Review – Shooter Jennings “Black Ribbons”
I’m gonna start this off with a prediction: Either this album will be some groundbreaking marquee release in rock n’ roll history, or it will be the most curious find in the bargain bin in short order. It is pure genius, or an unforgivable stroking of ego. Either way, Shooter Jennings, son of Waylon, is swinging for the fences with his new release, Black Ribbons, and he takes you on the most unusual and hard to understand musical experience you might ever go on.
I’m not even sure where to start trying to explain this thing. Actually I do. First let’s put to bed any notions that this album, or Shooter by proxy, has anything left to do with country music. Of course, I’ve been saying this since May 9th of 2009 and was the first to say it. And even when Shooter’s management was sending out press releases with the words: “Shooter has left his country roots behind,” some die hard country Shooter fans would not believe it, some even going as far as calling me an “asshole” for asserting such a thing.
But having listened cover to cover, there is no country here. Even the track “California via Tennessee” which had been held up as a new country song is undeniably industrial rock, full of electronic sounds and not even a hint of twang. This is not a criticism. If Shooter doesn’t want to play country anymore, neither do I.
Speaking of cover to cover, this is the next thing to get into. I could write a whole article on the packaging itself, no kidding. In short, this is the most elaborate and thought out CD package I have ever seen in my life, and it may never be topped.
It starts with a thin cardboard sleeve with the album cover on the front. On the back is the list of the 20 tracks, and under this where the normal copyright info would be it says: “This material is property of the United Nations Bureau of Investigation.” and goes on in similar cryptic jargon that hints of the sheer unusualness to come.
Inside of that is another cardboard cover that folds out to reveal a man in a sheep mask whose shooting lasers into the eyes of a little girl that read out the lyrics to “Row Your Boat.” ??? Confused yet? Well it gets even more weird from there, and as not to spoil all the fun, I won’t go into detail, but lets just say there more unfolding, and more unfolding, and more weirdness. Trying to get to the CD itself was a similar experience to the first time I ever opened one of those nesting Russian dolls, where smaller and smaller dolls just keep coming.
Finally you do come to the CD, as well as a Tarot-like playing card. Mine has a similar image to the image on the front cover, but maybe they are different in different CD’s. The CD itself boldly asserts: “Killing for peace is like fucking for chastity.” Yeah.
That phrase is actually uttered at one point on the album by none other than bestselling novelist Stephen King. That’s right, Stephen King can be found on this, let’s say “concept” album, as a sort of a narrator. The premise of the album is that King’s character “Will O The Wisp” is a pre-Apocalyptic radio DJ performing his last night on the air before the government shuts him down. The album has five segments of Stephen talking, while he intermixes songs from Hierophant, the name of Shooter’s new band.
Before I get into the music, let’s talk about the message. In the first song “Wake Up,” Shooter talks about how people have been dumbed down into robots by TV and the government has been filling our heads full of propaganda. He is a little harsh with the delivery, but in principle I can get behind the message he is peddling.
But as the album goes on, talk of government intrusion and media bias turns into a fictional post-apocalyptic scene as “Will O The Wisp” narrates: “No cars, no kids. Nothing but transport trucks and men with guns standing on street corners.” It makes you wonder if the themes of this album are made to drive home a point, or to paint a fictional picture. Is Shooter is really making accusations, asserting conspiracy theories and warning us of our doom, or just stringing together the threads of a narrative? To hear the message, it is serious and grave, but you can’t imagine someone taking themselves so seriously, and then making a video game to accompany this album. Yes, Black Ribbons The Game exists, making the whole mood and situation surrounding this album that much more unusual and hard to gauge. You can also check out the Shooter Jennings “De-Programmer” by clicking here.
At times this project feels outright adolescent, like a cry from a maladjusted young man. It is angry, but not necessarily in an inspiring or interesting way, just sort of an embarrassing way, like a teenager having a temper tantrum. It boldly asserts many ideas, like the “Killing for peace is like fucking for chastity,” but is that really a bulletproof saying? I don’t want to get into philosophy here, but what if you kill someone who is killing others? Yes, you can go back and forth and that is my point.
But maybe Shooter doesn’t even believe this saying, it is just part of the charade, or a hint for the scavenger hunt-like video game that accompanies this release?
I also didn’t buy Stephen King’s part. Honestly he wasn’t given much to work with, but his delivery was dry, his timing was bad, and you could not stop visualizing him in his Coke bottle glasses speaking in an antiseptic studio during the recording of this CD, as opposed to the dingy resistance radio outpost you’re supposed to imagine him broadcasting from.
As for the music itself, which is hard to focus on with everything else going on surrounding this album, I would say it is decent. The music does not always fit the theme progression of “Will O The Wisp’s” narration, but it is always very heavily electronic. I am a country music writer, so my skill at judging rock is limited, but I know my Radiohead, of which Shooter has asserted he is inspired by. But Radiohead is an originator of music, creating sounds and styles that are unique. Shooter and Hierophant is mostly straightforward rock music, run through electronic filters and then overdubbed with other electronic treatments. Songs like “Triskadektaphobia” and “When the Radio Goes Dead” are good songs and have their unique stamps, but there is nothing groundbreaking here.
Shooter has talent, and despite making a project that tends to distract and confuse you at many turns, at times this talent shines through. One of the standout songs for me was the title track. I thought it was very honest and deep, being mostly just Shooter and his guitar, but an over-driven electronic echo on his vocals distracted me from an otherwise superb song. Shooter can sing with a tremendous amount of soul when he wants to, and soul that is all his own, unique, impressive, and biting. Hearing “Black Ribbons” the song made me want to pick up Shooter’s old material, and made me wonder why he wants to put it down. This album plays less to his stregnths, and more to his desires.
And as many times as Shooter’s talent and character shined through, his anger and arrogance did too, like in the song “Fuck You (I’m Famous). I’m not saying that I couldn’t be convinced that this song is complete sarcasm, but if it is, Shooter sure didn’t do a very good job conveying that. In the song he tells critics (present company likely included), schoolyard bullies, label executives, women that wouldn’t screw him, ex-girlfriends, just about anybody, to in no uncertain terms, fuck off . . . because he’s famous. The songs of concept albums are usually not as strong as the sum of their parts, but in my opinion, this track could have been left on the cutting house floor, along with a few other songs and some of the blatant electronic overproduction that felt very 80’s and unimaginative.
In interviews and even previous Shooter songs, it is apparent that Shooter lets people who in any way don’t agree with him or his music get in his kitchen. Instead of putting his head down with hard work or figuring out how to work with the cards he’s been dealt, he seems to have a jealous-like rage against his “enemies” that gets the better of him. Of course the music industry is a mess, but are you going to bitch about it, or try to do something about it? I guess in this album, Shooter tries to do both.
Whether this album is a masterpiece, a flop, a good album with bad moments, or a bad album with some good, this is Shooter’s opus. We all have that one thing we want to get out before we die, and this is Shooter’s. Without question he has sunk his heart and soul into the project, and that in itself deserves high praise. He published it through what is kind of a vanity press for music, Rocket Science, and probably used at least some of his own money, or Waylon’s money, to make it all happen.
In closing I’m not sure what to say about this album. I’ll leave it at that, and add that it is usually the future which is best at judging a project like this.
Some notes from the album: Jessi Coulter and Jenni Jennings sing backup vocals on “Black Ribbons.” “When the Radio Goes Dead” was solely written by Ted Russel Kamp. It was produced by Dave Cobb.
Shooter Jennings and his new album will also be the first topic on the new Real Country Roundtable to be released 2-24-10.
February 24, 2010 @ 2:34 pm
I remember liking what I heard from that preview track awhile back but your review dissuades me from even touching this album. I don’t care if Shooter believes the whole “the government is out to get you with alien anal probes” bit or not, I don’t really care about an artist’s political stance. But a concept album has to achieve certain things that a regular album doesn’t and something I can’t stand is a concept album that falls sort of excellence in that regard. Of course I wouldn’t know unless I heard it but it sounds like Shooter missed the mark here and reached further than he could grasp. With all of the music from the past few years that I know I want and haven’t been able to get to yet, there’s no way I could set aside the money to buy this.
December 20, 2010 @ 12:15 am
Well Burch, it sounds like to me that you might be a fucking idiot. There’s no reason to comment on something you won’t even try out. “Of course I wouldn”™t know unless I heard” I’ll just leave it at that. Stupid fuck.
February 24, 2010 @ 2:54 pm
I’m with Burch, no thanks.
February 24, 2010 @ 3:20 pm
“California Via Tennessee sure was good live, bummer about it not being great on the disc.
February 24, 2010 @ 5:08 pm
I wouldn’t say it isn’t great Jashie, it’s just not country. I think a lot of the songs are good, but you have to swim through a wash of electronica to listen to them. Maybe I’m just too old school.
February 24, 2010 @ 5:46 pm
Other than old Nine Inch Nails and Ministry where there is heavy punk influence, I am not too fond of Electronic either. Although I am into Radiohead’s Kid A. I look forward to finally hearing the album cause everything else aside, Shooter has a great voice and plus, TRK is a friend, and I support much of what he does!
February 24, 2010 @ 6:06 pm
Ted Russell Kamp’s (TRK) “When The Radio Goes Dead” is one of the better tracks on the album. I’d say my second or third favorite song on it. I don’t think the music on this album is bad. It’s definitely not my style, but I have Radiohead’s Kid A and In Rainbows. I’m not a big Radiohead fan, but I do understand that they may be one of the biggest, if not the biggest rock influences in music right now. The amount of people that say they are influenced by Radiohead is immense.
But what Radiohead does and what Shooter is doing I think is different. Radiohead is an originator of music. Shooter is following their lead.
I’ve had the CD on all day and the more I listen to it, the more the songs grow on me, but the more some of the electronic treatments absolutely annoy me.
February 24, 2010 @ 9:31 pm
This article is stirring much controversy on shooter support groups, namely the Shooter yahoo group manned by a cranky, one sided Ms. Linda…and she is telling devout Shooter fans to “consider the source”. I have considered, and I agree with this article. First I’d like to say Don’t judge a book by it’s cover, right? Fine, I won’t judge the music (yet) but the cover (the packaging) is the most ridiculous thing I’ve seen in a long time. I think he’s had an identiy crisis since 2007. It’s hard to stay true to your roots if your roots aren’t where you want to be anymore, but he needs to quit with the country affiliation and try to make it on his own. The “F*ck you, Im famous” is so sad. Because he wants to toot that horn of his so bad and the truth is, is that he hasn’t been even remotely close to fame since 2006. I’m glad I got to experience this artist in 2005 and 2006 when he played the kind of music I enjoyed. But it’s obvious now i need to let my fanship go and be happy that he is entertaining some group of people, whomever they are…I used to say about him “he won’t sell out to be sold out”, but now he’s got me eating my words.
February 24, 2010 @ 11:14 pm
I’ve been following Shooter’s twitter page on this and he’s keeping the fans truly updated. You can sense his genuiness.
February 24, 2010 @ 11:38 pm
TMG,
Thanks for commenting. I know that there’s a whole legion of Shooter fans out there that hate me. They called me an asshole for publishing what Shooter’s management sent to me verbatim, with my sole purpose being trying to get the word out because no other news outlet would. So of course they’re going to be mad at me when I start laying opinions out.
But I respect all these people, because they are standing up for an artist they believe in. What I tried to do in this review was give my honest thoughts after listening to the CD. If they want to “consider the source,” and throw out everything I have said, that means they have to throw out the good stuff, like:
“Shooter has talent . . .One of the standout songs for me was the title track. I thought it was very honest and deep, being mostly just Shooter and his guitar . . . Shooter can sing with a tremendous amount of soul when he wants to, and soul that is all his own, unique, impressive, and biting. Hearing “Black Ribbons” the song made me want to pick up Shooter”™s old material,”
Songs like “Triskadektaphobia” and “When the Radio Goes Dead” are good songs and have their unique stamps . . .”
“We all have that one thing we want to get out before we die, and this is Shooter”™s. Without question he has sunk his heart and soul into the project, and that in itself deserves high praise.”
And I know you personally didn’t like the cover art, but I said, “this is the most elaborate and thought out CD package I have ever seen in my life, and it may never be topped.
I also left open the possibility that this album “will be some groundbreaking marquee release in rock n”™ roll history”.
Saving Country Music is a full time job that I get paid nothing to do. I started it because I had a belief that every artist with talent and drive should have an outlet for information about their music, and that fans should be able to find the information they desire about their favorite artists. I write about country music, and since Shooter no longer makes country music, I really have no reason to write about him. But I have continued, because Shooter is an artist without a genre, and nobody else would pick up the story.
In Black Ribbons Shooter asserts that the media is all controlled by corporations, and this happens to be an assertion I agree with. His album is an exercise in freedom of speech and expression, and so is this website. In many respects, Shooter and I are brothers in arms. Instead of his fans focusing on me writing a review from a country music perspective, they should be focusing on ALL the media outlets that are completely ignoring this release, a release that someone sunk their whole goddamn soul into.
To me, the silence of major media outlets towards independent artists is more insulting than anything I could ever write.
And lastly I’ll say that any artist should crave and covet criticism. That is why I invite any and all Shooter fans to come here and voice their opinion and criticize me. There’s nothing more exhilarating for me than when someone disagrees with me, especially when they make thoughtful, intelligent points.
February 25, 2010 @ 1:54 am
Shooter Jennings in my opinion was never been given a fair chance to fully reach his potential as a country musician.
I am gonna lay it all out here and I don’t care what anyone else thinks….
Universal South fucked him over. They signed him ,slightly promoted Put The O Back in Country and then sat doing nothing. I seriously called every country radio station in Iowa and requested every one of his newly released singles over and over again. I got the same stupid ass response every single time : “We were told not to play his music” I got so damn pissed at one station. I told them “if you aren’t gonna play the fuckin songs I am coming down to your studios and taking the cds from you” And I did.
Shooter didn’t play the games pretending to be something he was not. Nor should any other musician from any genre with a backbone. Yes he is the son of one of the greatest country singers that ever walked this earth. By no means is fair to compare him to his father or say he ain’t as good as his daddy was. He has a very distinct voice and style of his own.
I feel as a songwriter Shooter really shines. His first three albums in my opinion are nothing short of brilliant. Each of them truly showed how diverse both his musical abilities and tastes are. Black Ribbons is another view into Shooter’s musical vision. It is well known he grew up loving many types of music including industrial. I look forward to hearing the album and voicing my own opinion. Thank you for being open minded enough to actually listen to the album and giving your input. Also I respect your passion, honesty. I cannot criticize or judge you for your personal views on this topic or any other topic.
February 25, 2010 @ 4:27 am
GOD DAMN I’M TIRED..I ACTUALLY HATE TO READ BUT I READ IT ALL..I LIKE SHOOTER BECAUSE OF MY LOVE FOR WAYLON..I HAVE TO LISTEN TO ANYTHING BEFORE I JUDGE OR CRITIQUE IT..I LIKED THE SONG YOU PUT IN YOUR BLOG A LONG TIME BACK..IT WAS OK..I TELL PEOPLE FUCK YOU ALL THE TIME AND I’M FAMOUS FOR THAT BUT HE CAN’T PULL IT OFF BEING FAMOUS..HE WILL STEP ON TOO MANY TOES AND HURT PEOPLES FEELINGS..I STILL DON’T LIKE HIM STEALING PUT THE O IN COUNTRY FROM HANK III’S PUT THE DICK IN DIXIE..THATS MY OPINION AND FUCK ANYONE WHO DON’T LIKE IT..IT MAKES ME FEEL GOOD TO SAY FUCK YOU SEVERAL TIMES A DAY IF I CAN..THATS JUST THE ASSHOLE IN ME..I’D RATHER BE LOVED FOR WHO I AM THAN HATED FOR WHO I’M NOT..FTW!!!I’M SMILING AND HAPPY NOW..
February 25, 2010 @ 6:08 am
I would like to see an author’s name accompanying this article, so that I know who exactly I’m directing my comments to. Not having an author’s name kills credibility, especially when there are bold statements being made. I have certainly put my full name because I have enough of a backbone to put my name on what I write.
That being said, I just wanted to note that I thought this was actually a very good article pointing out both positive and negative aspects of Black Ribbons. I could have been better though. This was completely unnecessary:
“Shooter has left his country roots behind,” some die hard country Shooter fans would not believe it, some even going as far as calling me an “asshole” for asserting such a thing.”
This article was about Black Ribbons and feeling the need to defend yourself makes you look like an amateur. Quit your whining. Furthermore, why this:
“In interviews and even previous Shooter songs, it is apparent that Shooter lets people who in any way don”™t agree with him or his music get in his kitchen. Instead of putting his head down with hard work or figuring out how to work with the cards he”™s been dealt, he seems to have a jealous-like rage against his “enemies” that gets the better of him. Of course the music industry is a mess, but are you going to bitch about it, or try to do something about it? I guess in this album, Shooter tries to do both.”
Since when does a review about an album need to turn into a personal attack on an artist? You have every right to write that. But it’s poor journalism. Really.
February 25, 2010 @ 9:37 am
Hey Sandman,
I too think Shooter can write a good song, and that is why I gave him credit for this. What I question is the production.
I have no doubt that the system screwed Shooter, because it screws ALL good artists. The system used to be set up where the cream rose to the top, but now it is the artists that can appeal to the lowest common denominator that rise to the top, and the artists with true talent are being forced underground.
But Shooter shouldn’t let this get the better of him. His stuff will never be played on the radio, because like Black Ribbons alludes to, true DJ’s are dead. It’s over, the music infrastructure in this country has collapsed. But there’s no use crying over spilled milk. Play with the cards you’re dealt and move on, don’t let it effect your music.
Shooter has his fans, and thank God for the internet so he can communicate with them. As for mass media, radio, and the spoon fed public, let them have their Miley Cyrus, the joke is on them.
February 25, 2010 @ 9:42 am
If Sarah thinks her journalism skills are superior to that of Triggerman’s, maybe she should launch her own website? (Saving Shooter Jennings Credibility.com?)
Seriously, the ‘controversy’ surrounding your review is hilarious! People really email you calling you an arsehole? Wow. Do punters not realise that a review is just that? It’s one person’s opinion. They might also like to consider that reviews (good or bad) are actually very helpful when deciding whether to buy an album or go see that movie. Generally speaking, if you follow a certain reviewer and know what their taste is and where their affinities lie you can form your own judgement on things. For example, if a reviewer always slams the movies you love, you can bet the next one they do that to is one you should probably go see, and vice versa. The same applies with music. As I understand it, when info on a new album is published and that info is unwaveringly positive and inspirational it’s not called a ‘review’ it’s called a Press Release.
February 25, 2010 @ 10:23 am
Sarah Robbins,
I have a saying around here: It is not about me, it is about the music.
I am The Triggerman. It is my review, and everything on this site is written by me unless otherwise noted. And I stand behind everything I write 100%.
If you want more information, there is a prominently placed “About” box at the top right corner of the front page, and an “about” button at the top of every page on the menu bar. With little effort, you can find my full name, and then you can cyberstalk me all you want, though I warn you, you will probably end up with more questions than answers. I see it as redundant to put my name at the bottom of every article, but I will take your suggestion to do so under advisement. 🙂
As for explaining that this album is not country, and to set the table by explaining that even after direct information from Shooter’s camp there is (or was) a contingent of fans that would not believe this information, might be the most relevant and important information in this piece. Not every Shooter fan lives on message boards and blogs. My guess is there are thousands of Shooter fans that still think that Shooter is a country artist, and that “Black Ribbons” will be a country album. I RUN A COUNTRY WEBSITE, and this is what makes this whole project relevant to what I do here. I wasn’t necessarily defending myself, I will never be popular in Shooter world, and trust me, I’m OK with that. I was just trying to emphasize the vehemence with which some Shooter fans will not face the reality of what has happened, that Shooter has switched his style, which he has every right to do as an artist.
As for my “personal attack,” I was commenting on an element of the music. In this album, and esp. in the track “Fuck You (I’m Famous), Shooter goes after people in a very adolescent way. I was making an observation. I’m a critic, and critics are critical, which is a very important element in artistic expression. You tell me to leave my personal name at the end of every article to increase my credibility. I tell Shooter not to let his enemies get the best of him. The way he can get back at them is to ignore them and do his thing without fear. Giving his critics attention only makes them stronger, and erodes Shooter’s position . . .in my opinion.
I’m glad I’m not a professional. The people in suits are the ones that have gotten all of this into this mess. This is a dumb country music blog site for Christ’s sake. It is important for me to be credible when I am speaking about facts, but as for being professional? Eh, don’t really care.
I’m glad that you are a Shooter fan, and I am glad that you are mad at me. Because that means people still care about music.
The themes of savingcountrymusic.com are the same as the themes of Black Ribbons. I just don’t take it to the extremes, and I TRY to never take myself too seriously.
February 25, 2010 @ 11:02 am
Just for the record, here’s some excerpts from the comment section of https://savingcountrymusic.com/shooter-jennings-new-album-black-ribbons
“You guy sound like idiots, and I don”™t know where you got the quote about him “leaving his country roots”.”
“Once again savingcountrymusic.com feeds a stupid speculation cycle that only helps folks like shooter out by keeping his name out there, so thank you there, but otherwise o facts have been given and you guys just keep that bullshit going.”
“You dudes are gonna eat your own shit when u hear it.”
“I”™ve done tons of searching and found plenty of press releases about black ribbons but nothing that says he”™s “leaving his country roots behind.””
“I agree with Sallydontdance (the guy who wrote some of the previous comments) the rest of you assholes don”™t know shit. They used to say the same thing about waylon. “
There were personal emails I got as well, but since I don’t have permission to post them from the authors, I won’t.
February 25, 2010 @ 11:19 am
Most bloggers on most sites, professional or not, use screen names as opposed to singing their full names on each and every piece. This isn’t a newspaper or a magazine, it’s a blog on a website and runs no differently than blogs on most other websites. It’s not difficult at all to find the author’s full name in most cases and it’s not a matter of professionalism, everyone who has even a half-assed grasp of journalism clearly understands the old form is eroding and that blogging and electronic formats are taking over. The professional journalist might sign his or her name to articles written but a lot of professional journalists are also standing on unemployment lines these days.
Referencing Shooter’s distancing from country and previous negative feedback directed at the author is not whining on Triggerman’s part. Shooter has been a topic of discussion several times in past blogs here and it is most certainly relevant when discussing his new album. This album’s lead up has been discussed in more than one post before and a post discussing the arrival of the album that Shooter went rock on lends itself to a rehash of prior feedback.
And “personal attack” now has to be the most misused phrase on the Internet. A true personal attack would be something like “Shooter is a whiny little bitch” or “Shooter is a stupid emo pussy.” Nothing of the sort was said. Rather the review highlights a perceived flaw of Shooter’s. Whether that flaw is detrimental to Black Ribbons or endearing is up to the listener to decide but it’s relevant for review purposes and doesn’t add up to a personal attack in any way, shape or form. There is a vast chasm of difference between being critical and launching a personal attack and it would serve many people well to learn the difference instead of just using “personal attack” as a catchphrase when someone they like is being criticized.
Saving Country Music » Blog Archive » REAL Country Roundtable - Volume 1
February 25, 2010 @ 11:45 am
[…] has been a busy week in the REAL country world, especially with the opinions surrounding Shooter Jenning’s new album and Kyle Turley, which happen to be the first two subjects on the first ever “REAL Country […]
February 25, 2010 @ 1:34 pm
So it’s not okay for you to post a critical review but it’s okay for a select few of Shooter’s fans to send you verbally abusive emails and comments? Riiiiight. Actually my favourite quote is “You dudes are gonna eat your own shit when u hear it”. I think you should print this up on a t-shirt and wear it proudly Trigger. That’s some prophetic intelligent writing there!
February 25, 2010 @ 2:02 pm
Kyle,
It looks like you have some fans lol. I think it’s funny that someone got mad at my comment. I SHOULD take Carla’s advice and start my own site.
Keep in mind that my perspective is that of someone who clicked into your blog from an outside link and not familiar with your blog. On that note, I still suggest putting your name on the articles even if it seems redundant. I would suspect that there a lot more users who see one article on your site and that is it.
As for being a Shooter fan, I never said I was or wasn’t. My opinions would be the same had this review been written about any other artist. The parts of your article I picked out didn’t seem to jive with the fact that this is an album review. Personally, when I read an album review I expect all the content to be related to the album. Parts of your article seemed to stray from that and that is all that I’m saying.
As for not being professional, I back you 100 percent with that decision! But put your name on your damn content!!
February 25, 2010 @ 4:16 pm
Great review TRIGGERMAN! I sure hope your new schooling dosn’t change your style. WE wouldn’t appreciate your reviews any other way than blunt and opinionated. I think sarah needs to stick with the press releases(more her STYLE). I too like some of Shooters (country) Music and though I am thoroughly dissapointed in him ripping off Hank III’s line(idea)and putting the sanitized fucking “O” in country I still like the fucker cuzz…after all He is Waylons Son. I appreciate your opinion on this much anticipated album and have gleened enough from it to want to buy it myself and give it a listen. As far as Shooters Fans go…”Hey, don’t shoot the messenger”…right? KUDOS TRIGGERMAN, THANKS!
February 25, 2010 @ 6:23 pm
Carla,
I can’t stop visualizing myself listening to Shooter’s album, lounging back in a chair, holding a turd in my hand like a popsicle and being like, “You know, this album is pretty good. “
February 26, 2010 @ 9:49 am
I like Shooters first two albums, but I took a short listen to the stuff he has on his myspace now. I caint say I like wake up at all, I’m not into that electronic type shit. In small doses it’s ok like the space intro on time keeps on slipin (Steve Miller), but only as accents I guess. The more straight up rock stuff was good though, and I could even see him ridin toward that style on Electric Rodeo. I wont buy this album sight unheard, and I’m not sure anyone I know would buy it first, so….I think I’ll give my money to Shelton, I know he is a sure bet, he’s never let me down!!!
February 27, 2010 @ 8:59 am
No thanks…and that’s enough said and time spent re: Shooter Jennings.
They say “imitation is the highest form of flattery” but I agree w/Bandana, on “Put The O In Country” copying Hank III’s “Dick In Dixie”.
March 1, 2010 @ 3:03 pm
Heard the debut on Outlaw Country.
Wasn’t impressed. It sounded like derivative psychedelia garage band stuff, but without the rawness or genuineness of that genre of music. King’s voice whined through the spoken parts. The space sounds were silly and cheap.
I couldn’t tell if Jennings actually believed this was good or if he deliberately made a “Fuck You” record.
March 1, 2010 @ 9:22 pm
I’ll stick with the “personal attacks” as I did from the start while everyone else was eating up his bullshit …. Shooter is a shipjumping douche.i NEVER LIKED tED rUSSEL kAMP EITHER … NOT BECAUSE HE’S GAY, BUT BECAUSE HE’S REALLY GAY.
March 2, 2010 @ 3:11 pm
i have beeen a shooter fan now for about 2 years. he has grown to become hands down my favorite artist, with that said i have a very biased opinion on the things he does. i got the black ribbons CD on saturday. have listened to it all about 3 times. i think it is very hit or miss, love or hate. Wake up, radio goes dead, black ribbons, all bad ass songs then you have the ones like Fuck you im famous. im not sure where hell that came from. then the one track where he uses the auto tuner like kanye west would use. if i heard eith of those songs from anybody else i would make gun of it and the person who liked them, but since it is shooter i think its just a weird thing he is trying to do. all and all i he hasnt lost me as a fan, but still love the ol electric rodeo days.
March 2, 2010 @ 8:27 pm
Bottom line ; you can’t make excuses. It’s gotta be either yay or nay. I say “Fuck You I’m an obscure Hank III fan”
March 3, 2010 @ 11:09 am
Well…..ok, I’ll play along….
I don’t like Hank III’s music and I don’t like Shooter’s music. They BOTH play rock, country, metal, whatever. In my mind, neither one of them fits a particular genre. Does Hank III fit country better because he wears a mangled cowboy hat? No. Does Shooter fit country better because he plays Waylon’s guitar? No.
Both of these guys have a lot in common. Shooter is Waylon and Jesse’s son. Hank III is Hank Jr.’s son and Hank Sr.’s grandson. So what. It’s blatantly obvious that none of these facts have anything to do with the type of music they play. Sure, both of their famous families influenced them and taught them the business, but they are both individuals and will eventually and inevitably do what ever the hell they want. What we say or don’t say on this forum, or any other, means exactly NOTHING to either of them. They will do what they want to do because they both come from rebellious bloodlines and they both understand the importance of individuality and doing their own thing. Whether anybody thinks they’re country or not is irrelevant. The music they play is THEIR music, no matter what type of label somebody tries to put on it. To me, THAT is the heart and soul of underground music. THAT is the legacy their famous families have instilled in them….that they CAN do what they want no matter what anyone says and that they CAN play whatever type of music they want. And, if somebody doesn’t like it then that’s just too damn bad. What do you think would have happened if Waylon gave a damn about what anybody thought? We surely wouldn’t have the legend, hero, and superstar that he is today. What do you think would have happened if Hank Jr. did what everybody wanted and followed his father’s style of music? Same answer, we wouldn’t have the legend, hero, and superstar that he is today.
Like I said, I don’t like Hank III’s music or Shooter’s. There ARE a couple of songs from each I DO like, but for the most part, I don’t like it. So what. That’s MY opinion and MY taste, and, it differs from yours, and yours differs from somebody else’s.
My point is simply this. WHO GIVES A SHIT? Why argue, or even discuss, this? Just accept the fact that both of these guys are going to do whatever they want and, not me, you, Triggerman, or any record label can do anything about it. And the reason for that is that both Hank III and Shooter have BEEN TAUGHT PROPERLY, by the absolute BEST in the business and by the most rebellious TRUE outlaws in the history of music. So, they are doing what they have been taught and doing it very well. Even though I personally don’t like their music, they deserve a HUGE round of applause for staying true to themselves aginst all odds….just like Waylon, Hank Jr., and Hank Sr. It does my heart good to see it!!
WAYLON FOREVER!!!!
March 4, 2010 @ 10:41 am
Like most music, you have to take it with a grain of salt. I’ve hung out with Shooter on a number of occasions and he is a nice guy, all be it different because of how he was raised and his life experiences. If you get a chance to hear his first band, Stargunn, you’ll see that he is influenced by way more than Waylon and Jessi. Does this CD conform to the Outlaw Country style of his previous offerings? No. Nor does it sound like anything Ted Russell Kamp has offered solo. While I find some of it to be a little odd, I give him credit for trying something completely different than what his fans are familiar with.
March 5, 2010 @ 7:45 pm
So basically what yer tryin to say is … Waylon Forever!!!!
March 7, 2010 @ 2:37 pm
Triggerman,
I love it, the shooter stuff always hits nerves good and bad. Either way it gets people talking and coming through your neck of the woods, If I get a second or two tonight, I’ll get some actual congruent thoughts on this topic, since it seems to be quite a hot-button issue. Anyways hope all is well.
March 8, 2010 @ 4:00 pm
in a way hank III, who i can tolerate does the same thing plays country, then that weird country punk shit he does. what is the difference? he is trying somthing different just alot stranger ha.
March 8, 2010 @ 5:15 pm
First and foremost, Triggerman great job on the review, I couldn”™t have said it better, especially with the sensitivity that this topic seems to evoke. Now to my opinion on the subject; this is definitely not a country record, so maybe finally we can lay rest to all the confusion on the matter. Furthermore it is far from the best hard rock/experiment/progressive record I”™ve ever heard, at best it is sufficient. Yet, with saying that, it surprisingly seems to grow on me spin after spin.
I think the major issue with this record, or the question to be raised is: What did Shooter want to accomplish with this “concept” record. I use the term concept lightly because that”™s where I find the biggest flaw in Black Ribbons. Any great concept record (White Mansions by Waylon and Company, Phases & Stages by Willie) all paint a complete congruent picture or narrative, where Black Ribbons leaves you cloudy and wondering if you”™re on the right drugs to understand it. Songs like “California via Tennessee”, “Fuck You (I”™m Famous)”, and “God Bless Alabama” among others seem completely misplaced. And I”™m not even going to go down the road of the artwork, packaging, and message behind it all because I”™m clearly not on that level.
I don”™t claim to know Shooter on any personal level or anything remotely close to trying to understand his thoughts and feelings, but the man seems to be at a crossroads in his career, and this record completely shows it. It spotlights his ultimate talents, yet they are watered down by his confusion/anger/frustration. I think a few of the songs that stand out are “Black Ribbons”, giving the right direction this song is on any other of his previous records with just more country tinge. “Triskaidekaphobia” is like an eerie “Hotel California.” I think “All of this Could Have Been Yours” is a direct jab at Nashville, and an impressive one at that, given the subject matter it revolves around. It reminds me of Waylon”™s “Belle of the Ball” and to draw any comparisons towards that song is a good thing in my book.
Whether or not you subscribe to the notion that Shooter”™s rock or country, good, bad, ugly or indifferent is really irrelevant. Listening to him from the beginning I”™ve watched the progression slowly and slowly escalated by each albums lack of accolade or even acknowledgement, so this lashing out in the form of an experiment rock record does not surprise me at all. Any artist has the right to do any type of music they feel like doing, so for that he should be applauded, because he has taken such a leap that he is bound to get lynched from the fair-weather fans. In a way, I feel like Shooter is doing the right thing, because what he had poured his heart and soul in for five plus years left him with nothing, so for anyone who is quick to throw a stone, I”™d draw it back because nobody is walking in his shoes.
This verdict is still out on Shooter, and this record in my eyes. Will it go down in history or sell 10 million copies? I wouldn”™t bet on it. But it could be a step in the direction for Shooter to finally find his own voice and find some sort of acknowledgment. He already has some serious die-hard fans, and good people behind him. So I really hope the best for the man because he has amazing talents that I feel have yet to come to their zenith. In the end Shooter has to be at peace with the music he”™s making and where he is in life, and if he is now at this point, then really we are the only ones with the problem trying to dissect a record and a man instead of taking them at face value.
March 8, 2010 @ 5:28 pm
I said I wasn’t going to comment on this review any more, but I feel the need to add that Triskaidekaphobia is a great song, possibly one of the best songs Shooter has ever written.
March 12, 2010 @ 8:27 pm
Wow,Goddamn! just got this album and I gotta say…I LIKES IT! I LIKE THIS ALBUM IN IT’S ENTIRETY BETTER THAN ANY (ONE) ALBUM I’VE HEARD FROM SHOOTER. I am a die hard, hard core fan of true country music as any Hank III fan not to mention Waylon(but I did), and as much as I respect the differences tween Hank III and Shooter…I almost feel apologetic for liking this album. I think it is very well concieved and produced…from start to end!I have to say, in my humble opinion if this is the direction of Shooters ambitions I sure hope he sticks with it! P.S. I’ve never been to Woodstock but I dreamt once about the “brown acid”.
March 22, 2010 @ 1:34 pm
I just came across this album on Rhapsody and was totally blown away. Not being a country fan I was not totally familiar with Shooters past as an artist. I did watch the Crossroads special and really liked that, and I have heard his XM show.
This is what rock music used to try to be. This is what rock music should still strive to be. This is what makes folks want to go out and actually buy the disc…creative packaging and all.
Wake up started and I was reminded of Pink Floyd with the echo on the vocal. Nice touch as it asn’t overdone. the keys added atmosphere to the whole thing and it slowly sucked me in. Then I got completely balled over when the guitars hit. HOLY CRAP! From that moment I was a believer.
Go into this not as the new Shooter album and all will be well.
March 25, 2010 @ 1:30 pm
THIS is a great album. Period. Country? Rock? Concept? None of this matters. It is simply. A. Great. Album.
April 6, 2010 @ 11:25 am
I’d like to see more comments from people who actually listened to the album than people saying “Oh sounds like I won’t be buying this”
I’m sure this review wasn’t meant to, and shouldn’t dissuade you from buying the disc, I mean what would be the point of that? Go out there and listen to it and put up your opinion. Suddenly a review of the new album became a review of Shooter’s whole career. It’s a new album, go and see for yourself if it’s enjoyable to you. I for one am picking it up right now after reading this review. Sounds damn interesting to me.
Saving Country Music » Blog Archive » Review- Shooter Jennings Black Ribbons Live
April 12, 2010 @ 9:05 am
[…] Review- Shooter Jennings Black Ribbons Live April 12th, 2010 […]
April 16, 2010 @ 5:09 pm
Take a look at picture of Shooter and Waylon on the last page of the Waylon box set booklet.
Why would you be surprised that Shooter is a rocker?
This disc is great. Too bad his legacy will prevent this disc from being perceived as the genius work that it is.
Sadly, this review hints at that attitude.
IMO, his earlier country work was pretty second-rate. It seemed rather contrived and forced.
I LOVE Waylon, but let Shooter be. He’s his own artist.
April 16, 2010 @ 6:33 pm
Funny how so many Shooter fans have come to rag on all my Shooter articles, but when I wrote a positive review of his live show, I don’t hear a peep.
May 5, 2010 @ 7:31 pm
I love the album. I’m a huge Stephen King fan & loved his part. I don’t think it’s country or Shooter’s best work, but I do like it a lot more than Electric Rodeo. IMHO The Wolf is his best album. I just can’t wait to see what’s next.
May 30, 2010 @ 9:15 pm
I love this album. It’s my favorite of all of Shooter’s fine albums thus far. I am going to see him live in Las Vegas at http://www.thecrownvegas.com on July 2. It will mark the 5th time that I will have seen him perform live. He has always put on a great show in the past, so I’m expecting more of the same this time around. The venue looks rather cool, too. It is apparently a new theater inside The Rio. From the photos on the website and the reviews I’ve been able to find online, it looks like it should be the perfect place for Shooter to perform.
January 24, 2011 @ 2:42 pm
Shooter was on the Alex Jones radio show a while back and if you don’t get what that has to with the theme of his work, just google alex jones. Or check out his site infowars(dot)com and you will see he appears to actually believe what he is saying..
April 29, 2011 @ 10:13 pm
To echo Dan’s comment – This is what rock used to have – soul, truth, and ambition.
I don’t know dick about country, and I think this album – remember albums? – may be a masterpiece after all, after all the useless, pointless, and misdirecting bullshit is done pouring out the assholes of random voices spitting in the cyber-wind who don’t have an ounce of the talent or passion in their bodies and entire line of progeny that Shooter Jennings has poured into this piece of ART. remember Art? that moved you? that spoke to you?
This is a sprawling opus with meaning, message, vision, and depth. Program out the tracks you don’t like, and pay attention to the rest, on album repeat. You can edit it down to a perfect record, according to personal preference, or mood that moment. And it definitely gets better with each spin. I mean, it gets Into you…
And instead of petty, unproductive, and righteous indignation about betrayal to genre, or confusion of identity, this record should be given credit for bringing rock people to investigate the world of country, his back catalog, his dad, this blog, and bringing country folks to the world of classic and modern rock. Why is he denigrated, commercially and critically for being above genre, unclassifiable, and following his muse for inspiration as all the best artists do?
Critics, and we all are, are people who don’t have the talent to produce the products that are critiqued. They are a necessary function of culture and I enjoy the information, entertainment, and forum they provide. But please let’s all just shut the fuck up for a moment, pour a nice glass of and/or roll up whatever you’re having, put on the headphones, and drift away, in a relevant way…
It Is the end of the world after all (as it always is)… Nice that somebody cares enough to make a suitable soundtrack. It’s not really the point for anyone to pass judgment, especially on the man, his intentions, or credibility, or personality, or whether he seemed like a cool dude when you happened to have a drink with him. It’s the point for you to try to understand the work, and thus enjoy it.
Or miss out…
April 30, 2011 @ 5:34 am
Critiquing critics? Seems a little passe. Creativity comes on many levels. Just because you are a son of a singer and you make a career in music and you think you are above the masses doesn’t mean you are. Is Shooter overlooked because of his dad or is he held to a higher unattainable standard? Some people might not even give him a chance for reasons that have nothing to do with his talent.
That’s the way this world seems to work sometimes. Critics and fans. It’s what you get when you put yourself out there to be either liked or not liked.
Perhaps drifting away in a relevant way is to Mozart, with a nice glass of brandy before a roaring fire.
I haven’t listened to Black Ribbons.
June 14, 2011 @ 10:41 am
I’ve read this entire review and the comments and a thought crossed my mind… Shooter welcomed his first born in 2007. This album was released in 2010.
Now, I am NO MEANS a music critic nor a professional blogger or journalist, but I AM a mother.
I can honestly say my views of the world changed when my child was born. I no longer worried about my next 40-50 years. I am now concerned for how the world would be for my child”™s lifetime.
Do we think that this album was Shooters new “view” on the world for this child”™s sake? Has he possibly taken himself out of the equation? Is he talking about how the world will be during his child (now childrens) lifetime?
Just a thought.
PS~ seen Shooter in concert twice now. First time was prior to Black Ribbons release. The second time Black Ribbons was out for a few months. New stuff and old stuff, still gonna give love to Shooter!
December 4, 2011 @ 9:11 pm
He’s doing what his dad did. Doing things his own way. Modern day outlaw
February 2, 2012 @ 11:26 pm
This album is the best. It is one of my favorite albums ever. Just love it.
July 13, 2014 @ 4:19 am
I caught the track ‘All of this could have been yours’ on American TV on Netflix. I tracked down the album using shazam and bought it immediately as a download. Here in the UK Waylon Jennings is a nonentity – there is zero market for country outside of the Taylor Swift variety. So there’s no baggage, no history for me.
This is one of the very few albums that requires end to end listening in order. That in today’s on-demand spotify market is a staggering achievement.
Absolutely love it. There are country influences. But this is not country.
May 2, 2024 @ 12:02 pm
If you just discovered this album post-covid as i did, – you see this only as a pure masterpiece! & Conspiracy theory my ass -, critics don’t know shit about nothing.. Awesome work Shooter!
January 25, 2025 @ 10:59 pm
“In closing I’m not sure what to say about this album. I’ll leave it at that, and add that it is usually the future which is best at judging a project like this.”
Trigger, I definitely think now is the time for a retrospective listen to this one.