Beautiful inconsistency tiles Whitley's 'Dirt Floor'

His first release, "Living With the Law," was praised by critics and was a huge commercial success. He won over a legion of fans with his soulful songwriting and his signature blend of country and rock.

His second album, "Din of Ecstasy," was like "Living With the Law" on crack, full of distortion and self-indulgent guitar riffs. Needless to say, Whitley left some fans wondering what had happened with this second, more abrasive release. His third album, "Terra Incognita," was a harmonious blending of the two previous albums, but its release went over with little fanfare or critical acclaim.

On "Dirt Floor," Whitley's fourth release, Whitley returns to his acoustical roots in response to pleas from his loyal fan base to record a solo acoustic album.

Recorded in a cabin in Vermont, "Dirt Floor" is appropriately titled; it is a spare, bare-bones album with nothing extraneous or unnecessary.

REVIEW
	Chris Whitley Dirt Floor Messenger 3 stars Reviewed by Daily Arts Writer Gabrielle Schafer

The songs on "Dirt Floor" sound like outlines or rough sketches of bigger songs to come. While the songs are pure and capture the essence of Whitley's mystical songwriting, they sound unfinished and reigned in.

Whitley has never sought commercial success or the approval of pop music critics, but on "Dirt Floor" his fear of sounding too big or over-produced has left something to be desired in his songs.

That's not to say the songs aren't completely engaging and beautiful. Whitley's gift for restrained passion and understated emotion is at its finest on "Dirt Floor." Like any good songwriter, Whitley doesn't beat you over the head with emotion. Instead, he constructs songs that are subtly powerful - songs that have a deepening impact each time they are heard.

The crescendo of emotion on "Dirt Floor" starts with the bluesy nonchalance of "Scrapyard Lullaby" and ends with the quiet balladry of "Loco Girl." Whitley plays dobro, acoustic guitar and banjo on the album, blending blues and country to create his own distinctive sound.

Whitley's quiet rebellion is apparent in lyrics like those in "Wild Country": "Soon I'm gonna lose these rags and run, returning to the wild where I'm from." Whitley's lyrics have always been his strength, and his performance on "Dirt Floor" is no different.

Each song is equally powerful on "Dirt Floor", a relatively short album with only nine tracks. While the album doesn't have the commercial appeal that "Living With the Law" may have had, it's a strong album with haunting lyrics and a deep emotional resonance. On "Dirt Floor," Whitley sounds like he has finally come home after a long wayward journey.

04-01-98