A review of the new Al Grierson CD "The Petals"

"The Petals"

Al Grierson

AlGrierson.bandcamp.com

Al Grierson, whose physical body perished in November 2000, has reached out from the Great Beyond. In a feat of musical prestidigitation, this new release doesn't qualify as a cache-of riches-discovery in the traditional sense of sunken or buried gold and silver but Grierson's release "The Petals" is indeed a treasure and a giddily unanticipated addition to anyone's musical good fortune.

Why so? The entire 7 minutes and 32 seconds of "Old Coyote" serves up the exemplary answer, displaying Grierson at his lyrical zenith: erudite, mystical and literate. 

"I've been reading all about it in the annals of some ancient lore,
How you were smuggled through the garden by the angel at the basement door,
And while the serpent in the branches held the mother of the world beguiled,
You were pissin' on the Tree of Knowledge while the Good Lord smiled.

Old Coyote,
Little brother of necessity, the seeker and the sacred clown,
Old Coyote,
You're the fire in the water and the diamonds in the cold cold ground.

On the mountain with Moses and with Daniel in the lions den,
In the bedroom with Delilah, in the hollow in the hearts of men,
On the hill on Friday Evening when the soldiers rolled them bones,
In the garden Sunday mornin' when they rolled away the stone.

Old Coyote,
On the edges of eternity dancin' through the crack of dawn,
Old Coyote,
With a pearly white Madonna and the devil with the blue dress on.

In the bed between the Travelin' Salesman and the Farmer's Daughter,
At the elbow of the preacher when the wine turned back to water,
In the cabin of a smokin' locomotive on a high speed train,
Between the Tower of Babel and the cities of the plain.

Old Coyote,
You're a 30-carat Buddha in a barrel full of old tin cans,
Old Coyote,
Just a loose screw messin' with the engine of our best laid plans.

Now there's an ancient city hidden deep beneath the waves,
It was founded on the principles of justice and the sweat of slaves,
And I heard a lot about it in a New Age gospel hymn,
But I ain't never gonna wade in any water where the fish won't swim.

Old Coyote,
In a vertical position while the world walks upside down,
Old Coyote,
At the center of the circle while the wheel goes 'round and 'round.

Now there's a big wind blowin' down the cities from the outlaw trail
You can even hear it whistle in the belly of the great white whale,
Hear it howlin' through the desert where Ezekiel saw the wheel,
From the breath upon the water to the breaking of the seventh seal.

Is this the end of history or just a wagon full of roses standin' at the gates of Rome?
The devil's army on the deep blue sea?
Or just the legions of the lonely only lookin' for the long way home?

'Cause there's an angel with a trumpet in the graveyard where the night wind groans,
Hear it echo from the brothel on the bayou where the black snake moans,
From the Playboy mansion from the penthouse to the pool,
From the palace of the kingdom to the alley where the mad dogs rule.

Waitin' for the holocaust
waitin' for the fire that was promised at the end of time,
Waitin' for the Pentecost
Hidin' like a phoenix in the ashes and the ice cold lime.

Old Coyote,
At the center of the chaos, waitin' since the Lord knows when,
Old Coyote,
Gonna wait a little longer 'till it all comes 'round again.

Little brother of necessity, the seeker and the sacred clown,
You're the fire in the water and the diamonds in the cold, cold ground,
A 30-carat Buddha in a barrel full of old tin cans,
Just a loose screw messin' with the engine of our best laid plans,

Old Coyote,
In a vertical position while the world walks upside down,
Old Coyote,
At the center of the circle while the wheel goes 'round and 'round.
Old Coyote,
At the center of the circle while the wheel goes 'round and 'round"

Whew! Check your pulse if that doesn't mainline a jolt of exhilaration into your being.

Need more? Equally beguiling is the eight-minute long title track "The Petals" featuring national and international historical events amidst figures sacred and profane in a song of devotion. The second verse is artistry divine:

"...And it'll be you and me, honey, at the dawn of all creation

watching God set down the needle in the groove

and we'll both just sit and gaze into the empty face of darkness

till we notice something move

Where the necessity of sin has yet to blossom or begin

though you can feel the heavy purpose in the air

as in the beauty of His grace He comes to look upon your face

and kiss the petals on the flowers in your hair..."

"Dreamboat to Paradise" is yet another gem as is "Where In The World Does The Whole World Come From?"

Grierson at his best features insightful presentations surrounding life's big questions minus any imposition of answers. He plumbs history, brings to life events and their participants, and presents serious subjects in a simultaneously serious and charming manner.

Thus spoiled if never satiated, now if we only knew of the timing of the next arrival of enriching Grierson compositions. Surely he will send more but what will be the signs of its impending arrival?

Track List

• 1. The Illumination of Judge Roy Bean (3:29)
• 2. Where In The World Does The Whole World Come From? (4:02)
• 3. Old Coyote (7:32)
• 4. Barney Rubble Meets Mack The Knife (3:20)
• 5. Dreamboat To Paradise (4:38)
• 6. If I Don't Get My Way (3:16)
• 7. Lightning Never Takes A Long Time (5:29)
• 8. I'm Going Over (4:39)
• 9. Man Of Steel (3.12)
• 10. The Old Paul Jones (5:08)
• 11. Somebody's Been Calling (3:50)
• 12. Daddy's Gone To Texas (3:20)
• 13. The Petals (8:01)

Additionally, here is a 1999 review of Grierson's earlier CDs "Things That Never Added Up To Me" and "A Candle For Durruti" now also available for purchase. Each release is just as intoxicating as "The Petals." Your mind, body and spirit will thank you.