Critterland

Willie Carlisle is a troubadour following in the footsteps of folks like Woody Gutherie, John Prine, Rambling Jack Elliot and Utah Phillips. On his latest release he teams up Grammy-nominated musician and producer Darrell Scott for a well-crafted album full of songs about love and redemption. Carlisle explores what it means to be human as he delves into the nooks and crannies of everyday life. The title cut “Critterland” is a song about Carlisle’s experience trying to live in an intentional community in Stone County, Arkansas.  In the song propelled by Carlisle’s banjo he proclaims “I am here for all the love I can stand.”  

The album’s production perfectly fits the songs with the stories being the focus, while the musical accompaniment provides the backdrop. Carlisle plays guitar, banjo, harmonica and button box and Scott adds guitar, banjo, pedal steel, dulcimer, lapsteel and piano. Song after song Carlisle spins tales that range from an indictment of capitalism and greed in “The Money Grows on Trees,” to the joy he feels living a simple country life as described in “Dry Country Dust,” to a son taking stock of the traits he inherited from a less-than-stellar father as he prepares for his father’s funeral in the song titled “The Arrangements.” 

As one listens to the album it becomes readily apparent that Carlisle does not shy away from shining a light on the complexity and sometimes difficult topics of what it means to be alive. Carlisle believes in the healing power of singing and that there is synergy to be had if people sing together.     

Critterland is Carlisle’s third album release. It builds on his previous efforts and finds him continuing his adventures down life’s winding highways with all of the ups and downs and joy and sorrows that come with it.