Ry Cooder - Pull Up Some Dust and Sit Down (2011) [Nonesuch 2xLP-Set] 24-bit/96kHz & CD-format

“

..the most overtly political album Ry Cooder has ever released, and one of his funniest, most musically compelling ones, too. - Thom Jurek/AMG (4/5 Stars)

”

Pull Up Some Dust and Sit Down is the fourteenth studio album by American recording artist Ry Cooder, released August 30, 2011, on Nonesuch Records. It was written and produced by Cooder and recorded at Drive-By Studios, Ocean Studios, and Wireland Studios in California. Inspired by the late-2000s economic crisis and past protest songs, the album features topical songs about contemporary subject matter in 21st-century America, including politics, war, economic disparity, and social injustice. Its music is rooted in Americana and incorporates traditional styles and musical language from historical sources such as country blues, tejano, and American roots music. The album has been noted by music writers for its eclectic musical range, allegorical songs, working-class perspective, and Cooder's sardonic lyrics.

The album's first and only single, "Quicksand", was released as a digital download, with the proceeds of its sales subsequently being donated to the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund. Although it charted modestly in the United States, the album attained relatively higher charting in European countries, including Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Norway, where it reached its highest chart position. Upon its release, Pull Up Some Dust and Sit Down received general acclaim from music critics, who praised its diverse sound, trenchant commentary, and Cooder's musicianship. Several critics drew comparisons of Cooder to singer-songwriter and folk musician Woody Guthrie.

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Critical response

Pull Up Some Dust and Sit Down received general acclaim from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted mean rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 93, based on 11 reviews, which indicates "universal acclaim". Allmusic editor Thom Jurek gave it four out of five stars and cited it as "the most overtly political album Ry Cooder has ever released, and one of his funniest, most musically compelling ones, too." MusicOMH's Daniel Paton complimented Cooder's incorporation of traditional musical styles and stated, "For the most part, Pull Up Some Dust... is highly satisfying satire (although also often sensitive and affecting), combining Cooder’s transparent love for a wide range of roots music with his engagement with politics." Martin Chilton of The Daily Telegraph praised its songs as "stunning" and dubbed it "one of the best albums of a distinguished career." Hal Horowitz of American Songwriter commented that Cooder's "working class messages are enhanced by sharp musical chops". Terry Staunton of Record Collector called the album "thought-provoking at every turn and elegantly wrapped in a dizzying array of musically schizophrenic paper" and commended Cooder's "keen observational eye", stating "Cooder's deft grip on American vernacular music infuses what could be a pretty sombre journey with some dazzling jumps in style." Chicago Sun-Times writer Mary Houlihan gave the album three-and-a-half out of four stars, calling it "an album that matters" and Cooder "a modern-day Woody Guthrie".

Phil Sutcliffe of Mojo complimented Cooder's own musical influences and "trenchant commentary", noting "the spirit of Woody Guthrie". The New Zealand Herald's Graham Reid gave the album a five out of five rating and praised Cooder's "old styles and politics". Neil Spencer of The Observer described it as "a fierce state-of-the-nation album" and called Cooder "a Woody Guthrie for our times." Robin Denselow of The Guardian called the album "magnificent" and "as refreshing, brave and original as his early recordings in the 70s." Andy Gill of The Independent dubbed it "his best effort by far since Chavez Ravine" and perceived "a dark parade of familiar Cooder figures [...] But almost everywhere one looks, Cooder finds a new twist on these old rivalries." BBC Music's Andy Fyfe commented that "this is about as good and sustained a riposte to the grubby, grabbing times we live in as any artist has mustered, which makes it essential listening." Peter Kane of Q stated, "The heartening sounds of an old master at work." Nigel Williamson of Uncut gave it five out of five stars and dubbed it "one of his best albums ever". In his consumer guide for MSN Music, critic Robert Christgau gave the album an A– rating, indicating "the kind of garden-variety good record that is the great luxury of musical micromarketing and overproduction." Christgau commented that "Cooder has brought his longstanding obsession with the Great Depression into the present, where it unfortunately, tragically, enragingly belongs", adding that the album "doesn't rock, and it shouldn't. But it rollicks, skanks, and two-steps just fine."



Tracklist

A1 No Banker Left Behind
A2 El Corrido De Jesse James
A3 Quick Sand
A4 Dirty Chateau

B1 Humpty Dumpty World
B2 Christmas Time This Year
B3 Baby Joined the Army

C1 Lord Tell Me Why
C2 I Want My Crown
C3 John Lee Hooker For President
C4 Dreamer

D1 Simple Tools
D2 If There's A God
D3 No Hard Feelings

Professional ratings

Review scores

Allmusic 4/5 stars
BBC Music (favorable)
Robert Christgau (A–)
The Daily Telegraph 5/5 stars
The Guardian 5/5 stars
The Independent 5/5 stars
Mojo 4/5 stars
The Observer 5/5 stars
Q 4/5 stars
Uncut 5/5 stars