This page contains a brief overview on the album FERNANDO: Widows. Learn more about the artist and explore the track lists and website. If you find any information that needs to be corrected, please let us know.

 
Working his standard themes of despair, death, depression and and grief on his second Cravedog release, "Widows," Fernando fills out his sound with a full compliment of musicians, retools for a less folksy, more Crazy Horse-era Neil Youngish sound and trains his lyrical guns away from the intense self-loathing of, "Season In Hell," to a more generalized disgust at the entire human race.

As No Depression writer Jim Desmond puts it- "He sees a bleak world out there but clings to the notion that letting it out in the passion of song can ease the pain, redeem the soul or at least help make a little sense of it all."

While some of the CD's best shadings still come from the liliting fiddle playing of Marilee Hord and the subtle, supple guitar contributions of Dan Eccles (a key player from, "Season In Hell"), "Widows" marks the emergence of, "Fernando," the band, featuring the new rhythm section of Clayton Jones on the drums and bass player Joe Chiusano.

The electrified version of the band on, "Widows," allows Fernando a greater range of dynamics to play with, and there's just enough of a note of hope injected into the songs to make the material snap and pulse with it's own vibrant immediacy.

Touching on rock, folk, country and even a touch of bluegrass on, "Widows," Fernando shines on this CD as an artist firmly locked into his own distinct groove and comfortable enough to dink around with the formula.

The gutter-derelict's daydream of, "Drunkard's Lament," sets the tone for the disc. When Fernando's hoarse rasp cuts over jangling guitars with, "There ain't no reward in this world for me/ Except for my sweet alcohol." you know for certain we've gone far beyond the simple, "Tear in my beer," territory into a rougher, dirtier place. Whether he's ranting and raving like a country preacher on, "Battallion of Angels," stripping the sound down to a simple ballad on, "Engine," or just planning to cut himself off from humanity on, "9 Ft Wall," Fernando proves himself on, "Widows," an artist to contend with. A stellar record.

Press quotes for, "Widows"

"More tales of sin and redemption than a Flannery O' Connor short story festival...just enough hope in [Viciconte's] voice to keep the whole thing from becoming an unconscious parody of typical country cliches."- Portland Oregonian

"Fernando wrings captivating emotion and poetic beauty out of rough-edged, simple material." - Anodyne Magazine

"The kind of talent that's hard to ignore....a genuine songwriter here, one who shows every indication of steady growth as an artist." PDXS Newspaper

"The passion and honesty is undeniable.." No Depression Magazine

"A vibrant stew of modern twang."- Willamete Week

Check out the artist's website:
http://www.cravedog.com/cravedoglabel9-29-03/index.html

Track List:
1. Exodus
2. Drunkard's Lament
3. Graveyard
4. Rain
5. Battallion Of Angels
6. Heaven
7. Watchtower
8. Perfect Picture
9. Parking Lot Blues
10. Engine
11. Execute
12. The Wedding
13. 9 FT Wall
14. Beautiful
15. Over me

Suggested CDs:

• Luther Russell
• Michael Dean Damron
• Warren Pash
• Bingo

Other Genres:

• FOLK: Angry
• POP: Folky Pop
• MOOD: BROODING