Let’s be grateful, as Thanksgiving approaches, that Andrew Crawford opted to step back a minute from his other musical activities. If he hadn’t, we wouldn’t be hearing his outstanding new cover of legendary songwriter Guy Clark’s “The Guitar”. It’s squarely part of an expected tradition, without question, but Crawford applies a stylistic sheen over the expected texture. It isn’t just empty-headed gloss. His treatment and interpretation of Clark’s original imbue the performance with an unexpected, near jazzy, jaunt.
BANDCAMP: https://guyclark.bandcamp.com/track/the-guitar
It’s a vital re-imagining in Crawford’s hands. He works with stalwart bluegrass interpreters such as Wilson Banjo Co., but moments such as this illustrate his facility for branching out. It is impressive how skillfully Crawford’s arrangement and the playing therein remain loyal to bluegrass and/or roots music traditions. It has a thoroughly authentic flavor from beginning to end that recalls its long-ago and arguably much more humble origins.
Clark is still rightly regarded as one of country music’s pre-eminent lyricists. “The Guitar” is an excellent example of why. The direct and unadorned language of the song’s lyrics immediately connects. Clark knows how to strike the right balance between specific detail, action, and the suggestion of something more to give “The Guitar” a lasting quality ready for any quality singer to exploit.
Crawford isn’t a traditionally gifted singer. His accomplishments do not result from virtuosic vocal pyrotechnics but, instead, a masterful grasp of how to best utilize emotion. He does an exceptional job balancing the storytelling concerns of Clark’s “The Guitar” along with the resulting emotional reactions the narrative produces from its principals. He inhabits each line without ever pushing his admittedly limited, in some ways, voice into untenable territory.
It doesn’t waste a single musical note. Nor even a syllable. Clark’s core contributions to the song are responsible for much of this, of course; he doesn’t squander a single word. Every musical phrase has meaning. However, Crawford’s arranging talents are crucial. He restructures the track in such a way that it suits his voice and artistic predilections. Moreover, “The Guitar” never overstays its welcome with listeners. It has a mandate, fulfills that with no fuss, and leaves listeners wanting more.
The production gives it a dramatic quality without ever being too heavy-handed. Crawford and his collaborators work well together to maintain a near-perfect balance between his singing and the instrumentation. It engages listeners physically without ever threatening to overwhelm them. This sort of attention to detail and presentation illustrates how Crawford has learned his lessons well both on his own and as a member in such talented outfits like the Wilson Banjo Co. – he gives the audience as well-rounded of a musical experience as they can hope to hear.
We can expect he will continue doing so over the coming years. Andrew Crawford’s musical journey is extensive thus far, but a release such as this shows that he’s just beginning, in some ways, to realize the reach of his potential. His choice for material could scarcely be better – wherever he may be, it’s difficult to believe that the legendary Guy Clark would be dismayed by Crawford’s cover of “The Guitar”.
Mindy McCall
