Last of the Country Gentlemen
The former leader of the Texas cult-indie-Americana band Lift To Experience, Josh T. Pearson has an unusual musical vision. His songs drift beyond the breaking point until they are well past the country, folk and blues that initially inspired them. Pearson creates lonesome extended works that defy categorization. There’s a self-exorcism going on here that’s as naked and obsessive as the obsessions he sings about. Recorded in two nights in a Berlin studio, *Last of the Country Gentlemen* is a stirring masterwork. “Thou Art Loosed,” the three-minute intro, features singing that escapes into a wordless moan, into the ether of the big sky country. “Sweetheart I Ain’t Your Christ” chases its desperation for over 11 minutes. “Woman When I Raised Hell” adds a longing violin to address his alcoholism. Every song demands and deserves its excessive length. For the silences are every bit as shattering as the lyrics.
Former Lift to Experience frontman releases an LP, captured mostly live, of his folk guitar playing blended with quasi-Biblical lyrics.
Having located the USA in Jerusalem on his last album, Josh T Pearson's astonishing debut solo LP tries to find the 'me' in America. Alex Wisgard attempts to do justice to an instant classic.
Check out our album review of Artist's Last Of The Country Gentlemen on Rolling Stone.com.
Erstwhile frontman of eccentric Texas weirdoes Lift to Experience, which released one album in 2001, the brilliant The Texas-Jerusalem Crossroads, and called it quits, Josh T. Pearson's debut is a mixed bag.
Pearson’s previous band Lift To Experience released their only album in 2001, and were worshipped by John Peel.
Prepare for intense and discomforting misery at the hands of Josh T Pearson. By <strong>Dave Simpson</strong>
Josh T Pearson's Last of the Country Gentleman is sporadically beguiling. Rating: * * *