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That's What

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}

{{Infobox album

| name = That's What

| type = Album

| artist = Leo Kottke

| cover = That's_What.jpg

| alt =

| released = 1990

| recorded = Mike Jones Film Corp., Minneapolis, MN

| venue =

| studio =

| genre = Folk, jazz

| length = 37:34

| label = Private Music (2068-2-P)

| producer = Willard O. Peterson, Leo Kottke

| prev_title = My Father's Face

| prev_year = 1989

| next_title = Great Big Boy

| next_year = 1991

}}

That's What is an album by the American steel-string guitar artist Leo Kottke.{{cite news |last1=Washburn |first1=Jim |title=Guitarist Leo Kottke Still Trying Some New Things |work=Los Angeles Times |date=31 May 1990 |page=F3}} It is distinctive in its jazzy nature and "talking" songs ("Buzzby" and "Husbandry"). It reached No. 24 on Billboard's Top New Age Albums charts, Kottke's highest charting position on Billboard.

The song "Little Snoozer" is played on a Charvel demo model of a Danelectro 6-string bass guitar tuned one octave lower than a standard 6-string guitar. Kottke used trombones on many of the songs.{{cite news |last1=Christensen |first1=Thor |title=Should Kottke stick to guitar? Nah |work=The Milwaukee Journal |date=21 Sep 1990 |page=D1}}

Kottke has re-recorded at least two more versions of "Jesus Maria".

Critical reception

{{Music ratings

| rev1 =AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web |first=|last=|title= That's What > Review |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id= r96544 |pure_url=yes}} |publisher=AllMusic |accessdate=June 28, 2011}}

| rev2 = Select

| rev2Score = {{rating|3|5|full=U+25A0.svg|empty=U+25A1.svg|rating=medal}}{{Cite magazine |last=Putterford |first=Mark |date=October 1990 |title=Leo Kottke: That's What |magazine=Select |issue=4 |page=107}}

}}

The Orlando Sentinel wrote that "Kottke's eccentric poetics and monotone Lou Reed-style of delivery make 'Buzzby' and 'Husbandry' the strangest moments on That's What."{{cite news |last1=Barbieri |first1=Susan M. |title=Leo Kottke |work=Orlando Sentinel |date=31 Aug 1990 |department=Calendar |page=17}} The Chicago Tribune deemed the album "a rumbling, comic, folksy sound, yet one that remains strangely comfortable and comforting."{{cite news |last1=Heim |first1=Chris |title=Leo Kottke, Friday at Park West |work=Chicago Tribune |date=28 Sep 1990 |department=Friday |page=O}}

AllMusic stated: "Leo Kottke has always been a highly idiosyncratic guitar player whose music is infused with his wry sense of humor. That's What is no exception, with Kottke's guitar work drawing from jazzy, blues and folk sources... Tying it all together is Kottke's fine guitar playing, as nimble and as quirky as ever."

Track listing

All songs by Leo Kottke except as noted.

  1. "Little Snoozer" – 3:53
  2. "Buzzby" – 3:57
  3. "What the Arm Said" – 2:54
  4. "Creature Feature" – 4:14
  5. "Oddball" – 2:51
  6. "Czech Bounce" – 3:38
  7. "Mid-Air" (Willard O. Peterson) – 3:23
  8. "The Great One" – 3:22
  9. "Husbandry" – 4:52
  10. "Jesus Maria" (Carla Bley) – 4:30

Personnel

  • Leo Kottke - guitar
  • Billy Peterson - string bass, 5-string electric bass, drums, piano, synth, Farfisa Professional
  • Bruce Paulson - tenor & bass trombones
  • Gordy Knudtson - percussion

Production notes

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • [http://www.leokottke.com Leo Kottke official site]
  • [http://www.guitarmusic.org Unofficial Leo Kottke web site (fan site)]

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Category:Leo Kottke albums

Category:1990 albums

Category:Private Music albums