Sky Like a Broken Clock
Encyclopedia
Sky Like a Broken Clock is an album by American
blues
singer and guitarist Kelly Joe Phelps
, released in 2001. It reached #8 on the Billboard Top Blues Albums charts.
also noted the lack of Phelps' slide guitar and wrote: "The great news is that it's great music nonetheless, like discovering a brand-new artist... The abstractions that Phelps captures here are not those of musical notes, but of words forming oblique and cryptic, often dark, narratives."
Buzz McClain of No Depression noted the spontaneity of the recording, writing "The result is understandably raw and primitive, evocative and emotionally effective, made the more so by Phelps’ weary voice and his precise fingerpicking, which is every bit as impressive as his slide... This is a mature piece of art, made all the more poignant by the pick-up nature of an ensemble that, somehow, sounds strikingly seasoned."
PopMatters
critic Fred Kovey is equivocal, writing: "Phelps does everything right, but it isn’t quite enough. His style of Blues and Celtic influenced singer-songwriting has become so identified with adult contemporary that just being good isn’t enough to pull the casual fan from his torpor... Phelps is an excellent guitar player. More than anything else, his skill with an acoustic six string is what makes him special. But to appreciate his guitar playing you’ll have to listen to the songs over and over; fans may want to, but I doubt the same is true of casual listeners... It offers the pleasure of viewing a master craftsman at work, but that pleasure isn’t quite enough."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
singer and guitarist Kelly Joe Phelps
Kelly Joe Phelps
Kelly Joe Phelps is an American musician and songwriter. His music has been characterized as a mixture of delta blues and jazz.-Career:...
, released in 2001. It reached #8 on the Billboard Top Blues Albums charts.
History
Sky Like A Broken Clock was recorded live in the studio with no overdubs. It is Phelps' first record to feature no traditional material, only his own original compositions. Phelps' first releases were essentially his voice and the voice of his slide guitar. He assembled a band and put aside the slide guitar to focus on his fingerpicking style for this release.Reception
Music critic Travis Draeset wrote in his Allmusic review "The result is a set of low-key, abstract story-songs about voodoo, sin, and prostitution, with "Worn Out," the album's closer, having a lullaby-like quality. Phelps' guitar work on this album is fairly straightforward (unfortunately not featuring his signature acoustic slide)." Minor 7thMinor 7th
Minor 7th is an online magazine that reviews non-mainstream acoustic guitar music. It was founded in November 1999 by Alan Fark, who claims to have created the magazine with the goal of "enabling independent or under-recognized acoustic guitarists to receive more wide-spread publicity." The website...
also noted the lack of Phelps' slide guitar and wrote: "The great news is that it's great music nonetheless, like discovering a brand-new artist... The abstractions that Phelps captures here are not those of musical notes, but of words forming oblique and cryptic, often dark, narratives."
Buzz McClain of No Depression noted the spontaneity of the recording, writing "The result is understandably raw and primitive, evocative and emotionally effective, made the more so by Phelps’ weary voice and his precise fingerpicking, which is every bit as impressive as his slide... This is a mature piece of art, made all the more poignant by the pick-up nature of an ensemble that, somehow, sounds strikingly seasoned."
PopMatters
PopMatters
PopMatters is an international webzine of cultural criticism that covers many aspects of popular culture. PopMatters publishes reviews, interviews, and detailed essays on most cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, films, books, video games, comics, sports, theater,...
critic Fred Kovey is equivocal, writing: "Phelps does everything right, but it isn’t quite enough. His style of Blues and Celtic influenced singer-songwriting has become so identified with adult contemporary that just being good isn’t enough to pull the casual fan from his torpor... Phelps is an excellent guitar player. More than anything else, his skill with an acoustic six string is what makes him special. But to appreciate his guitar playing you’ll have to listen to the songs over and over; fans may want to, but I doubt the same is true of casual listeners... It offers the pleasure of viewing a master craftsman at work, but that pleasure isn’t quite enough."
Track listing
All songs written by Kelly Joe Phelps.- "Taylor John" – 5:43
- "Clementine" – 6:10
- "Sally Ruby" – 4:08
- "Beggar's Oil" – 3:24
- "Flash Cards" – 5:51
- "Gold Tooth" – 6:49
- "Tommy" – 5:28
- "Fleashine" – 5:31
- "Mr. My Go" – 6:52
- "Worn Out" – 5:07
Personnel
- Kelly Joe Phelps - vocals, guitar
- Larry Taylor - bass
- Billy Conway - drums, percussion
- Tom West - Hammond organ
- Dinty Child - pump organ, accordion
- David Henry - cello
- Jim Fitting - harmonica
Production
- Produced by George Howard
- Mixed by George Howard and David Henry
- Mastered by Jeff Lipton