Infamous Angel

• Artist: Iris Dement
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1992
• Total Time: 38:28
• Type: Lyrics are included with the album
• Genre: Folk

Review

A remarkable debut, Infamous Angel established Iris DeMent as one of the greatest artists of her generation. With her gift for poignant, confessional songwriting and a voice that makes raw beauty seem like a brand new thing, she invokes the elemental magic of the Carter Family while sounding as fresh and modern as John Prine (who, not surprisingly, is one of her biggest champions). DeMent's concerns are largely family and tradition, and many of these songs deal with memories of life and love. Her Carter influence is revealed in a spirited cover of the classic "Fifty Miles of Elbow Room" as well as "Mama's Opry," a tribute to her mother, who also sings lead on "Higher Ground." These are wonderful, but DeMent's greater talent is the ballad, and she delivers an astonishing handful, including "When Love Was Young," "Sweet Forgiveness," and "After You're Gone," a tribute to her dying father that is so profoundly affecting that one is rendered nearly helpless listening to it. In the end, one finishes this record somber but refreshed by DeMent's charming, almost naïve, outlook on life. That naïveté isn't an act, either -- DeMent claims in her liner notes that she's never thought of herself as a great singer. She couldn't be more wrong, and listeners can thank heaven that she changed her mind, for this is an album to be cherished and played as long as one has life to listen. ~ Jim Smith, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Let the Mystery Be (Lyrics)	Iris DeMent	Iris DeMent	(2:46)
These Hills	Iris DeMent	Iris DeMent	(3:40)
Hotter Than Mojave in My Heart	Iris DeMent	Iris DeMent	(2:33)
When Love Was Young	Iris DeMent	Iris DeMent	(3:38)
Our Town	Iris DeMent	Iris DeMent	(4:58)
Fifty Miles of Elbow Room (Lyrics)	Rev. F.W. McGee	Iris DeMent	(3:12)
Infamous Angel	Iris DeMent	Iris DeMent	(3:46)
Sweet Forgiveness	Iris DeMent	Iris DeMent	(2:44)
After You're Gone	Iris DeMent	Iris DeMent	(4:04)
Mama's Opry	Iris DeMent	Iris DeMent	(3:25)
Higher Ground (Lyrics)	Traditional	Iris DeMent	(3:34)

Credits

Infamous Angel Choir (Vocals), Emmylou Harris (Vocal Harmony), Roy M. "Junior" Husky (Bass (Upright)), Infamous Angel Choir (?), Denny Purcell (Mastering), Stuart Duncan (Mandolin), Iris DeMent (Guitar (Acoustic)), Jim Rooney (Vocals), Richard Adler (Mixing), Jim Rooney (Engineer), Pete Wasner (Piano), Jeff Hushkins (Bass), Jim Rooney (Choir, Chorus), Jerry Douglas (Dobro), Mark Howard (Guitar), Roy Huskey Jr. (Bass), Jeff Black (Choir, Chorus), Hal Ketchum (Choir, Chorus), Mark Howard (Guitar (Acoustic)), Iris DeMent (Liner Notes), Flora Mae DeMent (Vocals), Stuart Duncan (Fiddle), Richard Adler (Engineer), Iris DeMent (Guitar), Emmylou Harris (Vocals (Background)), Jim Rooney (Vocals (Background)), Jeff Black (Vocals), Iris DeMent (Choir, Chorus), Al Perkins (Dobro), Hal Ketchum (Vocals), Jim Rooney (Vocal Harmony), Iris DeMent (Vocals), Emmylou Harris (Gut String Guitar), Jim Rooney (Producer)

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