Released 19 years ago this October
Dirt Farmer
Levon Helm · 2007
51 min · 13 tracks · country music
A heartfelt blend of traditional folk and Americana, infused with personal storytelling and authentic instrumentation.
Top tracks — play these first
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Poor Old Dirt Farmer — This track encapsulates the album's themes of hard work and longing, presenting a vivid portrait of rural life through its poignant lyrics and Helm's emotive delivery.
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Wide River to Cross — The closing track beautifully showcases Helm’s vocal range and emotional depth, offering a reflective farewell that resonates with the overall journey of the album.
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The Mountain — With its powerful imagery and deep connection to nature, this song highlights Helm's ability to weave storytelling with musicality, making it a standout moment on the album.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
Dirt Farmer blends traditional folk with personal storytelling, showcasing Helm's vocal strength and authentic instrumentation.
What we noticed
- Several tracks incorporate call-and-response vocals, enhancing the communal feel typical of folk music.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- heartfelt storytelling with warmth
- steady mid-tempo flow throughout
- nostalgic reflections on life
- for evening gatherings
Maybe skip if you
- seeks high-energy excitement
- prefers modern structures
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released on October 30, 2007, Dirt Farmer marked Levon Helm's first studio album in over a decade, following the long hiatus after his 1998 album. The record came during a period of resurgence for Helm, as he reconnected with his roots and embraced the rich traditions of American music, gaining recognition as both an artist and a storyteller.
- Stylistic neighbors
- The Band· Wilco· Ryan Adams
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 False Hearted Lover Blues 3:31
- 2 Poor Old Dirt Farmer 3:53
- 3 The Mountain 3:36
- 4 Little Birds 4:42
- 5 The Girl I Left Behind 3:37
- 6 Calvary 4:54
- 7 Anna Lee 3:43
- 8 Got Me a Woman 3:13
- 9 A Train Robbery 5:30
- 10 Single Girl, Married Girl 3:19
- 11 The Blind Child 3:27
- 12 Feelin’ Good 3:32
- 13 Wide River to Cross 4:49
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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