Jefferson's Tree of Liberty - Dark Publications

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Editorial Reviews:

Album Description
The legendary Jefferson Starship is at it again. Moving forward by reaching back, and in doing so, daringly casting a light for a new generation of change-makers riveted by the group's first new studio album in a decade, Jeffersons' Tree Of Liberty. The 18 song CD finds the group harnessing rare gems from the great folk tradition that inspired the rock n' roll hall of fame band more than 4 decades ago. The brainchild of singer/songwriter/band co-founder Paul Kantner (and co-produced by band manager Michael Gaiman, recurring Jefferson Airplane/ Jefferson Starship fixture and Quicksilver Messenger Service founder David Freiberg and Paul Kantner), the album mixes it up with Jefferson's trademark knack for defying fans' expectations as well as their own, introducing a soaring new female voice on many of the songs, Cathy Richardson, and tapping rock icon and original Jefferson treasure Grace Slick to appear on the album's mesmerizing `Easter Egg' bonus track.

Album Description
Jefferson's Tree Of Liberty is an unusual Jefferson Starship album in a number of ways. First, it's the first covers album any Jefferson configuration has ever recorded in their five-decade career, which is a noteworthy event in itself, but that's not the only thing different about JTOL. When Jefferson Starship decided to cut a whole album of folk tunes popularized by their heroes and peers, it was decided to create a sound not too dissimilar to the early version of the Airplane that Kantner and Balin founded over 40 years ago. The CD features one song with Grace Slick and has Paul Kantner, David Freiberg, Darby Gould, Cathy Richardson, David LaFlamme, Mart Balin, David Grisman and Prairie Prince also on the CD.

Customer Reviews: Read 14 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

Isn't This The Time? September 4, 2008
20 out of 20 found this review helpful

Tree of Liberty is everything you've ever loved about Jefferson Airplane/Jefferson Starship (exorcise the memory of the emasculated Starship.) Driven by Paul Kantner's ringing 12 string Rickenbacker, the soaring harmonies, this collecton is a call to arms, to dream, to go to the edge and beyond. Jeffersonians past, present, future, and even retired, are mostly present and accounted for. (Only Jorma is among the missing, and his finger picking acoustic skills would've fit right in. Maybe next time?) Never has America needed to be reminded of righteous anger, and putting that anger into positive motion to change the world, more than it does now.

It's an album of rebels and revolutionary anthems - across the times, across the oceans, across the continents. From Ireland, to Nicaragua, to union workers in the fields of California, to 13 upstart colonies declaring their independence from an oppressive monarchy, along the Underground Railroad, to utopian dreams of redemption, brotherhood, and peace, 19 soul rousing and blood pumping songs. Who would've thought the lustiest and loudest collection of songs would be made by (mostly) wooden instruments? Who would've thought the most passionate album to be released this year would come from Jefferson Starship?

Lest you think this is a dreary collection of political polemic dirges, think again. This is an album to listen to with people, two big bottles of wine, and to sing along to. After a few listens you won't be able to help yourself. The songs choices range from Woody Guthrie, the Weavers, Phil Ochs, Dylan, Lennon, Marley, and Sandy Denny. And from the greatest of them all, Traditional.

It kicks off with a rousing nod to "Volunteers" before it settles into the Weaver's classic "Wasn't That A Time." Cathy Richardson is a welcome addition to the crew. She has the vocal chops and power of, dare I say it? Grace Slick, but with a gritty undertone that can go any way she wants to take the songs. David Laflamme's violin soars above the acoustic guitars and martial drums.

"Follow The Drinking Gourd" is from the days of the Civil War, a road map for the Underground Railroad. Look up at the stars to the Big Dipper and imagine following it to freedom. The Weavers unearthed "Santy Anno." Paul can't resist reminding us that in the future it will be space ships, before he leads the crew into a lusty sea shanty, you can practically feel the waves rolling with the banjo and squeezebox.

David Frieberg takes a solo turn on Dino Valenti's poignant "Cowboy On The Run," with beautiful pedal steel guitar by Barry Sless and piano by Chris Smith. David's wife, Linda Imerial, and Cathy Richardson provide sympathetic backup. It's pure Nashville.

It would take all day to hit all the highlights. But I would be remiss not giving a shout out to longtime Jefferson collaborators Darby Gould on Richard Thompson's "Genesis Hall," Diana Mangano's full throttle support on "The Royal Canal" - beloved to Pogues' fans as "The Auld Triangle." As befitting a guy born on St. Patrick's Day, Paul O'Kantner gruffly sings the prison lament of Irish Rebel Brendan Behan, with a dirty ole man "heh heh" during the part about the women's prison, followed with a storming "Rising Of The Moon".

The mash up of Bob Marley's "Redemption Song" with John Lennon's "Imagine" somehow works, heartfeltly delivered by Cathy Richardson. If there is one song to pick as a "single" - if things like that are still done - it's this one.

Both "In A Crisis" and "On The Threshold of Fire" remind me of the Paul Kantner circa BATE/Sunfighter. "In A Crisis" refrain sticks with you long after the song has stopped playing - "In a crisis we cut away what we don't need anymore. In the good times we fight our way, fight our way back home." The whining guitar riff underneath, played with judicious economy by Slick Aguilar, underscores the haunting melody. "On The Threshold of Fire" could've fit right in the Hijack / Starship Suiteon BATE.

Marty Balin contributes "Maybe For You" if anybody needed to reminded of his talent with a love song. I miss his sweet tenor. It's too bad he's not singing on the rest of the songs. Jack Casady makes an appearance on bass with his Armageddon-announcing rumble.

Darby Gould's acapella version of Sandy Denny's "Quiet Joys of Brotherhood" sent shivers down my spine. Only one thing could top it, and that's Grace Slick singing "Surprise..." Some of Grace's best work was singing backup and harmony, as she is here. Too bad my CD says "Untitled" and there's no additional information as there are for the other songs.

Surprise, indeed. This is one of the best releases of the year. If you love great songs, passionate singing and playing, need reminding that all evil needs to triumph is for good people to do nothing, then Tree of Liberty is for you. Lay your money down.

5 out of 5 stars

Songs that ring true today, with bone-chilling vocals September 2, 2008
9 out of 9 found this review helpful

This album hearkens back to the folk music that got so many of the band's musician's started and has songs that relate well to the politics and state of the world today. The songs are all wonderfully written and performed, with the vocals that will bring goose bumps to your soul. Paul Kantner, David Freiberg, Marty Balin, Grace Slick, Cathy Richardson, Diana Mangano and Darby Gould all sing with power and beauty. I *love* this album.

5 out of 5 stars

Jefferson Starship Fuel The Folk-Rocket! September 13, 2008
9 out of 9 found this review helpful

This is a Jefferson Starship album like no other before. It's also the first Jefferson Starship studio recording for over a decade, so expectations are (understandably) high. Providing long-term fans approach it with the right expectations then they shouldn't be disappointed. On the contrary! I can guarantee that many people will be surprised by what they hear and I anticipate that the majority will be delighted. As for anyone whose never heard Jefferson Starship in any guise before, they're going to be mighty impressed.

You have to begin with the premise that this is essentially a folk record. Many of you know that's where Paul Kantner and David Freiberg started out as musicians; and those of you who've read my detailed interview with Paul in Holding Together Magazine last year will recall his love of The Weavers, the '50s folk quartet fabled for their stunning vocal harmonies and principled left-wing politics. You could say that's where Jefferson Airplane really began. They then became outlaws in the eyes of an America where the dream of establishing and respecting the rights of every person, regardless of sex, colour or creed, was already writhing under a hail of assasssins' bullets and poisonous anti-democratic machinations. That was '63 going on '68, when our heroes were, by their own admission, "obscene, dangerous, dirty, violent and young". But, of course, the wheel keeps on turnin' - so now in 2008 things aren't a whole lot better on the sex, colour and creed front, anti-democratic machination has been honed to an art form and our heroes are no longer young. Thankfully for us, they're still capable of being obscene, dangerous, dirty and violent, in as much as they have raised their voices in protest against the empire one more time. That's essentially what folk music does. It's by and of the people and for the people; it's lyrically `dense' and musically `simple'; it's our social conscience in song form; it sings of our hopes and our fears on a secular plane (no pun intended); it holds us together and celebrates our humanity - community in the face of chaos, if you will.

Of the eighteen tracks listed on this album, (there's also one hidden surprise), all but one are covers. The single original is Paul's "On The Threshold Of Fire". The majority of the covers are well-known folk/protest songs.

From The Weavers' repertoire we have "Wasn't That A Time", "Follow The Drinking Gourd", "Santy Anno" and "Kisses Sweeter Than Wine". There's Woody Guthrie's "Pastures Of Plenty", Dino Valenti's "Cowboy On The Run", Phil Ochs' "I Ain't Marchin' Anymore", Dylan's "Chimes Of Freedom" (minus the `Starrry-eyed and laughing' verse) and Richard Farina's "Quiet Joys Of Brotherhood". There are a couple of Irish classics, the revolutionary "Rising Of The Moon" and Brendan Behan's "Royal Canal (The Auld Triangle)". "Frenario" is a traditional song from the American War of Independence, "Commandante Carlos Fonseca" is a Nicaraguan revolutionary song, "Genesis Hall" is Richard Thompson's Fairport Convention classic, "In A Crisis" is the World Entertainment War song performed live since JS-TNG days, "Maybe For You" is the Terry Terrell tune as performed by Marty Balin on `Windows Of Heaven' (the European, not the US version) - it's still sung by Marty here (in fact, it's his only contribution to the album) but is a different version from that on `Windows Of Heaven', and "Imagine Redemption" is a bold melding of the Lennon and Marley classics that its title implies.

That leaves the hidden track. "Surprise, Surprise" is an unused recording from the `Sunfigher' sessions in 1971, a Jack Traylor song that was omitted in favour of "Earth Mother".

In keeping with its folk sensibilities, the playing on `Jefferson's Tree Of Liberty' is mostly acoustic: the core musicians being Paul Kantner, David Freiberg and Cathy Richardson on guitars (6 and 12-string in Paul's case, plus banjo), Chris Smith on piano and bass, Prairie Prince on drums. There are additional musical contributions brought in to good effect: Paul's son Alexander plays electric bass on "On The Threshold Of Fire" and Paul Lamb (who recorded the album) adds French horn to the Kantner opus; David LaFlamme contributes violin to "Wasn't That A Time"; Barry Sless brings pedal steel to "Cowboy On The Run"; David Grisman plays mandolin on "Frenario" and "Pastures Of Plenty" - and "Maybe For You" features Slick Aguilar, Jack Casady and T. Lavitz because it waa recorded in 1996 by that incarnation of Jefferson Starship.

The sound is organic and intricate, well-played and well-recorded. The closest reference-point is probably `Blows Against The Empire' or `Sunfighter' but without the sonic roar that electricity gives to a starship. This is a wooden craft, not a metal one. That's not to say that it is a light sound or lacks momentum. Jefferson Starship doing folk is going to rock and soar by definition! - so you will find Kantner's trademark anthemic 12-string propelling most everything forward, and there are some very apposite musical quotes from the Airplane canon used to embellish some of the songs.

It's the vocals, however, that set the seal on this recording, that really steal the show - and the vocal harmonies in particular. Paul Kantner, David Freiberg and Cathy Richardson are the principal vocalists. You all know what Paul and David sound like, I guess. Cathy Richardson is a revelation. I know fans were sad that Diana Mangano stood down from active duty; (I count myself among them); but believe me, Cathy is just awesome on this recording, really one of its high points. She sings lead, she sings harmony. She performs "I Ain't Marchin' Anymore" solo accompanied by her own guitar. But she's not alone. Diana Mangano returns to harmonise beautifully with Paul on "Royal Canal" and "Carlos Fonseca" and Darby Gould sings lead on "Genesis Hall", duets with Paul on "In A Crisis" and rounds out the album with a peerless a capella rendition of "The Quiet Joys Of Brotherhood". If you have hairs on the back of your neck, prepare for them to rise. Paul mooted a `Women' project years ago - in one sense he's realised it here. The only persons missing are Ronnie Gilbert (and wouldn't it have been something to hear her singing on those Weavers songs again?) and Grace Slick!

The women are good and David and Paul are in great voice too. The true magic happens when they all harmonise together - it just lifts the spirits to hear such a wonderful sound on track after track - a chorale blowing against the empire!

There you have it. Well done to all involved: to the band for its music, to the part players for what they've added, to the management for finally making it all happen. `Red Octopus' it ain't; `Freedom At Point Zero' it ain't; "Winds Of Change" it ain't - and yet `Jefferson's Tree Of Liberty' is more radical than any of those illustrious precursors. This is a very different Jefferson Starship record but it is destined to be very special.

5 out of 5 stars

Jefferson Starship Ready to Relaunch! September 12, 2008
8 out of 8 found this review helpful

I'm not one for long reviews or analyzing songs. An album hits you or it doesn't - period. And this one hits you in the gut! From what I read this was an opportunity to dig deep into the Airplane history and revisit the songs and artists that influenced Paul, Marty and the early Airplane.
These are great songs you don't hear anymore. Nothing wrong with a little history. It's great to rediscover the genius of Phil Ochs and the Weavers. Regarding Paul's voice as mentioned in another review, it has history and character, if you want something smooth, buy a Barry Manilow disc. I suggest you go to their myspace site and check out
the tracks, I've heard them a million times and will probably hear the disc another 2 million
times. And by the way Cathy Richardson is great! Enjoy.

1 out of 5 stars

The End of Starship As We Used to Know Them!!!! September 14, 2008
6 out of 14 found this review helpful

I have been a Starship fan since the beginning but this album seals their fate--What are they now? A Folk Singing Group? No rock and roll and great singing and guitar. This album does not go anywhere--I was tired of it after 3 songs. Where is Marty Balin--his picture is on the cover but i sure don't here him singing. Grace Slick sings backup on a few songs but it is hard to hear. They say marty sings lead on one cut but the cut is over 9 yrs old. All the album is--- 10 people singing folk songs with no feeling. It sure doesn't move. Need some rock and roll songs on it--revolution and soring vocals--not anywhere on this album. Starship fans should avoid this one--I think they (the band) are fading away--what a shame. I played this twice and I am selling my copy--no love songs, heart felt vocals or songs to move by.

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