Biography
Harp Magazine Review (June 2006): Chris Whitley and The Bastard Club / Reiter In
"Reiter In, the last album Chris Whitley recorded before succumbing to lung cancer in November, is not the sound of a man quietly dying. A cross between his 2000 covers project, Perfect Day, and his noisy 2000 effort, Terra Incognita, it's loud, powerful, visceral and electrifying. Mixing covers -- including throbbing versions of the Stooges' "I Wanna Be Your Dog," and Willie Dixon's "Bring It On Home," plus songs by the Flaming Lips ["Mountain Side"], the Passions, and Gary Numan ["Are Friends Electric?"] -- spoken word poetry pieces and feedback-bent originals, Reiter In revels in earthy, sexy blues. An unintentionally heartbreaking 7 minute acoustic shuffle with fiddle and harmonica decoration that appears toward the end of the album, "All Beauty Taken >From You In This World Remains Forever," perhaps best sums up the tragedy and grace of Whitley's life and legacy." -Steven Klinge
Biography text from Last.fm, available under CC BY-SA.