released in September 2002 (with a vinyl pre-press two months before),
Philadelphia Songs incorporates styles from the previous two albums — the
shimmering sparsity of Safe Away and the warm ‘70s production heard in Of
Joy and Sorrow — to create an aural townscape not unlike the album’s
namesake. At times impressionistic, at times complete, Denison Witmer’s
songs continue to blend familiar imagery with autobiographical or
self-revealing lyrical passages and hooks. The alternative rock treatment of
“24 Turned 25” brings to mind Elliott Smith, while the quiet acoustic
intensity of “Leaving Philadelphia,” with its haunting chord changes
and coldly beautiful picking style, would not be out of place on an early Bruce
Cockburn record. Yet, production quality almost cannot compete with the
richness and depth of the cover art, as it blends sequenced drums with real
drums and comes shy of delivering the fullness of Witmer’s sound in live
performance. The song “Stations” is resurrected from the previous
album (Of Joy and Sorrow), changing faces from its earlier country-rock
stylings to a stripped-down acoustic number, still retaining the lovely female
harmony vocal. However, in contrast to its predecessor, the album Philadelphia
Songs strives more toward the unbroken experience, and it may be said that the
melodies do not distinguish themselves as immediately or interestingly as
before (though this gains appropriateness from the fact that Witmer’s
themes often hinge on the passage of time). Fragmentary piano passages, nestled
in the din of crowd noise, bookend the album, while the most thoughtful and
personalized lyrics provide the flesh of the work. Like a filmmaker’s
film, this is a picturesque songwriter’s collection, continuing to explore
forms, but not straying from the formula that has so far characterized Denison
Witmer’s career. — Lisa M. Smith (All Music Guide) ,
denisonwitmer.com
| Song List |
| 1. Sets
Of Keys |
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| 2. I Won't Let You
Down |
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| 3. 24
Turned 25 |
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| 4. Leaving Philadelphia
(Arriving In Seattle) |
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| 5.
Chestnut Hill |
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| 6. Stations |
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| 7. Do I
Really Have To? |
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| 8. Remember The Things You
Have Seen |
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| 9. Saint
Cecilia (Ode To Music) |
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To listen to an audio clip, click on the Windows Media or RealPlayer
symbol next to the song.
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