The Lillywhite Sessions (Ryley Walker album)

Last updated
The Lillywhite Sessions
Ryley Walker The Lillywhite Sessions.jpeg
Studio album by
Ryley Walker
ReleasedNovember 16, 2018
StudioHefty
Genre Folk [1]
Length74:27
Label Dead Oceans
Producer John Hughes
Ryley Walker chronology
Deafman Glance
(2018)		The Lillywhite Sessions
(2018)		Little Common Twist
(2019)
Singles from The Lillywhite Sessions
  1. "Busted Stuff"
    Released: September 25, 2023
  2. "Diggin' a Ditch"
    Released: October 23, 2023

The Lillywhite Sessions is the fifth solo studio album by American musician Ryley Walker. It was released on November 16, 2018, through Dead Oceans. The album is a track-by-track cover of The Lillywhite Sessions , [1] a popular bootleg album by Dave Matthews Band, which primarily consists of demos for material which was temporarily shelved before being re-recorded for the band's 2002 album Busted Stuff . [2]

Contents

Walker's version of The Lillywhite Sessions was a critical success, with many publications commending the diverse interpretations of the material and melding of disparate styles; the album was also praised by Dave Matthews himself.

Background

In the summer of 2000, Dave Matthews Band started work with longtime producer Steve Lillywhite on what was to be their fourth studio album. [3] However, the band grew dissatisfied with the dark, somber direction in which the sessions were heading, and so the recordings were shelved. [3] Matthews then flew to Los Angeles to work with producer Glen Ballard on the songs, but the pair quickly wrote new material which would make up the album Everyday (2001). [4] However, soon after the release of Everyday, the songs recorded with Lillywhite were leaked through the Internet and have since been commonly referred to by fans as The Lillywhite Sessions. [5] Nine of the twelve songs from The Lillywhite Sessions were re-recorded with producer Stephen Harris for Busted Stuff, released as the follow-up to Everyday in 2002.

Walker's version of The Lillywhite Sessions is the second of two albums he released in 2018, following Deafman Glance , an album Walker stated he "wanted to sound like the Dave record". [6] In an interview with Stereogum , he mentioned having first discussed tackling the band's more well-known songs, such as "Crash into Me" (1996), before deciding to instead attract attention to more obscure material. [6] After deciding on covering The Lillywhite Sessions, Walker convened with bassist Andrew Scott Young to rehearse the songs and plan out arrangements. [7]

Music

Walker's renditions range from simple arrangements faithful to the originals to radial re-interpretations. He described the process of creating the arrangements as "the most fun — and easiest time — I’ve had developing songs". [6] Walker stressed that despite the project being a cover of an "unfinished" album, he was not "trying to cap it off as, like, 'this is the better version'". [7] Some songs feature extended jams, whilst others experiment with entirely different genres and moods. [6] The title track was recorded in a jazz-rock style, with Walker using a hollow-body guitar. [6] "Grey Street" was performed in a slower, more somber arrangement; Walker cited slowcore/sadcore band Red House Painters as a significant influence on his version. [6] "Digging a Ditch" was originally performed in a style similar to the original, until Young proposed speeding up the song and playing it in a "Sonic Youth, Yo La Tengo… Dino Jr. style". [6]

While Walker considered the creation of the new arrangements to be a mostly easy process, he found covering "Monkey Man" to be challenging, particularly due to his dislike of the song. [6] The finished version is an avant-garde-style noise collage, performed in one take with heavy amounts of post-production. [6] Conversely, the version of "Bartender" appearing on the album sticks closely to the original, as Walker felt it had many similarities to "drone-y psych folk… my favorite music in the world". [6] Similarly, "Grace is Gone", which Walker credited with renewing his interest in Matthews, was performed in line with the original. [6]

Reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 71/100 [8]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [9]
Exclaim! 8/10 [10]
The Observer Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [11]
Paste 7.4/10 [12]
Pitchfork 7.8/10 [1]
Under the Radar Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [13]

The Lillywhite Sessions garnered a positive reception from critics; on Metacritic, which assigns a normalized score out 100 to ratings from publications, the album received a weighted mean score of 71 based on 11 reviews, indicating "generally positive reviews". [8]

Writing for Pitchfork , Paul Thompson felt the album tried to "seek a kind of rapprochment" between Walker's appreciation for DMB and current favorite artists of his. [1] Thompson highlighted the extended jamming on "JTR" as the album's "most out-there moment" and the point where the project "truly comes into its own". [1] He additionally praised the album's diversity, saying that across the first four songs in particular, "Walker and company manage to sound like four completely different bands". [1] AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine felt that Walker's decision to stay true to the original versions of many of the songs helped to make apparent the influence of the original album on his own music, while also "highlighting the imagination between the original set of songs". [9]

In a review for Paste , Annie Galvin listed "Grey Street" and "Digging a Ditch" among the album's high points, describing the former as an "avant-garde tone piece that unravels like a symphonic soundtrack to the apocalypse" and praising the latter's "gut-punch percussion" and "J Mascis–style sawing on electric guitar". [12] Galvin also praised the album's more faithful renditions, such as "Bartender" and "Grace Is Gone", while criticizing the instrumentation of "Big Eyed Fish" as "boastful noodling" and calling the "discordant interpretation" of "Monkey Man" "unlistenable at times". [12]

Dave Matthews expressed his support and appreciation for the project, referring to it as "much more than a cover record". [14]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Dave Matthews Band.

The Lillywhite Sessions
No.TitleLength
1."Busted Stuff"5:54
2."Grey Street"8:07
3."Diggin' a Ditch"3:17
4."Sweet Up and Down"4:24
5."JTR"10:50
6."Big Eyed Fish"3:49
7."Grace Is Gone"6:14
8."Captain"5:56
9."Bartender"10:30
10."Monkey Man"5:08
11."Kit Kat Jam"5:36
12."Raven"4:42
Total length:74:27

Personnel

Related Research Articles

<i>Led Zeppelin III</i> 1970 studio album by Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin III is the third studio album by the English rock band Led Zeppelin, released on 5 October 1970. It was recorded in three locations. Much of the work was done at Headley Grange, a country house, using the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio. Additional sessions were held at Island Studios and Olympic Studios in London. As with the prior album, the band eschewed the use of guest musicians, with all music performed by band members Robert Plant (vocals), Jimmy Page (guitars), John Paul Jones, and John Bonham (drums). The range of instruments played by the band was greatly enhanced on this album, with Jones especially emerging as a talented multi-instrumentalist, playing a wide range of keyboard and stringed instruments, including various synthesizers, mandolin and double bass, in addition to his usual bass guitar. As with prior albums, Page served as producer on the album, with mixing done by Andy Johns and Terry Manning.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Matthews Band</span> American rock band

Dave Matthews Band is an American rock band formed in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 1991. The band's founding members are singer-songwriter and guitarist Dave Matthews, bassist Stefan Lessard, drummer and backing vocalist Carter Beauford, violinist and backing vocalist Boyd Tinsley, and saxophonist LeRoi Moore. As of 2023, Matthews, Lessard, and Beauford are the only remaining founding members.

<i>Billy Breathes</i> 1996 studio album by Phish

Billy Breathes is the sixth studio album by American rock band Phish, released by Elektra Records on October 15, 1996. The album was credited with connecting the band, known for its jam band concerts and devoted cult following, with a more mainstream audience. The first single, "Free", was the band's most successful song on two Billboard rock charts, peaking at #11 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks Chart and at #24 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks Chart. The album itself became the band's highest-charting album on the Billboard 200, where it peaked at number seven.

<i>Everyday</i> (Dave Matthews Band album) 2001 studio album by Dave Matthews Band

Everyday is the fourth studio album by Dave Matthews Band. It was released on February 27, 2001 through RCA Records. It is the band's first album to be produced by Glen Ballard, who also co-wrote all twelve of the album's songs with guitarist and vocalist Dave Matthews. The album marked a shift in the band's sound, prominently featuring electric guitar and concise pop arrangements.

<i>Under the Table and Dreaming</i> 1994 studio album by Dave Matthews Band

Under the Table and Dreaming is the debut studio album from Dave Matthews Band, released on September 27, 1994. The album's first single was "What Would You Say", featuring John Popper of Blues Traveler on harmonica. Four other singles from the album followed: "Jimi Thing", "Typical Situation", "Ants Marching" and "Satellite". By March 16, 2000, the album had sold six million copies, and was certified 6× platinum by the RIAA.

<i>Crash</i> (Dave Matthews Band album) 1996 studio album by Dave Matthews Band

Crash is the second studio album by American rock group Dave Matthews Band, released on April 30, 1996.

<i>Before These Crowded Streets</i> 1998 studio album by Dave Matthews Band

Before These Crowded Streets is the third studio album by American band Dave Matthews Band. It was released on April 28, 1998, through RCA Records. The album was produced by Steve Lillywhite, his last collaboration with the group until 2012's Away from the World. Recording took place at The Plant Recording Studios in Sausalito, California and Electric Lady Studios in New York.

<i>Busted Stuff</i> 2002 studio album by Dave Matthews Band

Busted Stuff is the fifth studio album by American jam band Dave Matthews Band. It was released on July 16, 2002, through RCA Records. Much of the album's material was first recorded in 2000 during sessions with longtime producer Steve Lillywhite which were later scrapped. After the release of the Glen Ballard–produced Everyday in 2001, the band returned to the material, re-recording it with producer Stephen Harris.

<i>The Lillywhite Sessions</i> 2001 studio album (bootleg) by Dave Matthews Band

The Lillywhite Sessions (tLWS) is a collection of songs recorded by Dave Matthews Band in 1999 and 2000 and produced by Steve Lillywhite. The songs, recorded by the band as a follow-up to their 1998 album Before These Crowded Streets, were ultimately scrapped by the band's label. Upon being forced by the label to abandon the album-in-progress, Dave Matthews was assigned to work with producer Glen Ballard who, in association with Matthews, wrote the album Everyday in just ten days. This contrasted with the band's prior style of writing, which included significant collaboration between the band members in the studio. The recordings later emerged on the Internet shortly after the release of Everyday, and created controversy among fans as well as the music industry, which was early in its campaign to curb illegal file downloads. The Lillywhite Sessions were never officially released, but most of the songs were later recorded for their 2002 album Busted Stuff.

<i>Stand Up</i> (Dave Matthews Band album) 2005 studio album by Dave Matthews Band

Stand Up is the sixth studio album by Dave Matthews Band. It was released on May 10, 2005 through RCA Records. The album was primarily recorded at Haunted Hollow Studio in Charlottesville, Virginia and was the band's first album to be produced by Mark Batson. it is the band's last album to feature full participation from saxophonist LeRoi Moore before his death in 2008.

<i>Live at Folsom Field, Boulder, Colorado</i> 2002 live album by Dave Matthews Band

Live at Folsom Field, Boulder, Colorado is the fourth live album released by the Dave Matthews Band. It was recorded in Boulder, Colorado at Folsom Field, the football stadium of the University of Colorado Boulder on July 11, 2001. It was released on the RCA Records music label on November 5, 2002 on Compact Disc, VHS, and DVD. The DVD was directed by Fenton Williams of Filament Productions. In promotional material prior to the release, the album was originally titled Open up the Curtains, a reference to the song "I Did It."

"JTR" is a song by Dave Matthews Band from their unreleased album, The Lillywhite Sessions. The song originated from "John the Revelator," a song written by Dave Matthews with the help from Carlos Santana. Matthews and Santana wrote "John the Revelator" as a love song about someone calling out to their unattainable lover. The "John the Revelator" lines that originally appeared in the song were suggested by Santana who got the idea from the traditional gospel song of the same name.

Dave Matthews & Friends is an American jam band that was put together for a tour to support Dave Matthews' solo debut, Some Devil. Most of the musicians participated in the album's production. The band consists of:

#41 is a song by the Dave Matthews Band, featured on their 1996 album Crash.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everyday (Dave Matthews Band song)</span> Closing track and third radio single from Dave Matthews Bands album Everyday

"Everyday" is the closing track and third radio single from Dave Matthews Band's album Everyday. It reached #38 on Modern Rock Tracks, and #8 on Adult Top 40. A live version of "Everyday" is featured on the Dave Matthews Band compilation album The Best of What's Around Vol. 1. The song evolved from an earlier DMB song entitled "#36" and references The Beatles' song All You Need Is Love.

<i>Big Whiskey & the GrooGrux King</i> 2009 studio album by Dave Matthews Band

Big Whiskey & the GrooGrux King is the seventh studio album by Dave Matthews Band, which was released by RCA Records on June 2, 2009.

<i>Away from the World</i> 2012 studio album by Dave Matthews Band

Away from the World is the eighth studio album by American jam band Dave Matthews Band. It was released on September 11, 2012 through RCA Records. The album was primarily recorded at Studio Litho in Seattle, Washington from January to May 2012 and is the band's first to be produced by Steve Lillywhite since Before These Crowded Streets (1998). It is the band's last album to feature full participation from violinist Boyd Tinsley before his departure in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryley Walker</span> American singer-songwriter

Ryley Walker is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist from Rockford, Illinois.

<i>Come Tomorrow</i> (album) Album by Dave Matthews Band

Come Tomorrow is the ninth studio album by Dave Matthews Band, and was released on June 8, 2018. The album is their first since 2012's Away from the World.

<i>Course in Fable</i> 2021 studio album by Ryley Walker

Course in Fable is the sixth solo studio album by American musician Ryley Walker. It was released on April 2, 2021, through Walker's own Husky Pants Records. The album was produced by John McEntire. The album combines the folk rock elements of Walker's previous albums with elements of progressive rock and art rock.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Thompson, Paul (26 November 2018). "Ryley Walker – The Lillywhite Sessions". Pitchfork. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  2. ↑ Mondegrien, Phil (25 November 2018). "Ryley Walker: The Lillywhite Sessions review – radical reworking of Dave Matthews album". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  3. 1 2 Heller, Greg (2001-07-09). "The Long, Botched Summer: The birth, death and rebirth of a DMB album". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on 2007-10-01. Retrieved 2010-09-25.
  4. ↑ Billboard Staff (9 February 2001). "Dave Matthews Band's 'Everyday' Turns a Page". Billboard. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  5. ↑ Griffith, JT. "Dave Matthews Band – The Lillywhite Sessions". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Leas, Ryan (24 September 2018). "Ryley Walker On His Unlikely Dave Matthews Band Covers Album". Stereogum. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  7. 1 2 Rothbarth, Adam (8 November 2018). "Why is a Chicago Indie Rocker Covering a Lost Dave Matthews Band LP?". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  8. 1 2 "Ryley Walker – The Lillywhite Sessions". Metacritic. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  9. 1 2 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Ryley Walker – The Lillywhite Sessions". AllMusic. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  10. ↑ Ritchie, Matthew (13 November 2018). "Ryley Walker – The Lillywhite Sessions". Exclaim!. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  11. ↑ Mongredien, Phil (25 November 2018). "Ryley Walker: The Lillywhite Sessions review – radical reworking of Dave Matthews album". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  12. 1 2 3 Galvin, Annie (3 December 2018). "Ryley Walker: The Lillywhite Sessions". Paste. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  13. ↑ Pace, J. (16 November 2018). "Ryley Walker – The Lillywhite Sessions". Under the Radar. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  14. ↑ Sodomsky, Sam (19 December 2018). "Dave Matthews Cosigns Ryley Walker's Dave Matthews Covers Album". Pitchfork. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.