The word on “Resurrection”
“The brilliance of Kinky Friedman is this: For every “Get Your Biscuits in the Oven and Your Buns in the Bed,” there’s a “Wild Man from Borneo.” All the Texas legends from Guy to Townes to Kris to Billy Joe seem to have the ability to make you break down and cry, then laugh away the tears with the very next song, or even the next line. Resurrection proves, as if we didn’t already know for decades now, that Friedman deserves to be, and in fact is, seated right alongside that sainted group of Texas legends.”
“Friedman is offering a steaming heaping of hope and understanding, something that shines with pure poetry and the kind of songs that become beacons of light. It is all rather overwhelming, produced to perfection by American legend Larry Campbell, featuring the ultimate musical shaman Willie Nelson on guest vocals and new songs that are inspired by Nelson Mandela, Billy Swan and others. Never one to lack a healthy dose of self-belief, Kinky Friedman has outdone his past greatness this time ’round. Super shalom ya’ll.”
“The record is real, it is relevant, and it is a breath of fresh air compared to much of the insipid drivel that is being overproduced and shoved down music aficionados’ throats these days. The title track, which features his long-time pal Willie Nelson, is a beautiful reflection about getting older, receiving second chances, and the mystery of how life isn’t always fair. It is a brilliant song that leaves the listener feeling a bit more grateful simply by having heard it...”
“Straightaway, the songs are some of the best he's ever written. Although his voice is more worn and his delivery careful and patient, Larry Campbell's production and arrangements excavate a pathos Kinky's only rarely demonstrated. Whereas sharp humor and shocked satire once formed the foundation for his songs, Resurrection delivers a wisdom of experience, loss, mortality.”
“This is a great album of music from one of the great survivors of the 1970s Outlaw Country music scene. Heartfelt and thoughtful, Resurrection from Kinky Friedman will warm the hearts of anyone who loves the strength and beauty of a good song.”
“…Friedman can use his songwriting powers to touch the frayed parts of my heart that others rarely touch these days; with I Love You When It Rains and The Bridge That Never Burns, which immediately follows are two such Classic Country-Folk songs that deserve to be heard not just in the safety of our homes but on National Radio too.”
..on this latest and arguably best CD…the production by the Grammy-winning Larry Campbell is excellent, as are the country backup and the lyrics, which are often so autobiographical that two of them mention the iconoclastic singer in their titles (“Me & Billy Swan” and “Blind Kinky Friedman”). Old fans will hear a new side of Friedman here while other listeners will likely be drawn into the fold.
“Resurrection may well be the finest album Kinky Friedman has ever released. The songs are all just great. Very reminiscent of the best of Kristofferson, Shaver or Prine. The title track is infectious and you can’t help but sing along by the end…Gone are the comedic lyrics of past efforts. This is Friedman writing and singing from the heart. When the top ten lists come out at the end of the year, I’ll be greatly surprised if Kinky isn’t right there near the top…”
— Kudzoo
“If resurrection grounds one's faith in something bigger than themselves, than Friedman's Resurrection will inarguably serve as the unshakable and life-changing foundation of a legacy that has been decades in the making — and that will stand strong long after he heads to that big cigar lounge in the sky.”
— The Boot
“Ultimately, Friedman the Smart-Ass has given way to Friedman the Philosopher on Resurrection, and the new persona fits him well, both as a vocalist and a lyricist…if you want to contend that Resurrection is Friedman's best realized album since the mid-'70s, the evidence suggests you're correct.”
— All Music
“At 75, Kinky Friedman hasn't lost a step. If anything, Resurrection shows that this artist is like wine - getting better with time.”
— Country Standard Time
“The album checks various Friedman boxes: It’s feisty, funny, melancholy, stubborn and — as evidenced by its dead dog song — sentimental.”
— Houston Chronicle
Who said they ain’t making kinksters like Kinky anymore? That’s OK, because we still have him and on Resurrection, he will make you real glad we still do.
— Elmore Magazine