• Record Label: Vanguard
  • Release Date: Jun 30, 2009
Metascore
84

Universal acclaim - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. Electric Dirt sounds fresh, emphatic, and as effective as anything Levon has cut since the mid-'70s, and one can only hope he has a few more discs in him just this good.
  2. Helm blends the secular and gospel worlds with an almost seamless precision. Fans of the Band will love this.
  3. The rural, pure, gospel-meets-banjos-meets-trumpets sound of the record is irrevocably essential Helm, yet the soulful songsmith manages to avoid repetition in his new album.
  4. The songs are new but have the worn familiarity of something pulled from storage, all the trilling organs and honky-tonk shuffles, made thinner and more poignant by the passage of time.
  5. The organic, timeless quality of that voice--especially haunting on Helm's own tale of a farmer's struggle, 'Growing Trade'--is offset by the sweetness of his daughter Amy's harmony singing, as well as by bright eddies of slide guitar and mandolin, all of it creating an appealing balance.
  6. Helm struts his slippery shell-game groove on 'Jed' and works it deftly throughout. But he digs deepest here with his voice, which veers between soulful stoicism and boozy yowl.
  7. Mojo
    80
    Electric Dirt, as implied, is a continuation of "Dirt Farmer's" themes, packing a sharper jolt. [Jul 2009, p.94]
  8. He sings of the land and of people who struggle to hold on to some small piece of it. It's especially powerful considering the ways in which he's transcended significant struggles of his own.
  9. The former Band drummer and cancer survivor's vocals sound grizzled and glorious on Electric Dirt.
  10. Neither the left-field alternative interpretations of Johnny Cash’s final few albums, nor the insular, moody explorations of contemporary Bob Dylan, Helm’s recent work embraces the past alongside the present in a way that is inviting, joyous, and thoroughly satisfying.
  11. 80
    The musical palette, however, is wider this time round, emphasising the breadth of Helm’s interests rather than the stuff on which he was weaned--numbers by Muddy Waters and Nina Simone rub shoulders with works by Randy Newman and the Grateful Dead.
  12. Divine blues and roots from Americana veteran.
  13. It's driven by Helm's warm, amazingly rich moonshine vocals and decorated with bluesy guitar sprinkles, angelic violins and lovely harmonies by his daughter Amy of the folk-rock outfit Ollabelle.

Awards & Rankings

User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 7 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 7
  3. Negative: 1 out of 7
  1. Oct 28, 2010
    8
    Levon, Levon, Levon! Nice job. The production is clean and uncomplicated. the songs crafted for extended listening sessions. In today'sLevon, Levon, Levon! Nice job. The production is clean and uncomplicated. the songs crafted for extended listening sessions. In today's world we need more music of this type and quality. Farmer up and go! Many want to be him but only he can be himself. Full Review »
  2. ByronLJ
    Jul 5, 2009
    8
    It's arguable that this record is better than his last. This is surely a contender for album of the year. There are not many Artists who It's arguable that this record is better than his last. This is surely a contender for album of the year. There are not many Artists who were playing in bands 40 years ago, still putting out great albums. Full Review »
  3. JeromeL
    Jul 2, 2009
    8
    A wonderfully energetic and soulful album of the sort that only Mr. Helm could deliver.