Sky Like a Broken Clock

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.

Sky Like a Broken Clock
Studio album by
Kelly Joe Phelps
ReleasedJuly 10, 2001
RecordedFebruary 6 - 13, 2001, Long View Farm
GenreBlues, country blues
Label Rykodisc
ProducerGeorge Howard
Kelly Joe Phelps chronology
Shine Eyed Mister Zen
(1999)		 Sky Like a Broken Clock
(2001)		 Beggar's Oil
(2002)

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.[1]

Reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
Minor 7th(favorable) [2]
No Depression(no rating) [3]
PopMatters(no rating) [4]

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)."[1] Minor 7th 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."[2]

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."[3]

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."[4]

Track listing

All songs written by Kelly Joe Phelps.

  1. "Taylor John" – 5:43
  2. "Clementine" – 6:10
  3. "Sally Ruby" – 4:08
  4. "Beggar's Oil" – 3:24
  5. "Flash Cards" – 5:51
  6. "Gold Tooth" – 6:49
  7. "Tommy" – 5:28
  8. "Fleashine" – 5:31
  9. "Mr. My Go" – 6:52
  10. "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
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References
  1. Drageset, Travis. "Sky Like a Broken Clock > Review". Allmusic. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
  2. "Sky Like a Broken Clock > Review". Minor 7th. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
  3. McClain, Buzz (Sep–Oct 2001). "Review: Sky Like a Broken Clock". No Depression.
  4. Kovey, Fred. "Sky Like a Broken Clock > Review". PopMatters. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
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