Rainy Day Music
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (08 April, 2003)
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Editorial Review

Somewhere inside Rainy Day Music beats the heart of a very fine folk-rock record. All chiming guitars and flawless falsetto, "Stumbling Through the Dark" captures the classic Jayhawks sound, and mid-tempo rockers "Tailspin" and "Eyes of SarahJane" recall older favorites like "I'd Run Away." "All the Right Reasons" floats on heavenly harmonies and "Save It for a Rainy Day" succeeds with nifty vocal interplay and a bright melodic hook. Yet, even with its share of jangle-pop gems, the disc also offers a few bland strummers that never quite take off. "One Man's Problem" boasts a catchy chorus but a dragging verse, and when chief songwriter Gary Louris hands the reins to drummer Tim O'Reagan or bassist Marc Perlman, the results suffer. The tasty pop treat "Angelyne" and an album-closing acoustic reprise of the opening track help redeem the disc's latter half, but in the end they only hint at how strong an album this might have been. --Anders Smith Lindall ... Read more

Reviews (46)

Well worth a listen.
Rainy Day Music is a pleasing return from the Jayhawks, and a definite improvement upon the slightly disappointing Smile, their last album. It's an album full of quality songwriting, and is possibly their most accessible record yet, which should please both existing fans and newcomers alike. 'Stumbling Through the Dark', 'Tail Spin' and 'Eyes Of Sarahjane' are all great tunes with memorable melodies, something we have come to expect from the talented Gary Louris. Elsewhere Tim O'Reagan chips in nicely with the Lennon-esque 'Don't Let the World Get In Your Way', and 'Tampa To Tulsa'. As a whole, Rainy Day Music may not be quite as sublime as Hollywood Town Hall or Tomorrow The Green Grass but it still has it's fair share of winning hooks and lovely compositions. I'm just happy that this accomplished band is still making music.

Another Classic Album
Rainy Day Music once again proves that the Jayhawks are the best alt-country act recording today. For those of you, like me, who love the Beatles, the Byrds, Simon and Garfunkle, CSNY, Dylan etc, Rainy Day Music is a light in the dark. Forever the Green Grass was my previous favorite album, and this is probably better. It showcases what the Jayhawks do best--perfect harmonies, clever acoustical guitar, and meaningful lyrics.
It is so rare any more to find a CD that has even a couple of good songs. When you put this one in and hit play, the first half of the album will amaze you. One great song after another. Yes, some of the songs in the second half do drag, but it's still good. Give it a try and you will find new music that you will be hard pressed to take out of your stereo. A masterpiece from an excellent band.

Rainy Day Music - Shines Through
I'm the type of person who'll listen to and enjoy just about any type of music. Classical, Blues, Rock, Jazz, you name it, anything except (c)rap. Lately I've drifted into Americana and being from the southwest I can find hoards of well established artists and numerous up and coming stars to pleasure my latest vice. Yep, I thought I had most of the good stuff on the radar until I stumbled across the Jayhawks. Where the hell have these guys been? A long established band, I'd never even heard of and they are SO DAMN GOOD it's amazing they're apparently so obscure. I first tried Hollywood Town Hall and it was nice, but not quite what I was looking for. But after reading a few reviews on here, I decided to give them one more chance with this latest release - WOW! Smooth harmonies, solid instrumentation and well phrased, flowing lyrics that speak volumes about whatever subject is at hand.

Take a little Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, throw in some Roy Orbison, a dash of Gram Parsons, pinch of early Eagles; mix it all around and then forget all that nonsense, cause these fellows have their own jam goin' on. Rainy Day Music stands on it's on ear, with it's own unique sound.

If you're into Americana, or for that matter, exceptional music of any kind, then run, do not walk to your nearest outlet and buy this CD, you won't be sorry. You're welcome in advance.

And for more fantastic Americana/Country/Alt, etc. try out Tift Merritt - Bramble Rose; Mary Gauthier- Filth and Fire; Toni Price - Born to Be Blue. ... Read more

Asin: B00008NRLX
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

Bark
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (13 April, 2004)
list price: $14.98 -- our price: $14.98
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Reviews (3)

The best band that you have never heard!!
Blackie & The Rodeo Kings may very well be the most under rated
band in the world. They certainly are the most under rated band in the Americana genre. Even though all three members are stars in their own right in their native Canada, there is most definitely no clash of egos from this group of Canucks. To the contrary, there is an undeniable chemistry and kinship among them that, in my opinion, makes them one of the mot talented trios of all time (I can attest to that having the opportunity

to recently meet them, and see them in concert, great guys).
In addition, their group of backing musicians including, Gary Craig, & Richard Bell, are superb. Their most recent effort,
Bark is a tasty mix of rockabilly, blues, country, & roots rock.
Their previous effort, Kings of Love, is more of the same. If you are fan of The Band, John Hiatt, Whiskeytown (before Ryan's ego exploded), etc., be sure to check these guys out.

Cool roots-rock, country and blues from Canada
Well, here's a puzzle: if it's Canadian, is it still Americana? Far North Americana, maybe? Sub-Arcticana? Anyway, this disc opens with "Swinging From The Chains Of Love," a tasty, upbeat country-billy tune, then it zips into more chunky-sounding roots-rockish territory, with a bouncy, agile slide guitar at the heart of the mix, bringing to mind old stuff by David Lindley and Ry Cooder. Mostly this is pretty darn catchy, although they do slip into some sluggish tropes, as with the forced profundity of "Heaven Knows Your Name," "Willie's Diamond Joe," and a couple of other tunes. If you like these guys, also try checking out solo albums by singer-guitarist Colin Linden.

Album of the year 2003
Blackie and the Rodeo Kings was CKUA's number one album of the year for 2003 and it was my number one album too. This roots rock endeavor for Steven Fearing, Colin Linden and Tom Wilson has a great full sound for a mere three piece band. But if you are lucky enough to hear them do the same songs unplugged, the music stands up beautifully without all the effects and thunder.

The lyrics are wicked and insightful. "I got a feeling stinging like a new tatoo black across my mind" -- (from Water Or Gasoline by Blackie and the Rodeo Kings). Moods range from rockabilly to ballads to psychadelic rock. BARK is gonna jump up and bite you.

If you only buy one album in the next while, this is the one to get. ... Read more

Asin: B00009VGKL
Sales Rank: 78106
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

Break Your Mother's Heart
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (11 February, 2003)
list price: $13.98 -- our price: $13.98
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Editorial Review

A thousand sad-eyed strummers studied the sacred texts of L.A.'s Class of '72: Neil Young's Harvest and Gram Parsons's GP. Writing and recording 30 years later in the same town, Tim Easton cribbed from that scene too, but his third solo disc echoes a much less commonly cited source: Jackson Browne. Though Easton's easy, affable vocal tone has always been a bit Browne-like, the similarity goes far beyond the superficial this time--not least because Easton enlisted the rich, relaxed backing of a cadre of SoCal session vets, each of whom played with Browne previously. Here, Jai Winding's Hammond organ animates the Eldridge Cleaver-inspired single "Poor, Poor LA," Greg Leisz's Dobro colors the dreamy "Amor Azul," Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell adds depth and jangle to "Black Hearted Ways," and drum giant Jim Keltner and bassist Hutch Hutchinson keep the beats. Of course, none of that would matter if Easton's songs weren't simply so good. Though it loses steam slightly in its second half, this smart, catchy, and carefully detailed disc proves that sometimes, they do make them like they used to. --Anders Smith Lindall ... Read more

Reviews (11)

A refreshing CD from Tim Easton
On first listening I thought this Album reminded me of Ryan Adams but I feel that musically his talents go much deeper. This is an excellent Album with some finely crafted songs such as "Hummingbird" and is a very welcome addition to my large and ever expanding CD collection and is a CD which made me sit up and take notice.
The production and musicianship on this Album are of the highest quality so if you like Ryan Adams,Wilco,Joe Henry,Paul Thorn and the like you should give this a listen!

Woth every penny!
This cd is outstanding!! I have been listening to Tim since his Haynes Boys days, and this cd is about the finest collection of songs Tim has written to date. I can't seem to get this cd out of my player. This is defintely the best album I have bought in awhile. I wish he could get more recognition, because this is a guy who deserves it! I can't recommend this cd enough. If you are in the mood for just flat out good quality music, give this one a try. You will not be dissapointed!

Ehhh....
Well, I had some high expectations about this album. I thought I would hear a voice with that something special. Anyways, listening to it was dissappointing. I just went into that long list of music that just "floats" by. Not much to go give a big shout out for. ... Read more

Asin: B000087JC5
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

The Wind
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (26 August, 2003)
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Editorial Review

The Wind is like an X-ray with a dark shadow that shouldn’t be there and can’t be ignored. Recorded after Zevon was diagnosed in 2002 with inoperable lung cancer, it sounds like the work of a guy who's still fighting, but also starting to wrap things up. Although Zevon is best known for his poison-dart wit, he’s always been a bit of a softie, too. It’s no surprise, then, that The Wind leans heavily on irony-free ballads such as "She’s Too Good for Me," "El Amor de mi Vida," and "Please Stay." But there’s also a dose of defiant blues ("Rub Me Raw") and plenty of dirty slide guitar, courtesy of Ry Cooder and David Lindley. (Other guests include Bruce Springsteen, Don Henley, Tom Petty, Jackson Browne, and Dwight Yoakam).

If the lyrics generally lack the literary precision of Zevon’s best work, the songs take on greater weight given the circumstance under which they were recorded. Heard in 1983, a party-hearty anthem like "The Rest of the Night" would’ve sounded like yet another dumb argument for hedonism, and "Numb as a Statue" might have come off as the self-lacerating joke of an alcoholic unable to deal with his emotions directly. However, on The Wind, these songs are genuinely touching, the work of a guy deadened by meds but unwilling to surrender to The Big Sleep just yet. A cover of Dylan’s "Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door" is the album’s most direct comment on Zevon’s fragile health, but the most touching song is the album-closing acoustic ballad "Keep Me in Your Heart," recorded by Zevon at home after the star-studded studio work was complete. Clearly, Zevon survived one hell of a farewell party last night, but now it's morning again and there’s no telling what the rest of the day might bring. --Keith Moerer ... Read more

Reviews (240)

Goin' Out With Style
On what will be,barring a Miracle,Warren's last album,Mr. Zevon takes an incredible final bow.Apparently the cost of catching one's muse is worth your life.I have all of Warren's stuff,started with Excitable Boy.And he hasn't been this focused(of course)in years.And its noticable right from track one,not just from WZ,but from all the friends who stopped by to do one more track.The session talent reminds me of"Bad Luck Street",the songs are up there with"Excitable Boy"& of course the signature black humor is amped by reality its ownself this time around.It rocks(Disorder In The House,Numb As A Statue},but The Wind is always blowin,and there's no escaping the subject."Knockin' On Heaven's Door" seemed at first to be just too obvious a choice,but after a couple of listens I'd say you can call that one stolen now.You can hear Warren pleading(demanding?)"open up" in the back of the mix.Fantastic.But the top track for me is"Please Stay",a duet with EmmyLou and one incredible sax break.Buy this cd,its not just Warren's last,its Warren's best

A Musical Triumph
This past Sunday, September 7, 2003, the music world lost one of its finest singer-songwriters. Warren Zevon made great rock and roll with memorable melodies and finely honed, satirical lyrics. During the last year of his life, he spent much of his time doing what he did best, making a record. "The Wind" is not a swan song as much as it is a stunning reflection of a life that was rapidly coming to a close. Warren was greatly inspired to write about his impending fate and had to muster his strength to finish this effort, as he became increasingly ill. Yet, it has many moods, as Mr. Zevon relished life and "enjoyed every sandwich". The title song opens the CD with a metaphorical deliberation of hard living and relationships that should become a signature rocker. What follows are 10 wonderfully crafted and energetically musical stories played with contributions by Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Browne, David Lindley, Ry Cooder, Jim Keltner, Don Henley and Warren's long time friend and collaborator Jorge Calderon. However, the centerpiece of this poignant CD is "Keep Me in Your Heart", where the first line, "Shadows are falling and I'm running out of breath keep me in your heart for awhile" says it all. This is a profoundly moving work that will stand as a triumphant close to a brilliant artistic career. Though this CD can be somewhat of a somber listening journey, it is one that is worth taking. I will miss him deeply.

My Name Is Zevon: I Killed Myself; Now I Plot To Evoke Pity!
Let's-for the 1st and only time in this enormity of reviews-weigh the grossly poisonous reaction from rabidly hyperventilating, suspicious Zevon fans. 230 reviews with ratings all oppressively stressed to the maximum venom of perfect five stars?!?!?!?! This inarguably reveals the easily misled suggestibility of the excess of 230 varying reviewers, which is so shameful, it's sad. I despise to spoil the party of obliviousness that's occurring here with the untamed, postmortem and late fan "appreciation" of Zevon, but to ANY impartial observer, one who hasn't been seized control of by the feral hypocrisy of the media preying on a relatively MEDIOCRE "entertainer's" death, all these 230 reviews are a SHAM.

When an "entertainer" dies, even an old-timer nobody like Zevon, the press has a soulless frenzy in exaggerating him to be repugnantly more than what his status really was!!!! To the unconscientious media, the death of even barely recognizable figures is the equivalent of the most exploitable Godsend bounty arriving!!!! This is all part of the press' calculated stratagem to trick naïve morons to part with their money, as the press embezzles incrementally more business from putting the gimmick of purportedly "famous" persons deaths in their headlines, which they hopefully plan will draw some contemptibly impressionable triflers concerned with only celebrity-oriented lightness. I've contradicted myself; it's an outrage that the media, in the first place, manhandled Zevon's decease to embellishment, for he was obscurely unknown in the least, a session musician at a salacious best!!!!

This segues into where I admonish you 230 reviewers. I chide you as the most disreputable pawns of media propaganda who submissively bought this, now irrelevant, obsolete "musician's" CD, at the solicitation of news outlets who fooled you into believing Zevon was noteworthy, which is a distant cry from what he really was!!!! I accuse that you 230-strong are insincere double-dealers who never heard of Suicide until he stigmatically leaked the publicity stunt of conceding his mortality was inevitable, which raises additional suspicions. How dare Zevon disseminate unwanted news of his impending death, when, because of his unremarkable rank, no one would've cared, much less noticed!!!! This implicates you 230-strong as the most surrendering, imaginarily trendy sheep who subserved the media's plot-for-their-own-personal-gain, to hype Zevon after he killed himself, to a misused, patsy exercise.

Inspecting Zevon's, for lack of better term, "body-of-work", more defamation's instantly slung at the 230-strong who laughably capitulated to irrational sensationalism regarding dead "musicians'" works escalating in value, that the media preyed on them with. Black-Lung Zevon was THE single biggest, obscure underachiever. This news-imposed, misleadingly liked "artist" sucked so foully that his 1st mismanagement at an album FAILED TO SELL Diddlysquat!!!! Another tarnish is how, after 34 years in the "biz", Zevon still couldn't crawl his way into mainstream. Consider the insinuation of Zevon finding it beyond himself to improve, despite it being an effortless side-effect of evolution after 33 years of limiting your personal scope to the same boring hamper. For the sake of your pop culture-dictated, dependent mentalities, Zevon was unpromisingly extorted to take a road-job as musical director, and sucked more so filthily that his 2nd album wasn't attempted until 7 years later!!!! His unreliable, intermittent working was due to another offense: his alcoholism!!!! This disease cost him 5 years from his 3rd album. Another agitating bane was Zevon being such a subserviently dependent parasite, relentlessly pleading for excesses of perversely diverse musicians to artificially escalate the value of his sup-par CDs. This is the ashamed hallmark of musicians suffering from LACK of name-recognition, since Suicide tempted everyone from overrated Lindsay Buckingham, warped Bob Dylan, and homosexual Michael Stipe to support him on all his undeservingly called major-label releases. Self-destroyer "returned" in 1987 with Sentimental Hygiene, whose songs from that session were dishonestly recycled for another below-average CD in 1990-denigrating Zevon ANOTHER few years of INERTNESS!!!! Add to these the crippling injury of Suicide squandering 5 more years until Mutineer, which was spurned, then wasting 5 MORE years for his cold-received CDs until 2000, and you've arraigned a demeaning man having an obliviously unrecognized "career"!!!!

Zevon must practice liberalism/socialism. Self-destroyer-presumably not functionally retarded-disowned the meanest of basic common sense regarding his LIFELONG SMOKING HABIT. He's the indiscriminately prototypical poster-boy for moronically scorned liberals/socialists who non-conformingly jeopardize themselves because of liberal/socialist thinking cancers, which dictate they'll never be responsible for their actions and/or can shift the blame. Zevon's ominously close to being lowered onto the stereotype of chronic smokers who kill themselves, then, in irrational vindictiveness, whose families sue tobacco companies immoderately. Zevon's kids should just huffily-in abnormal dissatisfaction-sue, confirming this hippie liberal's culpability!!!! You 230-strong are discomfortingly suffering from the LOWEST manifestation of hero worship-in your cases, sacrilegious idolatry of a frailly hampered, small-name studio musician, which progresses the outrage even more.

This irreligious idolism of yours is venomously baneful. Be warned that your succumbing, media-incited hyping of a ghastly unknown studio musician is potentially lethal to other impressionably naïve clowns reading your amoral reviews. You're sensationalizing Suicide's vice so inordinately, your unlawful glorification of his incompetently unrestrained self-destruction is furious. Other gullible liberals/socialists who're trapped reading your reviews will be scammed that smoking unrepentantly and crushingly one's whole life is the way to enlightenment and nirvana!!!! Since you 230-strong sadistically specialize in needily depending on self-destructed musicians, AT LEAST have the grudgingly half-decent (because sinful idolism's censurable NO MATTER who you subject yourselves to) sense and taste to idolize someone whose music isn't as tragically vomitous as Self-destroyer's!!!! I command you to idolatrize Kurdt Kobain, AND NO ONE ELSE, because at least his music didn't suck, comparable to your lowness of Zevon hero worship, that is. The last and final insult which overstepped the line for me is Zevon's four-eyed face on the jacket of Breaking Wind. This cancer-afflicted suicide is blatantly plotting to capitalize on feloniously easy, subdued, weak sympathy from liberals!!!! Zevon accomplishes this by scornfully plastering his soon-to-be-deceased, cancerously tumorous prison mugshot on the sleeve. ... Read more

Asin: B0000AGWIK
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

Waiting for My Rocket to Come
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (15 October, 2002)
list price: $18.98 -- our price: $9.99
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Editorial Review

Virginia exile Jason Mraz grew up listening to Dave Matthews and Agents of Good Roots, local heroes whose frat-friendly influences are much in evidence on his major-label debut. Producer John Alagia (Dave Matthews Band, John Mayer) augments Mraz's SoCal cohorts with Agents' rhythm section, dramatically expanding and polishing songs like "Curbside Prophet" and "You and I Both," which previously appeared in looser, less developed versions on Mraz's self-released live recordings. But fans from the singer-songwriter's coffeehouse years need not despair. Mraz's witty lyrics and easygoing folk-blues stylings (think Jack Johnson on Prozac) are still very much in evidence. He's also in fine voice and, on two standout tracks--"Who Needs Shelter" and "Absolutely Zero"--rivals Neil Finn in his ability to invoke the spirit of Paul McCartney. Waiting for My Rocket to Come showcases an artist who, while still finding his own direction, is clearly off to a great start.--Bill Forman ... Read more

Reviews (312)

Mesmerizing, and...dare I say... Fun??!!??
Oftentimes, great work creeps up on you, or takes some time to sink in. Jason Mraz's debut effort falls into both camps, for my money. Forgettable on the first listen, intriguing by the tenth listen, old-style sing-along by the 100th listen, Mraz goes in five different directions, and the listener is compelled to follow. The songs fall into pensive troubadour feels ("I'll Do Anything", "Who Needs Shelter", "The Boy's Gone", and the brilliantly wrecking "Absolutely Zero") and some more, um, "down-home" sounds ("On Love, In Sadness", "Too Much Food"). In between lies more coventional radio fare like "Sleep All Day", "You and I Both" and the big smash "The Remedy (I Won't Worry)". Mraz even fills you in on his ascent to cap-wearing stardom with "Curbside Prophet", his self-aware, white-boy-with-guitar-failed-hip-hop manifesto. The only future concern for Jason Mraz is this: Can he equal or tops the quality of songs he's unleashed on his debut? Did he show all his cards too early in the game. Hopefully 2004 will tell...which side wins out: the...child of Rufus Wainwright and Jeff Buckley or the good ole' Virginia guitar picker??

I should have just burned the money
Before purchasing this cd I read alot of reviews talking about how Jason Mraz was a combination of Dave Matthews and others. He is not. He's not even close. I think the only demographic that would enjoy his music are under 16 year old girls and people who think John Mayer is too deep for them. The first single "The Remedy" is the best song on the cd. Overall it's not a very impressive effort.

Great
I really didn't even like "The Remedy" when it was getting lots of radio play, so what posessed me to pick up this CD I'll never know. But whatever it was, I wish I could thank it personally. I just love this CD, Mraz has an amazing voice and I love his personality as well. I'm not sure where some of those remarks that he was full of himself came from-- check out his journal on his website and you'll get a dose of his funny, sweet personality. Although it's a bit sugary at points Mraz's wonderful voice really makes up for it. And I'm not sure where those Dave Matthews/John Mayer comparisons came in....they really don't have much in common except a guitar and good voices. My favorite tracks are You and I Both, I'll Do Anything and Absolutely Zero. A must-buy, but DEFINITELY pick up his live CD, it's even better. ... Read more

Asin: B00006LERH
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

Welcome Interstate Managers
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (10 June, 2003)
list price: $17.98 -- our price: $13.99
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Editorial Review

After a four-year hiatus notable for some film and television soundtrack work, a lapsed contract, and a relaxed songwriting schedule Fountains of Wayne return with their third and best CD to date. The New York-based power-pop quartet delivers a diverse feast of infectious melodies and endlessly clever lyrics. Songwriters Adam Schlesinger and Chris Collingwood still slide on a sweet scale between the Beatles and the Monkees, but they've branched out from '60s sounds to include bona fide alt rock ("Little Red Light," "Bought for a Song"), orchestrated pop ("Halley's Waitress"), a country lark worthy of Dwight Yoakam ("Hung Up On You"), and hints of psychedelia ("Supercollider"). The Cars-flavored "Bright Future in Sales" and "Stacy's Mom" warrant heavy-rotation airplay. Following their acclaimed eponymous debut and the vastly underrated Utopia Parkway, Welcome Interstate Managers leaves no doubt that Fountains of Wayne are gaining strength. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (196)

Worth the Wait
It's been four years since Fountains of Wayne graced us with Utopia Parkway, which is right behind the Replacements' Tim in the "Why The Hell Didn't This Album Make Them Huge?" line. Pop hooks that hit you like Mike Tyson in 1986, lyrics about .38 Special CD collections and Bactine to prevent infection, and it sold diddly. Further proof, if you needed any, that the world is a dull, dirty place.

Well, they're back with Welcome Interstate Managers, and it is good. The first three tracks would be the best 1-2-3 punch of any album this year if the White Stripes didn't exist. That the subject matter includes cell phone explosions, a booze-addled salesman and lust for someone's mom both proves their genius and shows a tin ear for commercial prospects. Thank God. A lesser band would have taken the Cars-y riff on "Bright Future in Sales" and attached it to a song about a girl who needs love in the worst way, a way that only the lead singer can provide. I'm not saying we don't need those songs, but we do need to right the balance between boy/girl songs and soul-deadening career options songs. I think we're at one trillion to seven right now.

After you've played this troika over and over and get to the rest of the album, you'll notice that they show equal facility with the down tempo numbers as well. "All Kinds of Time," "Hackensack" and "Fire Island" have a wistfulness that Paul Simon used to conjure, and you will hum them for days.

Please, buy this record. Your summer depends on it.

Pop returns to the top
This CD has had me astonished for two months and I'm not sick of it at all yet. It has an overall feeling of catchy, absorbent and clever music so strong that makes you not want to listen to anything else. The band's sound is reminiscent of classic pop-rock, but no one else today makes this kind of music more cleverly and tastefully than they do.
A first listen is enough to realize that you are in front of a top quality album, highly catchy and smart, but it's after repeated tries that you finally lose all doubts that this is not less than a big pop masterpiece. Personally, perhaps I prefer the slower and more intimate songs (gems like 'Hackensack', 'Valley Winter Song', 'All Kinds of Time', 'Hey Julie' or 'Fire Island'). But on the other side, the more electric stuff is also brilliant: 'Mexican Wine', 'Stacy's Mom' and 'Bright Future in Sales' are perfect, unsurpassable catchy power pop songs. Then you have the sweet mid-tempo extravaganza ('Halley's Waitress'), the lovely country ballad ('Hung Up On You'), the tasteful, slightly psychedelic number ('No Better Place')... truly, it would be quicker to tell which kind of great pop song is not on this album than to go over all the gifts it contains. And this perfectly written tunes are also so smartly arranged that you can enjoy finding all the lot of musical layers that support and embellish the songs while they always remain fresh and true. I know someone may find all this praise exaggerated; but not someone who loves great pop music -basically, great melodies and great lyrics- and has listened to this CD (both conditions must hold). This latter one knows what I'm talking about (and so will you if you buy this glorious CD).

Now this is music!
This is one of the best albums I have ever heard. This was my first taste of this group. I want more!! Sometime after getting this album I got their first album which is fantastic too. Now on with the review.

1.Mexican Wine- Even though bad things happen, the sun still shines and everything will be alright. This seems to be a better version of Radiation Vibe, which is off their first album. It's a true power pop song that makes you want to sing along. 5/5
2.Bright Future In Sales- A night of drinking and partying takes a toll on a person. It's even worse when you have to go to work the next day! Another powerful, pop masterpiece. 5/5
3.Stacy's Mom- The reason I bought the album 5/5
4.Hackensack- A nice tune about the girl he loved making it big and becoming a celebrity. 4/5
5.No Better Place- Slower, but still very good. 4/5
6.Valley Winter Song- The true feeling of winter, and I love it 5/5
7.All Kinds of Time- A football player sees things in a new light. 4/5
8.Little Red Light- Now we are back to the rock stuff. Great song.5/5
9.Hey Julie- I really like this one. It has a nice story about a guy who can't wait to get off work so he can see his girl. 5/5
10.Halley's Waitress- Wonderful music. It's obvious that the song is about bad service. 5/5
11.Hung Up On You- Wow, I'm not really into country music but this song is just great. 5/5
12.Fire Island- It took me a little while to feel this one. It's about teenagers having a party without any adults. It's good but the cd may feel like it's too long and slow at this point. 4/5
13.Peace and Love- I like this one, it's catchy and fun. A hippie song really. 5/5
14.Bought For A Song- It's catchy and cool. 5/5
15.Supercollider- Wow, trippy. 5/5
16.Yours and Mine- A very short track. Closes the album on a light note. 5/5

This album seemed to drag at first. I don't think it does anymore. I have taking a liking to all of the songs and found they are all incredible and this is an album for a true music lover. ... Read more

Asin: B00009QGF2
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

1972 (Limited Edition Bonus DVD)
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (26 August, 2003)
list price: $11.98 -- our price: $10.99
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Editorial Review

In this song cycle inspired by the year he was born, the wispy-voiced Rouse conjures (or imagines) the era's essential groovy vibe, from the title track's homage to Carole King's "It's Too Late" to the Brady Bunch bounce of "Love Vibration" to the flutes, falsetto, and jazzy guitar licks of so many of the retro arrangements. Yet Rouse's spin on the era transcends simple nostalgia, as the lyrics aren't always as buoyant as the sunny musical interplay, with "1972," the psychedelic soul of "James," and the piano-driven "Slaveship" all suggesting a darker tinge within this world of lollipops and rainbows. The bass pulse of "Comeback (Light Therapy)" has a hypnotic effect beyond the time warp, although a come-on line such as "it's the end of the night and I'm feelin' sexual" (from "Under Your Charms") would have sounded as lame in 1972 as it does three decades later. Apparently, those barely old enough to remember the '70s are doomed to repeat them. --Don McLeese ... Read more

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Reviews (31)

David Cassidy meets Al Stewart!
If the 21st century has brought us anything refreshing it is the slew of good, strong music that has been hitting the CD stores (unfortunately not radio, since radio continues to play drivel on adult contemporary stations )in the past two and a half years. If you know where to find it, there is a lot of good music out there (magazines such as UNCUT, PASTE and NEW MUSIC MONTHLY are great sources) and 1972 is a brilliant example.

Somehow managing to channel great musicians such as Paul Simon, Al Stewart and Jackson Browne and yet still keep his own voice, Josh Rouse delivers a pop album with smarts, sensibility and style. If you didn't know better, you'd swear this was an album straight from the good side of the 70s (and in the case of "Love Vibration" early 80s.) There is not a clunker on this album and you may be tempted to hit "repeat" on your CD player. Here are just a few of the charmers:

"1972": a tribute to Carole King and a mellow, deceptively simple song which stays in your heart for a good while...

"Love Vibration": a catchy pop tune that makes use of the wurlitzer, flute and the most basic of lyrics and yet says a lot...you cannot get this song out of your head or feet! (In a way this reminds me of the lushness of the Carpenters minus Richard Carpenter's occasional overkill production).

"Sunshine": This is NOT Brady Bunch material despite what one music reviewer wrote recently. It's a nice percussion piece with an Al Stewart edge to it.

"James": Sad lyrics and beautiful music. I haven't listened to this one enough to catch the deeper appeal but it definitely stays with you.

"Come Back" and "Under Your Charms" are both sensual, rhythmic pieces with a Doobie Brothers approach in a Paul Simon voice (though Josh Rouse's voice is more mellow and lush like Karen Carpenter's to a certain degree).

"Sparrows Over Birmingham" and "Flight Attendant" are soulful, yearning songs that evoke the 60s.

I wish I could find the words to do this album justice. The best thing I can say is : listen. This is the kind of album you put on the stereo and never want to take off.

A Major Talent Comes Into His Own
Josh Rouse is a talented artist who has been flying beneath the radar for a few years. He is an exceptional songwriter and arranger whose past work has been consistanley strong, especially last years UNDER THE COLD BLUE STARS.

1972 finds Rouse coming into his own and finding his true voice. This is an album of contrasts between sunny sounding music, informed by early to mid 70's AM pop, and darker lyrics more worldly lyrics. For the uninitiated, his work falls between Wilco of Summerteeth and Freedy Johnston's first couple albums.

This definatley rates as one of the top releases of the year. As a bonus, there is a DVD documentary about Rouse, which contains several great live performances. Though not vital or earthshaking in content, it provides an interesting angle into Rouse's musical journey.

I grew up with this album
I swear this is what was playing on the AM radio in my mom's Malibu station wagon. I still remember those sweet harmonies, the soft groove, the goofy lyrics. Perhaps I'm dating myself, but I'm glad someone finally released a collection of my favorite songs from this bygone era.... ... Read more

Asin: B0000AM6K2
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

The Thorns
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (20 May, 2003)
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Editorial Review

If ever a group's moniker were wrapped in florid irony, surely it's this bright, buoyant summit meeting of contemporary popmeisters Matthew Sweet, Shawn Mullins, and Pete Droge. Backed by an all-star studio ensemble that includes Jim Keltner, Greg Leisz, Brendan O'Brien, and Roy Bittan, the three nominally insulated musicians don't so much claim the legacy of Crosby, Stills & Nash on the harmonic riches of "Think it Over" and glorious "Now I Know" as find a musical common ground that can't help but echo history in its folk-rooted vocal glories (although it's hard to imagine the baby-boom icons wrapping themselves around the chunky funk of the title track here or the pointed impressionistic allegory of "Dragonfly.") Yet The Thorns forges an ego-sublimating higher ground that's anything but nostalgic. Fans of the three musicians may recognize their various sensibilities at work throughout, but it's a rewarding collaboration that virtually defies deconstruction. Don't be misled by the name--this is a beautiful, musically fragrant bouquet. --Jerry McCulley ... Read more

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Reviews (98)

Pleasant listening for a rainy day........
"Supergroup" may be a bit of a strong term for this offering, but it's not too far off. Moderately successful singer-songwriters Pete Droge, Shawn Mullins, & Matthew Sweet must've been jamming one day and realized their 3 nuanced voices work very well together and decided to offer up this 13 track disc as a side project of sorts as a break from their own solo careers. For the most part this is an enjoyable listen, featuring laid back acoustic numbers with warm, rich vocal harmonies. The singing usually outshines the songs themselves (a cover of The Jayhawks 'Blue'-one of this reviewers favorites-sounds like a great idea on paper but also falls a bit short), and the tunes are often times a little too similar to folk groups of yore (CSN & Y and The Byrds come to mind), but the occasional derivitive nature of this album can be forgiven---it comes across as 3 talented musicians just getting together for a good time around a campfire. Overall these Thorns don't prick you too much---not rocket science but nevertheless pleasant relaxation music.

CA-style guitars and harmonies boosting some careers
Place Matthew Sweet in any vocal harmony situation, and the results are always lovely, even if it's with himself. Here, however, with Pete Droge and Shawn Mullins there's no comparing the vocal harmonies with Crosby, Stills, Nash and (sometimes) Young, because they've alchemized the CSN(Y) sound perfectly on every single song.

All mid-tempo, laid-back, guitar-strumming ear candy with a slight shade of Traveling Wilburys (especially the opening track "Runaway Feeling").

Harmonies on "Such A Shame" recall The Beatles' "Because."

Personally, the surprise gem of the bunch is the cover of The Jayhawks' "Blue," a song that always gave me goosebumps and The Thorns' version continues to do so.

In sum, if you love and collect strumming guitar pop-rock containing three-part male harmonies, you would be remiss to not add this to your collection while it's at an introductory price.

As a postscript, I should say I'm approaching this as a Matthew Sweet fanatic, and would like to point to his other solo works and underappreciated contributions to Lloyd Cole's late 1980's solo albums. No doubt this Thorns CD will lead others to the respective solo works of Pete Droge and Shawn Mullins, which, looking at it all cynically, is kind of the point here.

On the cheap
There's a prophetic line at the start of the second track, "I Can't Remember": "I'm not gonna lie to you, something is missing." Despite the fact that it boasts the work of three moderately successful solo artists, including Pete Droge, Shawn Mullins, and Matthew Sweet (whose other work I really enjoy--check out In Reverse), The Thorns comes up short. Instead of any driving rhythms or compelling lyrics, the thirteen songs here consist mostly of three-part harmony and lyrics that sound like they were sanitized during the process of three songwriters tweaking them. The results are bland and inoffensive, certainly not as good as fans had every right to expect from these three. There's a reason people are selling used copies on the cheap. ... Read more

Asin: B000094VMS
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

O
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (10 June, 2003)
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Editorial Review

Irish troubadour Damien Rice doesn't so much reinvent the folk genre on this lush, impossibly mature debut album as push its boundaries in several compelling musical directions at once--all the more remarkable considering the album was largely self-produced and home-recorded. His songs revolve around familiar, bittersweet concerns of life, love and their attendant frustrations, but delivered with conspiratorial intimacy on melodic wings that (like on the graceful "Cannonball") Rice seems almost embarrassed to share. If there's anything like a template here, it's "The Blower's Daughter," the song that first attracted the interest/stewardship of film composer David Arnold (whose guest production provides "Amie" with expansive cinematic elegance) and became a massive Irish hit. His plaintive vocal, embroidered by the mournful solo cello of Vyvienne Long, is suddenly brightened by an instrumental flourish and Lisa Hannigan's vocals--before just as quickly wafting on the breeze. With touches that range from "Day in the Life"-styled string collages to the dizzy, exhilarating neo-operatic excesses of the 16-minute "Eskimo," Rice's musical palate here is as adventurous as his songs are grounded in emotional intimacy. --Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Reviews (154)

Beautiful late night music
My first introduction to Damien Rice was last week at my girlfriend's company's Christmas party. We were slow-dancing to "Cannonball", and when she looked into my eyes, it was the most romantic moment of the night. At this point, I must admit that I am usually not a fan of sappy folk music. Don't get me wrong, my friends love Elliott Smith and Jeff Buckley, but I get bored to tears whenver they put it on. Anyway, after the Christmas party, my girlfriend (bless her heart) put on this CD in the car on the way home. And let me tell you, driving up in the Hollywood Hills at 3:30 am in the morning listening to Damien Rice is an experience in its own right. It felt like I was travelling through a surrealistic landscape from a David Lynch movie. Every song on the album is great, from the opening chords of "Delicate" to the 16-minute closing number "Eskimo". Of those, the standouts for me are "Volcano", "Older chests" and of course "Cannonball". This is easily one of the best albums I have heard in a long time, and will definitely be in my year end Top 10 list. Damien has a way of describing situations through his lyrics and singing that just breaks your heart, and makes you cry. And I am saying that as a 28-year-old grown man. This is music for those sleepless late nights when you are comtemplating your life. An excellent aphrodisiac for sure, too. Put this album on when you get home from the clubs, light the fireplace up, and lie naked in front of it with your loved one, and you will know what I mean. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

O My!
Damien Rice's sweet debut is a lush, gentle beauty of an album. 'Delicate' is just that and a great opener. Rice's tender voice sweeps the listener up and lies them down with grace as the strings come in and soothe the mind. 'Volcano' may be the highlight with it's beautiful arange of strings, bass, drums and vocals of Rice and Lisa Hannigan blend and switch and come back together in the bonechilling chorus. 'The Blower's Daughter' is Rice at his vocal best and most vulnerable and what remains is brilliant craftsmanship of beautiful folk/rock sweetness. 'Cannonball' is possibly the most touching track as Rice sings, "still a little bit of your face I haven't kissed" and "Life taught me to die". Other highlights include the distant 'Older Chests', whirling 'Amie' and the finale 'Eskimo'. This is just the start of a brilliant new artist that I am looking forward to hear progress.

Loved it!
Damien Rice is such a talented musician. His music never gets old, you can listen to it over and over again. His soultry voice is always nice to listen to. I highly recommend it!! ... Read more

Asin: B00009V7P8
Subjects:  1. Folk & Traditional    2. Pop   

Heavier Things
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Audio CD (09 September, 2003)
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Editorial Review

John Mayer's big label debut was a multi-platinum breakthrough success whose sensual anthem "Your Body is a Wonderland" scored him an unlikely Grammy for Best Pop Vocal. That out-of-the-box success–and more than a few critics grousing that Mayer's muse was cloned from Dave Matthews–primed him for the typical sophomore slump. Instead, Mayer delivers an album whose tone and title suggests a gentle, tongue-in-cheek rebuke to his naysayers. Propelled by the subtle ambitions of an expanded pop-jazz framework (largely courtesy of Sheryl Crow/No Doubt/Jellyfish producer Jack Joseph Puig), Mayer's breathy vocal tack now suggests a detached, conflicted, and significantly less precious incarnation of Michael Franks. But the way he weds fluid pop hooks to lyrical concerns whose self-obsessions are undercut by telling dollops of self-deprecation should clearly draw listeners in, from the my-spirit's-too-big/smart-for-my-body laments of "Clarity," upbeat single "Bigger Than My Body," and bluesy plea "Come Back to Bed" to the cautionary, melodically-rich "Daughters" and even the anti-materialist agitprop of "Something's Missing." --Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Reviews (541)

Not exactly what I expected....
As a big fan of John Mayer's first album, Room For Squares, I was more than excited fpr September 9th to come around, for the release of John Mayer's new Heavier Things. It definately didnt match up to the sincere (or seemingly sincere) vocals I heard in Room For Squares. For starters, the lyrics are a little...heavy for a 20something year old...(heh hence the title Heavier Things) but it's just weird hearing someone teenage girls go crazy over sing "fathers be good to your daughters..daughters will love like they do..girls become lovers and turn into mothers.." etc. The guitar music has lost its 'I'm fresh original and sweet' feel we saw in Room For Squares..John Mayer with an electric guitar just is weird..as well as John's voice has lost its 'im sexy/raspy' tone as well. My favorite song on the album though...would have to be 'Wheel' just becasue it gives me a taste of that John Mayer we came to know and love in Room For Squares.

Hopefully John will realize he should go back to his original style..it selled..happy listening!!

A great listen
The thing I noticed about this album is how different it is than Mayer's debut "Room for Squares". There's not as much acoustic. This isn't a bad thing, because Mayer still does a great job. John Mayer is probably my favorite artist in this genre of music. His vocals, lyric work, music, everything is just astounding.

Mayer makes music worth listening to
I don't know what rock I've been hiding under, but I have never heard John Mayer's music until I recently bought this cd. I don't listen to the radio...ever, but was recommended Mayer's music by two different friends, so I went ahead and bought it.

Loved it instantly. The combination of acoustic rock and roll with new aged pop and a smooth sound. He has a knack for a nonchalant, cool guy delivery that's very effective. His music is so refreshing and creative, not to mention the amazingly clever linear notes in the cd insert booklet. Favorite songs include: "Daughters," "Clarity," "Homelife," and my favorite "Come Back To Bed."

I still have yet to hear his other cds, mainly "Room for Squares" but that is next on my agenda! ... Read more

Asin: B0000ALSDR
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

What If It All Means Something
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Audio CD (25 November, 2002)
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Reviews (10)

Chantal Returns with her BEST CD yet!
I am so very bad with words and reviews but I am going to try my best in explaining how GREAT this cd is! I have been a big fan of Chantal's since her debut came out in 1997...I even was lucky enough to see her live at Lilith Fair and even pass her by as she walked around the various shops autographing things for fans. I was very nervous about this new album because I have been so extremely impressed by her previous two albums and I was hesitant that this wouldn't live up to my expectations but Chantal has truly created her most beautiful, emotianal, and personal album to date with this masterpeice. To me, the albums opener, IN THIS LIFE, is the most powerful and emotianally raw song on the album. The song has a very catchy and sing-a-long type melody that really seems to hook the listener in through Chantal's incredibly versatile vocal skills. TIME is also another amazing song. I also love the song JULIA-which is about none other than Superstar Julia Roberts. It's interesting to see what celebrities think of other celebrities and this is an interesting view on stardom from a musical star's own personal perspective. This cd also has a great montage video of a photo shoot Chantal had for the album booklet...and let me just say that Chantal is literally one of the most BEAUTIFUL women in the world! Pick this cd up RIGHT NOW!!

Chantal means something
I've been saying for a few years that Chantal Kreviazuk is probably the most heard unknown Canadian artist, possibly in the world. With her appearance on the huge 1998 CD Armageddon and her singing the theme to NBCs Providence, as well as appearances on other TV shows and soundtracks, the odds that you have never heard Chantal's wonderful voice is pretty slim. So what does Chantal have to offer?
Well, her third CD has something for just about everyone. Whether you're new to her music or an old fan, this CD is for you. It's mainstream friendly enough to appeal to fans of Britney Spears and Celine Dion, emotional enough for fans of Tori Amos and Sarah McLachlan and everyone in between.
The guys between Nelly Furtado's first CD produced the instantly catchy 'Ready For Your Love'.
Michelle Branch lends a voice to the perfect track 'Waiting', which I think has "hit" written all over it.
Chantal also experiments, for the first time, with guitar, which she plays on some of the tracks, and it's also the basis of two songs, 'In This Life' and 'Time'.
With amazing albums already behind her, Chantal is showing us that there's much more to her than just a piano, so pick up this CD and allow yourself to find that there really is meaning.

Meaningful
Chantal Kreviazuk finally released some new music in the fall of 2002 in Canada, and in April of 2003 in the US. The album is WHAT IF IT ALL MEANS SOMETHING, and if you didn't already know, the title suggests that she is a very introspective and deep thinker. The first single was "In This Life", a midtempo-almost-ballad that is inspiring, about being with someone during their life. The single was a mild hit, and a nice track to introduce the album with.

The second single is the best track from the album, a song titled "Time", which she co-wrote with her husband Raine Maida (from Our Lady Peace), who also helped co-write a few other tracks (such as "Waiting", "What If It All Means Something", "Turn The Page", and "Miss April"). "Time" is such a beautiful song with its piano and orchestral arrangement, and its beautiful lyrics about lost memories and cherishing our precious time on earth. Such beautiful lyrics in the track include "Time/Where did you go/Why did you leave me here alone/Wait/Don't go too fast/I'm missing the moments as they pass/Now I've looked in the mirror/And the world's getting clearer/So wait for me/This time" The video is also rather stunning, with Chantal in a house that is falling apart and aging. "Julia" is a unique song, written about Julia Roberts, and basically just about the scrutiny a celebrity goes under.

Another beautiful song is "Flying Home (Brenda's Song)", which also has beautiful lyrics. "It's hard to let you go/You've always let me in/And helped with all the endings/And you know where to begin/I need you here for me/Cuz you always know my heart/I can't believe we'd change/Or have to be apart/But if you've seen the love that's in her eyes/Then everything is good/And if you know the way she felt inside/She's flying where she should/I never believed we'd ever live to see/An angel being born/And flying home".

In comparison to her two previous albums, WHAT IF seems a lot more upbeat, but still personal. You feel like you know her through the lyrics. "Weight of the World" is an upbeat song that soars, and "Ready for Your Love" is an interesting pop song with a nice world vibe to it. If you're looking for the introspection of her first album, listen to the closer "Turn The Page". The title track has a nice melody and a great chorus that is memorable. "Morning Light" is a very relatable song. "Miss April" is an interesting song about someone who's star has faded.

If you bought the album in Canada then you might have bought the Limited Edition CD, which came with a slipfold, a booklet with rare photos, personally hand written lyrics and a special note from Chantal, as well it's an enhanced disc with pictures. The album might be more optomistic and less introspective than the past ones, and yes its more pop than her first two albums, but it's still a stunning album that fans will love. ... Read more

Asin: B00007EAOE
Sales Rank: 162859
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

Failer
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (14 January, 2003)
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Editorial Review

This young Canadian singer-songwriter delivers a sucker punch of an American debut. While it may take a few listens for some of the material to sink in, Kathleen Edwards plainly has attitude to burn and a killer band to back it up. As a rootsy artist who sings about sexual attraction and betrayal with a languid breathiness, she inevitably has been tagged a younger Lucinda Williams, but it would make as much sense to describe her as an alt-country Ani DiFranco or a female Ryan Adams. What's most powerful in her music, however, seems to come from a deeper, more personal place than the study of other artists: from the violent climax of "Six O' Clock News" to the bitter resignation of "Hockey Skates" to the buoyantly rocking resilience of "12 Bellevue" to the offhand sensuality of "Westby." Plainly, she's unconcerned with ruffling feathers, titling one number "One More Song the Radio Won't Like" and elsewhere asking the musical question "Do you think your boys' club will crumble just because of a loudmouth girl?" --Don McLeese ... Read more

Reviews (57)

A Promising Debut
I was intrigued by the advance word on this album in No Depression and elsewhere. Kathleen Edwards is indeed very talented and has a warm, textured voice that does put one in mind of Lucinda Williams. Unfortunately, the songs and the playing on Failer are uneven. There is some very inspired stuff here--if there was any justice in this world the opening cut "Six O'Clock News" should be a radio hit, with its infectious stumble rhythms and chimey guitar riffs, let alone the intensity of the lyrics. But too often the songs lapse into alt-country cliches and the band, which at its best does have something of the raw energy of Crazy Horse--like the cover sticker says--sometimes sounds uninspired. But I remind myself that "Car Wheels" wasn't Lucinda's first record, and I'd suggest buying this enjoyable album to foster the career of someone who could really give us a masterpiece one of these days.

Wonderful record well deserving of the accolades.
It's as if Kathleen Edwards took the best elements of several of her contemporaries and made them her own. Her keening voice evokes Laura Cantrell, but she's a far better singer in terms of phrasing, body and personality. Her country-tinged arrangements nod to both The Wooden Stars and Blue Rodeo, and her witty, observant lyrics sometimes remind me of Sarah Harmer.

Edwards' gift is to make simplicity beautiful. I can't think of anybody else right now who can make a dead-simple, repetitive melody as "Six O'Clock News" work, and work so marvellously. "Hockey Skates" hangs its spare arrangements on a terrific yet basic guitar line, but played with relish. That vocal ad lib which opens "The Lone Wolf", the surprisingly gutsy electric guitar of "12 Bellevue" and the multitracked acoustic strums of "Westby" are all examples of the imaginative yet deceptively simple touches which make the songs great.

The great playing and arrangements on this record definitely help, making the most out of simple country-rock elements, and Edwards' singing is very engaging, often careless of pitch like Neil Young and early Sarah Harmer, but always expressive and fitting to the song.

From time to time, an artist is hyped simply because s/he is better than the rest. Kathleen Edwards is one such artist, and if the media hype helps people discover her music, all the better.

If Lucinda Williams and Ryan Adams had a daughter together..
She might be named Kathleen Edwards. I think the song writing style is a perfect blend of those two artists. She writes about failed relationships, not being accepted in the "boys" club that run so much of the music industry, not being able to get her songs played on the radio, having an affair with an older man, too much drink and drugs, and you have no doubt she has sufferred heartache, a thread that runs through most of Lucinda Williams songs. But wait...because she also strikes back. In the song "Westby" she sings "If you weren't so old, I'd probably keep you/ if you weren't so old I'd tell all my friends/ but I don't think your wife would like my friends." In "One More Song the Radio Won't Like," she sings "Reel it in and shut your mouth/reputations are in doubt/write a hit so I can talk you up/ no one likes a girl who won't sober up." Ryan Adams writes a lot like that-songs about being hurt, but he finds a way to poke a finger in the eye. She does that in virtually every song and she sings like she REALLY means it! The band is excellent; they play rock with a country edge. My favorite song is the opener "Six O'Clock News." It's a catchy tune steeped in irony-the boyfriend seems to snap, he's holed up, he's got a gun, and the one thing that might save him is hearing that his girlfriend is pregnant. Alas, she is not allowed near him to deliver the news, and he ends up dead, all over the evening news. Potent songwriting! Highly recommended, and I think this is an artist to watch. ... Read more

Asin: B00007LV7B
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

Soul Sessions
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Audio CD (16 September, 2003)
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Editorial Review

Not every 16-year-old white, English girl can hang with the likes of Betty Wright ("Clean Up Woman") and Angie Stone. Joss Stone (no relation), however, is blessed with a strong voice and a will to sing old-school soul. This debut CD is worthy of more than novelty status, though. Wisely avoiding iconic songs by the genre’s biggest names, Stone and a production team that includes Wright opt for lesser-known tunes more often by the likes of Laura Lee, Joe Simon, and the Soul Brothers Six--not to mention their digging out (with guest co-producer ?uestlove from the Roots) the great soul lyric in the White Stripes’ "Fell in Love with a (Boy)." Joss Stone occasionally misses a connection; her "Some Kind of Wonderful" is listless, and when she develops a bit more subtlety, it’ll be welcome. But The Soul Sessions has a spark beyond the album’s obvious good taste. --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Reviews (277)

Exceeded My Expectation
Being a fan of The Roots, Joss Stone's video with Questlove (from The Roots) caught my attention while it was airing in a local Target store. I found her debut "Soul Sessions" CD, very reasonably priced, and had to buy. I'm not disappointed.

I'm not overly thrilled with every song, but it exceeds my exceptation of how soulful a white female teen can be at such a young age. This teenager is true soul and blues that reminiscent combination of Betty Wright + Janis Joplin.

Because Joss Stone is so young some of the songs seem to deal with experiences far beyond her years. Due to her mature voice, she's able to pull these songs off vocally, but it doesn't always seem to be heartfelt.

My favorite songs include: "The Chokin' Kind", "Fell in Love With A Boy", and "For the Love of You" (a remarkable and unexpected remake of the Isley Brothers classic).

I can't wait to see Joss Stone perform on the VH1 Divas live!

R&B from a Brit Teen! White Girl Got Game!
I've seen lots of reviews comparing Joss Stone to Celine Dion, Mariah Carey or Christina/Britney. She is not really comparable to pop singers because Joss is like a glorious experiment. Can we take a 16 (at the time) year old English teenager and make her sing some obscure soul classics? The White Stripes cover that is the hit is the only modern track to be found. The rest are by soul legends like Aretha Franklin. This isn't really pop, but it's not roots oriented blues either. It lies somewhere inbetween!

The results are a very glossy album that goes down very smoothely. She has this whiskey soaked voice that really lends itself to sounding much like a modern Janis Joplin if comparisons have to be made. If you like soul infused with a rock sensibility this is the CD to get! Every track is well done, and you get Angie Stone and the Roots backing Joss up on almost all the tracks. It's a little bit of a gimmick -- the whole white teenaged girl sings the blues, but Joss has talent and her interpretations of each song is credible.

Great fun! Good for a date where you make-out in the car, a romantic dinner that might be going somewhere, or when you're in the mood to just slowly bob your head to some grooves that sound old school.

Excellent 1st Effort
Whatever I may feel about the politics behind this ever lightening face of R&B/Soul music, I have to give this girl her props. The music was kept simple. Even on more upbeat tracks like Super Duper Love I was not left with a sense of overproduction which blended well with Joss' strong vocals. ... Read more

Asin: B0000C0FKA
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

Identity Crisis
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (16 September, 2003)
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Editorial Review

Shelby Lynne wrote, sang, produced, and played all the guitar parts on her mellow, moody, and sonically stripped-down eighth album, Identity Crisis. Surely the title ironically refers to Lynne's eclectic career itself rather than this slow-burning, excellent album, with its lyrics so personal and honest, one feels like a voyeur at times. Identity sounds like a living room session; the demos made for the big album before the hot-shot producer came in and ruined everything. Lynne's voice is as relaxed, assured, and richly emotive as ever, buoyed by acoustic bass and guitars, electric piano, and minimal percussion. Notable deviations from the candlelit vibe include the mid-tempo rocker "Gotta Be Better" (which sounds like PJ Harvey jamming with X), the gospel chorus that peaks through on "10 Rocks" (the record's sole hokey tune), and of course "Lonesome" (a gorgeous old school Nashville-sheen tune that expertly evokes Patsy and Kitty with multi-tracked vocals and sweeping strings). The story goes that a lengthy phone conversation with Willie Nelson led to the lovely, uplifting last tune, "One With The Sun." Which is cool, because if this album is reminiscent of anybody, it's Nelson ca. Red Headed Stranger --Mike McGonigal ... Read more

Reviews (29)

Remember When Country Was Good?
Some of us remember when Shelby Lynne pretended to be in the country music mainstream. She never seemed happy there, always wanting to take off in a direction the labels wouldn't sanction. Now that she has a musical identity she built herself, not only is she plainly happier with her work, so are the rest of us.

This album is so eclectic, and so anti-commercial, that it's surprising a label like Capitol would even touch it. From the Nashville Sound arrangements of "One With the Sun" to the gospel of "Ten Rocks," from the blues of "Evil Man" to the straight-ahead rock'n'roll of "Gotta Be Better," this CD is a capsule history of American music. It also fits together so well from tune to tune, despite the disparity of the selection, that it's easy to listen to over and over.

Shelby's latest isn't going to be for everybody. It's a very stripped-down, austere sound, with lyric content sharp enough to cut steel, and that won't sit well with a mass audience. But for those who love country, and its associated forms, from back when country was still good, this album is worth the cost from the first track.

Roots, rock, rebel
Shelby Lynne has done a lot in her thirteen-year music career and six previous albums. She received much attention and numerous awards for I Am Shelby Lynne. After that she did a pop album with Glen Ballard that lost some of the hardcore country fans. I thought Love, Shelby was a great record nonetheless. Shelby Lynne got back to basics on this new record. Apparently she listened to a lot of Jimmie Rodgers and Hank Williams for inspiration. Shelby avoids pop hooks and choruses. There's a stripped down feeling to "Telephone." Her song "10 Rocks" draws upon gospel music. Shelby Lynne wrote and plays most of this album herself. The best songs are just her voice and guitar. The most remarkable song is "I Will Stay." It is emotions at their most stark and naked. Shelby Lynne is the closest thing we have to Patsy Cline. Hopefully she will do more records like this.

This Is the Best Shelby Lynne Yet!
This CD really surprised me. Sorry Shelby, but your other CDs pale in comparison. Identity Crisis is Singer/Songwriter at it's best. Add a dash of rock, a little bit of country, and some blues, and you've got this CD. Great stuff. I have a radio show, and I play cuts off this CD. I like to share the joy. ... Read more

Asin: B0000C0FF8
Subjects:  1. Country    2. Pop   

Beneath This Gruff Exterior
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (06 May, 2003)
list price: $17.98 -- our price: $13.99
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Editorial Review

Much to his credit, John Hiatt has never strayed very far from the bluesy garage rock roots of his Indiana childhood. That fact is raucously underscored here, a gritty collection that finds the veteran singer/songwriter co-crediting his longtime band, the Goners (guitarist Sonny Landreth, bassist Dave Ranson and Kenneth Blevins on drums) for the first time--and for good reason. While Hiatt's songwriting efforts are typically strong throughout, with gems like "Almost Fed Up With the Blues," "My Dog and Me," "My Baby Blue," and "The Most Unoriginal Sin" (originally recorded by Willie Nelson in ‘93) showcasing his tough wit and tender heart, this is decidedly a band effort from the rollicking first notes of "Uncommon Connection." Recorded live in the studio, Hiatt and the Goners evoke everything from chugging Sun Records' shuffles to swampy Delta blues, early Ry Cooder and the Band, all of it informed by the almost telepathic sense of interplay these musicians have developed over decades of touring. This is easily the most overtly rocking album of Hiatt's career, but one that hasn't sacrificed an ounce of soul for its joyous energy. --Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Reviews (39)

Solid Rockin' and Strong Songwriting
John Hiatt is probably one of the dozen best songwriters around and he continues to prove it. This album enforces that statement. Like most of Hiatt's work this CD will sneak up on you and you'll find yourself thinking or singing, "S**t flyin' in my head from every direction; I'm just thinkin'about an uncommon connection" and have no idea where it came from. The songs are solid and Hiatt's nod to depresion, "The Nagging Dark" and his attitude toward it, "Some call it the blues, I call it a song" remind you he's dealt with it.

Musically, the album rocks with a few exceptions, such as the melodic "My Dog and Me." If you've never listened to John Hiatt, I'd recommend starting with the album, "Slow Turning" or "Perfectly Good Guitar" but this is worth several listens.

Still having a blast after all these years
Most of John Hiatt's albums fit into one of two categories; great or very good. While Gruff isn't the best album Hiatt has made, it has a number of songs that can hold their own with his best stuff. What's important, though, is that even the lesser material grabs your attention. Why? Because it's clear that 30 years on John's still having fun. Gruff isn't Slugline, Riding with the King, Bring the Family or Walk On but it also doesn't stumble into the blind alley represented by Little Head or Little Village (two of Hiatt's worst albums).

Uncommon Connection does threaten to veer into the court occupied by Little Head but the rollicking arrangement and the 180 degree turn in the lyrics allow Hiatt to pull a U turn and create a great little opening number. How Bad's the Coffee and a couple of other numbers capture the average man's (or woman's)difficult days with humor. That's the album's saving grace; the bad moments are few and far between and off set by Hiatt's sense of humor.

Missing Pieces, The Most Unoriginal Sin and The Nagging Dark could duke it out with anything from Slow Turning or Bring the Family. Each one has just the right amount of social observation, humor and compassion. They also all rock pretty darn hard. This isn't 12 slices of heaven more like 12 slices of heaven, purgatory, life on Earth and hell. All mixed in with a generous helping of Sonny Landreth's stunning guitar work (always a highlight on any of John's records with The Goners).

For fans that are interested there is a limited edition of Gruff with a 3 track bonus CD featuring demos of three of the songs here. It's just Hiatt and guitar commenting on his little corner of the world.

It's Gruff Alright
An album needs to be more than merely loud to "rock," and that's why "Beneath This Gruff Exterior" fails. There is a whole lot of hooting and hollering going on but very little substance. If I want to hear a sound like "Uncommon Connection," all I have to do is go sit by the railroad tracks for a while and wait for the next freight train to pass through. Just as you can almost palate the song's manic banging, shuffling and spitting, it blasts away in a storm of dust and chaos. Hiatt and the Goners blast through these songs like bullets through a cake. At best, this is a collection of demos; at worst, it should have been kept in the vault Hiatt dug it out of. The general weakness of the album makes more distinctive songs such as "My Baby Blue" sound like tossed-off singles rather than the great songs Hiatt has delivered in such abundance over the years. I really think it's time for Hiatt to sever his ties with producer Don Smith, who seems hell-bent on overcooking every Hiatt project that runs through his fingers. "Walk On," Smith's 1995 production with Hiatt, suffers from the same lack of discipline. Albums like "Beneath This Gruff Exterior" really make a fan thankful for the rawer glories of "Crossing Muddy Waters" or "Bring the Family." One can only hope that this album's gorgeous coda, "The Most Unoriginal Sin," is a foreshadowing of things to come from Hiatt, still one of the most authentic performers in the world today. ... Read more

Asin: B00008N6NH
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

Are We There Yet?
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (04 November, 2003)
list price: $14.99 -- our price: $14.99
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Reviews (2)

Great!
Are We There Yet is simply great. All of the songs are upbeat, melodic and soulful. The CD sounds very much like Groovelily in concert (If you get a chance to see them live, I would recommend you go--their shows are always wonderful.) Just lovely...I can't think of the right words for this original band and their fantastic music. My favorite tracks are No Room in Your Bag, Live through This, and This is Going to Stop.

GROOVEY...YES
ARE WE THERE YET, GROOVELILY'S new CD is an album that will draw you in as you listen to the vocals and music. Valerie Vigoda, a violinist and singer does an excellent job of making the songs come alive. Her voice and the melodies tell a story. LIVE THROUGH THIS is my favorite on the CD. Overall, the CD is great.

Hopefully, they'll be touring to my city soon. If they do, I'll be sure to let you know.
Find out more about Valerie and Groovelily by visiting their web site.
Don't delay, get your copy of GROOVELILLY'S CD today. ... Read more

Asin: B0000CEUU9
Sales Rank: 22665
Subjects:  1. Folk & Traditional    2. Pop   

Keep It Together
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (24 June, 2003)
list price: $13.98 -- our price: $13.98
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Features

• Enhanced

Reviews (109)

Guster Rocks My Socks!!!
Guster is definitely one of my favorite groups, and this CD is one reason why. This is one of my favorite CDs and it's constantly in my CD player. If I were to list my favorite songs from the CD I would be listing pretty much every song! It's one of the few CDs I can listen to completely through without once pressing the skip button. Guster songs are simple and catchy and will be stuck in your head for days(but not annoyingly).

The songs 'Amsterdam' and 'Careful' are probably the catchiest on the CD(those are the ones you might have heard on the radio), 'Ramona' and 'Diane' are sweet and easy listening(though they're all easy listening). 'Homecoming King' in my opinion, should be on the radio its so simple and smooth, and Guster teams up with Ben Kweller for 'I Hope Tomorrow Is Like Today', a smooth song that's a perfect end to the album! I could go on and on about this CD, but I think thats all I'll say for now...

PS- You HAVE to see this group live! They will blow you away!

A Little Disappointing from Such a Great Band
Guster goes downhill a little on their 4th album after recording three brilliant albums, including the under-the-radar classic "Lost and Gone Forever", one of the greatest pop/college albums of the past 20 years. Guster experiments with new instruments and sounds on many of these tracks, with mixed success.

Of course, the album has its high points, including the dark, multilayered "Diane", the light rock, bouncy, acoustic "Careful", the radio single "Amsterdam", and the instrospective, tempo-changing "Come Downstairs & Say Hello". Also, in my opinion, the best song is track 11, "Long Way Down", which sounds like if Dan Fogelberg and the Cure wrote a song together. It's fairly slow and moody, with a haunting melody and great harmonies towards the end of the song. It's the only song both musically and lyrically that lives up to the brilliance of their previous record.

The downside is that a few tracks on this CD are the weakest tracks Guster has recorded to date. "Keep it Together" and "I Hope Tomorrow is Like Today" muscially sound very bland and uninspired. "Red Oyster Cult" is a bad experiment into a musical style Guster shouldn't even attempt. "Backyard" has a good melody but is too simple and underdeveloped and sounds too much like a Moby song.

Other songs are badly produced despite strong songwriting. "Jesus on the Radio" is a strong song with beautiful harmonies but is ruined by the bad production, which makes it into a bluegrass song with the banjo too loud in the mix and not enough emphasis on the harmonies. The live version is much better. "Homecoming King" is another strong song that is hurt by overly commercial and sugary production by Ron Aniello.

I wasn't happy with how at least a handful of the songs came out. The songwriting overall isn't as strong as their previous 3 records and the record seems very unfocused. The Guster worked with 2 different producers on this album and the songs easily reflect that. Guster's signature sound of acoustic guitars, bongos/congas, and harmonies is gone from much of the record and they're moving towards more of a standard rock group setup. It's a little sad to see Guster lose of their uniqueness and edginess which marked their previous work. Also, the lyrics in most of these songs don't really move you like their past two albums.

Of course, a Guster record is still going to be better than the vast majority of what's out there and there are some very good songs here. But after listening to this album a few times, I really missed their older material and immediately put LAGF back in my CD player. I marginally recommend this CD, but it's not really a standout album in my opinion. And yes, I'm a huge Guster fan.

Sheesh...
A few friends of mine recommended this band to me and I just can't get this CD out of my CD player. I could go and do a whole track by track analysis like everyone else, but that would be a waste of time for both of us.

EVERY SONG IS GREAT!

I urge you to get this CD. ... Read more

Asin: B0000973HA
Sales Rank: 2857
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

War of Women
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (29 July, 2003)
list price: $11.98 -- our price: $11.98
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Reviews (20)

A new, great American songwriter
I saw Joe Firstman open for Sheryl Crow at Radio City Music Hall in New York at the end of July. His show was amazing. The whole crowd stood at the end of his set, something I can't remember seeing before for an opening act. I bought the CD that night and am just starting to scratch the surface of how great it is. The songs are really strong, both melodically and lyrically. "Saving All The Love" is one of the best ballads I've heard in a long time and "Speak Your Mind" is a great country-rock song that reminds me what the term "rock and roll" really means. Don't miss out on Joe Firstman!

Fantastic! Joe Firstman will be big!
I recently saw Joe Firstman open for Jewel. He was fantastic, piano, guitar, and voice, it was all terrific.

When I asked for his CD as a Christmas gift, I was not sure how much it would be played. However, I inserted it into the CD player on Christmas Day and it has not been removed since (one month later). All of the tracks on this CD are enjoyable and some are absolutely smash hit potential.

Now You're Gorgeous, Now You're Gone
Car Door
after Los Angeles
Chasing you Down

and my personal favorite "Saving all the love," are all brilliant! You will love this CD! Purchase it and a few copies for friends.

Firstman's music is first rate and has the potential to be embraced by the public, but yet it is very much Firstman's own. This is rock, folk, and maybe a little country rolled into one.

Give this a try and request Joe Firstman on your local radio!

astounding!!!!
I saw Joe Firstman at the Virgin College Mega Tour with Michelle Branch and Rooney... and initialy I'd gone to the concert to see Michelle, but when it was over I was completely impressed with Joe Firstman. His lyrical talent dosen't compare to any of the music on top 40 these days. Lyricaly I'd describe him as good as Kurt Cobain...even though the music and subject matter isn't the same.
I reccomend this CD to anyone looking for an artist who actualy does write meaningful lyrics! ... Read more

Asin: B0000AINOG
Sales Rank: 32178
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock