Dirt Farmer

Performer: Levon Helm
Producer: Amy Helm; Larry Campbell
Distributor: Welk

Notes: Though the Band are often discussed in terms of their contributions to musical Americana, drummer Levon Helm was in fact the only American-born member of the group, and his Dixie-fried, high lonesome lilt was one of the keys to their proto alt-country sound. On his 2007 solo release, DIRT FARMER, Helm returns to his roots and indulges in the bedrock American music on which the Band based their legendary sound. Joined by his daughter Amy, she of Ollabelle fame, and studio ace Larry Campbell (among others), Helm works his way through a relaxed yet sturdy set of bluegrass rave-ups, country slow-dances, and bluesy shuffles from across the centuries. And though Helm battled throat cancer prior to this recording, it hasn't diminished the power of his voice a drop--rather, it lends the album a steely sense of endurance and resolve.

Rolling Stone (p.84) - 3.5 stars out of 5 -- "Levon's vocals are a welcome miracle.....Helm's drawling howl is heavy with the outrage and sorrow of someone with a deep connection to the land and those who live by it." Entertainment Weekly (p.131) - "Helm's weathered twang remains remarkably intact....He seems right at home singing traditional bluegrass tunes..." -- Grade: B+ Uncut (p.92) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "DIRT FARMER finally brings Helm into the realm of Lucinda Williams and her kind, with Larry Campbell serving as his white-knight Joe Henry." Down Beat (p.70) - 3.5 stars out of 5 -- "Helms anchors an accomplished cast of players with diverse virtuosity..." Dirty Linen (p.53) - "Helm not only shows he's still a marvelous interpreter, but he manages to invigorate every song with urgency and passion." Q (Magazine) (p.121) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "Helm's voice still retains plenty of that ragged, yearning quality that once helped define The Band..." Record Collector (magazine) (p.86) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "Expertly performed throughout, it's the seductive ruggedness of Helm's voice that really carries the record and guides the listener on a fascinating musical travelogue executed with clarity and conviction."

Primarily known for playing drums and singing with 1960s phenomenon the Band, Levon Helm has, in the intervening years, never fallen fallow or rested on his laurels. The distinctive singer and songwriter made the rare successful musician-to-actor crossover with memorable appearances in over a dozen feature films. He has released excellent solo albums that mine the country end of the Band's spectrum, and in recent years has made musical news by hosting (and sometimes recording) his sprawling, guest-star-laden "Midnight Ramble" concerts at his home in Woodstock, New York. Helm battled and won a bout with throat cancer, which modified his singing style but didn't dampen his artistic spirit.

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