I Am the Resurrection
Encyclopedia
I Am the Resurrection: A Tribute to John Fahey is a tribute album to guitarist John Fahey
released in 2006. The album's title is taken from the title of the third track of his album The Transfiguration of Blind Joe Death
.
, I Am the Resurrection was the first John Fahey
tribute album released after his death. Brower related, "We wanted to go after people who we thought wouldn't do traditional renderings of his stuff."
Erik Davis of Blender
gave the tribute album five of five stars and stated "For once, the motley character of most tribute records fits the subject." John Metzger of The Music Box felt "there’s nothing on I Am the Resurrection that is anywhere near as groundbreaking or strange as Fahey’s own recordings. Yet, what the performers accomplish is still strikingly potent." Steve Horowitz praised the album, writing it is "hard to resist pushing the replay button and listening to [each song] again before going on to the next song. That’s true of every tune on this disc, which is a fine tribute to one of America’s most remarkable artists."
In his review for Pitchfork Media
, Matthew Murphy praised some artist's appearances while noting less success for others. Murphy called Sufjan Stevens contribution "typically fussy" and an "ill match for the contours" of Fahey's music and M. Ward's rendition "falls completely flat." Equally mixed was Andrew Gerig's review for Stylus
magazine that "the tribute disc is only for Fahey diehards" and that too many of the artists "hold back."
In his review of The Great Koonaklaster Speaks: A John Fahey Celebration
, Grayson Currin called I Am the Resurrection "the first... and the biggest failure" of the Fahey tribute albums... to think that I Am the Resurrection's alternately self-involved (Stevens) or irreverently unimaginative (Peter Case) interpretations gave newcomers invalid impressions of Fahey's catalogue is, really, a bit frightening."
Production notes:
John Fahey (musician)
John Fahey was an American fingerstyle guitarist and composer who pioneered the steel-string acoustic guitar as a solo instrument. His style has been greatly influential and has been described as the foundation of American Primitivism, a term borrowed from painting and referring mainly to the...
released in 2006. The album's title is taken from the title of the third track of his album The Transfiguration of Blind Joe Death
The Transfiguration of Blind Joe Death
The Transfiguration of Blind Joe Death is a 1965 album by American fingerstyle guitarist and composer John Fahey, originally issued in a hand-lettered edition of 50. As with all of Fahey's independently released early albums, it had little critical recognition upon release...
.
History
Co-produced by Stephen Brower and M. WardM. Ward
Matthew Stephen Ward, known by his stage name M. Ward, is a singer-songwriter and guitarist who rose to prominence in the Portland, Oregon music scene. In addition to his solo work he is known as a member of She & Him and Monsters of Folk.-Career:...
, I Am the Resurrection was the first John Fahey
John Fahey (musician)
John Fahey was an American fingerstyle guitarist and composer who pioneered the steel-string acoustic guitar as a solo instrument. His style has been greatly influential and has been described as the foundation of American Primitivism, a term borrowed from painting and referring mainly to the...
tribute album released after his death. Brower related, "We wanted to go after people who we thought wouldn't do traditional renderings of his stuff."
Reception
I Am the Resurrection received mixed reviews upon its release, although most were favorable or equivocal. In his Allmusic review, critic Alex Henderson noted the "interesting thing about this Fahey tribute compilation is the fact that it isn't dominated by fingerpickers and Fahey disciples." and "this compilation wasn't assembled with purists in mind." He called the disc a bit uneven but it "is full of pleasant surprises and is a memorable demonstration of the fact that Fahey's compositions can be useful well beyond the fingerpicker field."Erik Davis of Blender
Blender (magazine)
Blender was an American music magazine that billed itself as "the ultimate guide to music and more". It was also known for sometimes steamy pictorials of celebrities....
gave the tribute album five of five stars and stated "For once, the motley character of most tribute records fits the subject." John Metzger of The Music Box felt "there’s nothing on I Am the Resurrection that is anywhere near as groundbreaking or strange as Fahey’s own recordings. Yet, what the performers accomplish is still strikingly potent." Steve Horowitz praised the album, writing it is "hard to resist pushing the replay button and listening to [each song] again before going on to the next song. That’s true of every tune on this disc, which is a fine tribute to one of America’s most remarkable artists."
In his review for Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
, Matthew Murphy praised some artist's appearances while noting less success for others. Murphy called Sufjan Stevens contribution "typically fussy" and an "ill match for the contours" of Fahey's music and M. Ward's rendition "falls completely flat." Equally mixed was Andrew Gerig's review for Stylus
Stylus Magazine
Stylus Magazine was an online music and film magazine launched in 2002. It featured long-form music journalism, four daily music reviews, movie reviews, a number of different podcasts, an MP3 blog, and a text blog....
magazine that "the tribute disc is only for Fahey diehards" and that too many of the artists "hold back."
In his review of The Great Koonaklaster Speaks: A John Fahey Celebration
The Great Koonaklaster Speaks: A John Fahey Celebration
The Great Koonaklaster Speaks: A John Fahey Celebration is a tribute CD to guitarist John Fahey released in 2007.The sessions for the 1997 Fahey/Cul de Sac collaboration album The Epiphany of Glenn Jones marks the first appearance of "The Great Kooniklaster" [sic], as an Art Deco object Fahey...
, Grayson Currin called I Am the Resurrection "the first... and the biggest failure" of the Fahey tribute albums... to think that I Am the Resurrection's alternately self-involved (Stevens) or irreverently unimaginative (Peter Case) interpretations gave newcomers invalid impressions of Fahey's catalogue is, really, a bit frightening."
Track listing
All songs by John Fahey unless otherwise noted.Personnel
- Joey Burns – vocals, guitar, upright bass
- Sufjan StevensSufjan StevensSufjan Stevens is an American singer-songwriter and musician born in Detroit, Michigan. Stevens first began releasing his music on Asthmatic Kitty, a label co-founded with his stepfather, beginning with the 1999 release, A Sun Came...
– vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, banjo, flute, recorder, oboe, drums, shaker, triangle, percussion - Kevin Barker – vocals, electric guitar, recorder, percussion
- David Immerglück – guitar
- Jack Rose – guitar
- Lee Ranaldo – guitar
- M. WardM. WardMatthew Stephen Ward, known by his stage name M. Ward, is a singer-songwriter and guitarist who rose to prominence in the Portland, Oregon music scene. In addition to his solo work he is known as a member of She & Him and Monsters of Folk.-Career:...
– guitar - Glenn Jones – guitar
- Bruce KaphanBruce KaphanBruce Kaphan is a musician who has worked on many studio projects, often as a pedal steel player, from 1970 to 2011. In particular he was a member of American Music Club.-Albums:Albums he has worked on include:* Schoolyard Ghosts* Everclear...
– lap steel guitar - Mike Gangloff – banjo
- John Convertino – marimba, drums
- Otto Hauser – drums, percussion
- Michael Knobloch – drums
- John Hanes – drums
- Robin Amos – electronics
- Rosie Thomas – background vocals
Production notes:
- Jim Waters – mixing
- Stephen Brower – liner notes
- Glenn Jones – liner notes
- Kevin Barker – liner notes
- Zak Riles – photography