Press Reviews
Music-Eagle
Magazine for the Friends of Country & Western Music
Hamburg, Germany
April–June 2007
Wild and Windy Places
In late 2004, we could present From Texas to Montana, John Shreve's first CD. Now we have Wild and Windy Places, the second CD by the American who lives in Berlin. Again, John Shreve picked out sixteen songs from the American West to interpret with different Berlin musicians.
The songs on the first CD were songs of the Old West. This time the themes move toward the present. Alongside several traditional songs are works by Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Tom Russell and Ian Tyson.
The arrangements use only a few acoustic instruments, which support rather than overpower John Shreve's forceful yet gentle voice.
Stylistically the music ranges from Western music to American, Irish, Scottish and Native American traditions. The songs present a realistic picture of the American West, including difficult subjects such as poverty, the Ludlow Massacre and the internment of Japanese Americans at Manzanar.
Altogether, it is again a wonderful CD to listen to. Anyone interested in American history will discover a wonderful CD that deserves attentive listening.
Western Mail
February 2007
"A fine, nuanced CD. Quiet with sparing and precise instrumentation, a recording to enjoy for everyone who wants to lose themselves in the history of the music of the American West."
Country Times
Die Clubezeitschrift der Country & Western Friends
Koetz 1982 e.V.
March/April 2005
On January 29, 2005, John Shreve performed at the Fontanehaus in Berlin as part of the Bluebird Café Berlin label.
His homepage provides extensive information about the songs of the American West, German translations, historical background and information about artists such as Steve Earle, Woody Guthrie, John Prine, Ian Tyson and Andy Wilkinson.
The reviewer praises the CD's varied arrangements, excellent instrumentation and timeless concept. John Shreve's warm voice is compared with artists such as John Prine and Woody Guthrie.
John Shreve is absolutely worth hearing, reading and seeing. In Europe at least he is unequaled.
— wjo
Music-Eagle
Magazine for the Friends of Country and Western Music
October–December 2004
From Texas to Montana
John Shreve, an American living in Berlin, takes listeners on a journey through the Old West with 24 carefully selected songs and poems.
Traditional songs appear alongside works by Andy Wilkinson, Ian Tyson and other Western songwriters. The sparse arrangements feature acoustic instruments including guitar, fiddle, banjo, dobro, harmonica, mandolin, cello and accordion.
The reviewer highlights John Shreve's gentle voice, the authentic atmosphere and the wide-open feeling of the arrangements.
The review concludes that the album continues the tradition of Michael Martin Murphey and Don Edwards and describes it as one of the most authentically American country recordings produced in Germany.
The CD closes with Walking After Midnight, performed by John Shreve's mother, Kay Shreve.
Reviewer: Rolf Baerenwald