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Promised Land | 
 enlarge | Artist: Dar Williams
Label: Razor & Tie
Category: Music
List Price: $18.97
Buy Used: $9.99
You Save: $8.98 (47%)
New (44) Used (8) from $9.99
Rating:  8 reviews
Sales Rank: 567
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.1 x 4.9 x 0.3
MPN: 82996
UPC: 793018299626
EAN: 0793018299626
ASIN: B001C4ZQ4S
Release Date: September 9, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| | It's Alright | | | Book of Love | | | The Easy Way | | | The Tide Falls Away | | | Buzzer | | | The Business of Things | | | You Are Everyone | | | Go to the Woods | | | Holly Tree | | | Troubled Times | | | Midnight Radio | | | Summerday |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Album Description
One of the most acclaimed singer-songwriters of her generation, Dar Williams has been engaging audiences with her musical artistry since the early 1990s when she rose from the Northeast coffeehouse circuit to the national spotlight. Dar releases her first studio in 2008 after three years, Promised Land. Produced by Brad Wood (Pete Yorn, Liz Phair, Smashing Pumpkins), the album features 12 reflective songs that introduce a new Pop sound for Dar Williams. Lending support on the album are such renowned artists as Suzanne Vega and Marshall Crenshaw. Promised Land is sure to connect with Dar fans old and new. 'Williams infuses intelligent songwriting with comforting melodies.' - Relix. 'A new generation of pop-folk enthusiasts lauds her as one of the genre's central figures.'- Paste
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| Customer Reviews: Read 3 more reviews...
 Best Dar Album in a Couple of Years September 20, 2008
B. A. Chaney (Baltimore, MD USA)
17 out of 19 found this review helpful
I'm a pretty big Dar Williams fan--I have all of her albums and I've seen her in concert a few times. I like Dar Williams because of her funny, storytelling folk rock style; for me her best songs are always the ones like "The Babysitter's Here", "Christians and the Pagans" and "Spring Street" which capture a narrative in song.
I was a disappointed by Dar's last album "My Better Self" which I thought lost some of her signature narrative style in favor of adult pop appeal. "Promised Land" brings that narrative style back. While its not quite as strong as it was in some of Dar's earlier albums, it is clearly there, taking you back to the old Dar. The album is enjoyable to listen to and sing-able like the best of Dar's work.
I would recommend this album to fan's of Dar William's older work. People who are only familiar with "My Better Self" may be surprised, but I think this album is still worth a listen.
 It's okay. October 14, 2008
Chronos467 (Pelham, Alabama)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
I've been a fan of Dar's since the beginning. I purchased the Honesty Room before it was on Razor and Tie and I think her first three albums are some of the best albums of the nineties. However, unlike Diane Zeigler whose debut album came out around the same time as the Honesty Room and has remained consistent although not as prolific, Dar's work has gotten progressively less interesting. I still like it -- just not as much as I did.
I was excited when I read that she was working with producer Brad Wood and was going for a more pop sound on this record, but the results were more to the folk end of the spectrum. Don't get me wrong - I love folk music -- but this album was just not very interesting.
It's funny. When I got this record I popped it in my car player and one song really jumped out at me -- Troubled Times. I thought, "Wow. That's the best song that Dar has written in years. What a great melody." Then I read the liner notes and found out it was written by Collingwood and Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne. No wonder it had a great hook.
I don't dislike this album; I just don't like it that much either.
 A Winning Formula September 27, 2008
My Views (California)
4 out of 7 found this review helpful
Filled with music of substance and depth this album 'gets it'... powerful alternative folk with a unique and distinctive style. One of my favorite SS along with Dar is Arrica Rosein her latest and best CD to date:La La Lost.
Good, But Not As Good As "My Better Self" September 27, 2008
John G. (Chicago)
3 out of 6 found this review helpful
"My Better Self" is my favorite Dar record (lots of musical variety and excellent lyrics). "Mortal City" is probably second. It may be too early to judge, but "Promised Land" is a good album that doesn't quite measure up to those two.
It DOES contain what will probably end up being one of my all-time favorite Dar tunes, "Buzzer", which is about the Milgram experiments from the '60s. Her cover of Fountains of Wayne's "Troubled Times" is great, too, as are "Book Of Love" and "The Easy Way." Beyond that, there are several good tunes that I hope will grow on me over time.
Indie pop at its thoughtful best! October 2, 2008
Trillian (San Diego, CA)
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
While some reviews may suggest that this album didn't quite live up to Dar's previous efforts, I have to say, I LOVE this album. It hasn't left my cd player since I finally got the chance to listen to it a couple of weeks ago. Every track seems to have some ultra-clever snippet of lyrics that just draws you into the song as you wait to hear what's coming next. This, plus the catchy tempo of "It's Alright" hooked me with the first verse. My favorite track has to be "Into The Woods". How can you not love a song with lyrics that include a "windy-path, angry a@@ woman who will eat you?" The unexpected vocals by Suzanne Vega on this song was also a wonderful surprise. Dar is capable of some amazing ballads as well. Her vocals are particularly beautiful on "Holly Tree", whose folksy style blends perfectly with the lyrics about a farmer's pregnant widow. "Buzzer" is another one of those lyrical gems, this one about a test subject in the Milgram social psychology experiments from the early 60s. Like Kris Delmhorst, one of my other favorite songwriters, Dar Williams is one of those rare artists that can paint entire landscapes with only the lyrics to her songs. That she can set them to such well-crafted tunes is just an added bonus indeed.
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