Listening Booth: Ry Cooder, “I, Flathead”

The final entry in Ry CooderÁ¢€â„¢s California trilogy, I, Flathead finds Cooder exploring the Southern California drag-racing culture that centered on the stateÁ¢€â„¢s salt flats. Much like the first entry in the series, 2005Á¢€â„¢s Chavez Ravine, the album is an elegiac look at a part of California life that has vanished in the mists of time.

As is his wont, Cooder explores a myriad of musical genres, all of which serve to provide context for the stories that the songs tell. Á¢€Å“Johnny CashÁ¢€ finds Cooder in full rockabilly mode as he fetes the Man in Black. ThereÁ¢€â„¢s western swing on Á¢€Å“Steel Guitar Heaven,Á¢€ country on Á¢€Å“5000 Country Songs,Á¢€ the lounge music of the wonderfully titled Á¢€Å“My Dwarf Is Getting Tired,Á¢€ a sort of Tom Waits noir growl Á¢€Å“Flathead, One More Time,Á¢€ and even doo-wop on the closing Á¢€Å“Little Trona Girl.Á¢€ The glue that holds all of these disparate elements together is CooderÁ¢€â„¢s impeccable guitar playing.

It wouldnÁ¢€â„¢t be a Ry Cooder album without a variety of Latin music influences present, and theyÁ¢€â„¢re here on the hysterically funny Á¢€Å“Fernando Sez,Á¢€ and Á¢€Å“Filipino Dance Hall Girl.Á¢€ Not to worry, straight up rock Á¢€ËœnÁ¢€â„¢ roll is in evidence on songs like Á¢€Å“Waiting for Some Girl.Á¢€

Most of this is accomplished with a simple guitar, bass (Rene Camacho), and drums (Joachim Cooder, Jim Keltner, and Martin Pradler), but there are lovely moments when guests like accordion legend Flaco Jimenez get involved.

The album gives you the feeling that thereÁ¢€â„¢s a wonderful story being told, and so there is. The deluxe edition of the album is encased in a book that houses a novella. Much like the album the book is a series of stories written by Cooder, and is also called I, Flathead. The album can certainly be enjoyed without the book, but if the music interests you, spend a few extra bucks for the book. ItÁ¢€â„¢s a worthwhile read, and provides a deeper insight into the subject matter.

Ry Cooder has completed a wonderful American story. Sadly the second installment in the trilogy, last yearÁ¢€â„¢s My Name Is Buddy, doesnÁ¢€â„¢t quite measure up to the other two, but all in all, itÁ¢€â„¢s been a story worth telling, and worth hearing.