Spin Art

spin art

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Two notes into Spin Art and it's apparent this quartet takes its name from the ocean-side Southern California community, not the ancient Italian city. The 13 songs included in Spin Art evoke comparisons to the early 1970s California sound spearheaded by the likes of the Eagles and Jackson Browne. Venice, though, fits more in a second-tier grouping that includes Poco, America, Pure Prairie League, and Seals & Crofts. Most of the group's originals (most shepherded by Michael Lennon with help from his brethren Venetians) feel like they could have been programmed on the station WKRP in Cincinnati. Put on Spin Art and you'll feel like you're traveling down Highway 1 backwards in time with the top down and the FM coming in clear. --Steven Stolder

Spin Art,Venice,Vanguard Records,Folk-Rock,Pop,Popular Music,Rock,Rock/Pop,Soft Rock

Spin Art

Average customer rating:

One of Franks best...
Frank on form
Mr. Black in bar rock mode
Outstanding garage rock
Straight up rock 'n roll

Frank Black and the Catholics
Frank Black and the Catholics
Manufacturer: Spin Art
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Frank Black

ASIN: B00000AFY0
Release Date: 1998-09-08

Tracks:

All My Ghosts
Back To Rome
Do You Feel Bad About It?
Dog Gone
I Gotta Move
I Need Peace
King & Queen Of Siam
Six-Sixty-Six
Solid Gold
Steak 'N' Sabre
Suffering
The Man Who Was Too Loud

Customer Reviews:

One of Franks best..........2006-08-11

Lately Frank Black in 2006 has ups and downs. His latest solo work is much more laid back and his voice has evolved greatly over time. But back in 1998 when he first joined up with the Catholics, he was still a force in alternative rock.

With this release he really distances himself from his prior band, Pixies. Here the sound is more 'down-home' and incorporates a little country swagger, but nothing like his current rock-country albums.

Overall, a step foward in the career of a man whose every changing style is the greatest in REAL alternative rock.

Frank on form.......2005-02-18

This is the last great Frank Black album. Tight, loud and recorded live to 2-track. A Sunday-afternoon-garage-jam feel is provided by the slightly awkward mix (Frank's voice too loud) and the tendency of guitarist Lyle Workman to lapse into wanky solo cliches that almost ruin a couple of tracks. But unlike any Sunday afternoon jam I've ever been involved in, the songs are great and the band is on stunning, lethal form. Frank has to be one of THE killer rhythm guitarists, nobody nails a song to the floor like the fat man can. His voice isn't as good as it used to be, not every song is a gem, and there's an anguished lyrical obsession with Christian faith that this particular Satan worshipper finds a bit of a turn-off (one song is a cover of tragic gospel "rocker" Larry Norman - I preferred it when he sang about sex 'n' spaceships), but overall it rocks like a (...), and you won't find a better slice of post-Pixies Frank.

Mr. Black in bar rock mode.......2004-08-17

this is Frank Black in bar rock mode. after his first few solo albums, he adapted a more stripped down basic sound and started recording direct to 2 channels which gives it all a very live feeling. this is good at times, but i personally miss some of the more arranged and well thought out moments of music from his past albums. nonetheless, this album delivers some fine dusty rock and roll with that quirky Frank Black twist. the cd starts off fine with the rolicking "All My Ghosts" and keeps up the feelings on "Back to Rome" and "Dog Gone." somewhere in the middle of this album i start to get the feeling that i'm hearing the same song over and over. and the lyrics begin to grate on me a bit. they're not really bad lyrics, in themselves, but they are missing something. they feel sort of lazily written. perhaps it goes along with the general laid back rockin' feel of the album. overall, this is nothing essential. but it is a good time.

Outstanding garage rock.......2003-08-26

Buy it. Raw. Has a retro feel. Good lyrics, too.

Straight up rock 'n roll.......2003-08-17

I've heard some people call this record a "half-baked effort" and the only reason I'm writing this review is to tell anyone who likes their rock tight, raw and just plain excellent to GET THIS RECORD! Probably the best rock record I've heard in five years. The live to two track recording really strips it down and shows this band for what it really is, WONDERFUL! Thank you, that is all.

Average customer rating:

With The Dears you are in for a very special musical treat
Good, but it does sound a lot like Blur...
Pretentious drivel, or how to play "spot-the-rip-off" for an hour
As good as everyone says
Morrisey.... I don't think so

No Cities Left
The Dears
Manufacturer: Spin Art
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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You Could Have It So Much Better

ASIN: B0006213RQ
Release Date: 2004-10-12

Tracks:

We Can Have It
Who Are You, Defenders Of The Universe
Lost In The Plot
The Second Part
Expect The Worst/'Cos She's A Tourist
Pinned Together, Falling Apart
Never Destroy Us
Warm And Sunny Days
22: The Death Of All The Romance
Postcard From Purgatory
No Cities Left

Album Description

US debut from these Montreal pop heroes whose previous releases and incinderary, yet fragile live shows have them poised to be the next band for the Smiths obsessed; for music fans who find comfort in defiant gloomy melodies. The CD, a min-concept album whose central theme is hope in the face of the horror of the world, contains eleven songs including the NME single of the week "We Can Have it." Quciktime video for "Lost in the Plot" also included.

Customer Reviews:

With The Dears you are in for a very special musical treat.......2006-05-22

I remember thinking when I first heard "No Cities Left" by The Dears, how much the singer of the band sounded like Morrissey, why not admit it. But then I found moments in the album that reminded me of a thousand other things: David Bowie, Joy Division and even King Crimson... all of it, wrapped in a mantle that carries an unmistakeable flavor of French cabaret music with a raw feel, in the best style of the late Serge Gainsbourg.

Largely the result of the financial support of the Canada Music Fund, The Dears is the Montreal-based musical brainchild of multi-talented Murray Lightburn. Formed in 1995, "No Cities Left" constituted the band's second full length album. The album has an overall dark feel that carries a certain level of anguish in Lightburn's storytelling, typically aided by atmospheres driven by his guitar, along with changes in tempo in most songs and the overpowering presence of mellotron-like sounding strings that accompany the band's work through most of the album.

The Dears meld in so many influences that you can get almost tired of identifying them... plus it really doesn't do much to do so, since they have already carved their own special niche that will probably serve as a deep influence for generations of musicians to come. For now, enjoy "No Cities Left" and the band's scheduled August 2006 release, a song of which you can enjoy through their MySpace page. It is impossible to argue: with The Dears you are in for a very special musical treat.

Good, but it does sound a lot like Blur..........2006-02-26

I forgot that a friend had given me this album so I added it to my mp3 player and put it in the playlist. It's been playing with a mix of other bands on shuffle. I like the songs well enough, but I kept thinking perhaps I'd accidentally added a Blur album I never listened to. I had to look up this band to see if it was a super group with Damon Albarn sort of like an English equivalent of Reindeer Section. Imagine my surprise when I found out it isn't a super group and Damon Albarn isn't involved. Those other reviewers who said that the singer never sounds like Albarn have obviously only ever heard two Blur songs - 'Song 2' and 'Girls and Boys'. If these are the only songs you've ever heard by Blur, then no, The Dears do not sound like Blur, but if you've ever listened to an entire Blur album, you'll clearly hear Blur's influence on this band - especially on the song 'Warm and Sunny Days'. There are also definitely influences from The Smiths/Morrissey, but to me the resemblance to Blur was striking.

Pretentious drivel, or how to play "spot-the-rip-off" for an hour.......2005-09-03

I made the mistake of buying this CD based on a couple of friends' recommendations. They thought I would like this because I am a big fan of the Smiths and Morrissey. "It sounds just like him!" they said. Let me say that just because a singer can do a good imitation of Morrissey doesn't mean that his music is any good. If anyone knows how to do pretentious, it's the Mozzer, but at least he marries his pretentiousness to great guitar riffs.

Oh, sure the album starts out interestingly enough, but by the time we get a couple of so-called songs past "Lost in the Plot" the Morrissey-meets-Belle and Sebastian crap just gets too deep. Why is Murray Lightburn and his partners in crime so depressed? Why should I care? Round about "22: The Death of All Romance" it almost gets interesting enough to keep listening. Almost.

I tried seven times to get through this mess before I finally forced myself to listen straight through, if only because I had spent my hard-earned cash on it. In the end, it sounds like the illegitimate child of Morrissey with Blur (doing an entire album of "Universal"-style ballads), Divine Comedy, Belle and Sebastian, Pulp, and Suede.

If your idea of a "great" album is one of arty pretentiousness a la anything Radiohead has done since "OK Computer", by all means order your copy from Amazon. As for me, I will stick with the aforementioned bands as well as Franz Ferdinand and the Arcade Fire for my arty, pretentious music fix. At least they make music that is compelling and even occasionally danceable and not just annoying.

As good as everyone says.......2005-09-01

The reason so many reviewers resort to comparing the music on this cd to the work of so many others is because influences are everywhere, and it's hard to discuss just what makes this performance so impressive without mentioning them--the Smiths, sure, but also Pink Floyd, the Swans, the Cure, Joy Division--in short, if you've found your way to this cd, every band you probably either love or have loved at some point. The amazing, astonishing thing is that The Dears resolve all those influences into something new and imminently listenable and evocative. Repeatedly.

After you've heard this cd a few times, the connections between all the above will seem so obvious you'll wonder why you hadn't seen them already. You'll find yourself, after so many years of music reaching deeply into your heart, finally understanding at least partially why it has and who you are.

At least I did.

If you're like me, you'll realize quickly that the music on this cd will stay with you your entire life. It will become, like Disintegration or The Burning World, personally historic. And if nothing on this cd is quite as wrenching as God Damn the Sun or Atmosphere, Postcard from Purgatory does at least come awfully close.

Morrisey.... I don't think so.......2005-08-10

First let me say the album is extremely refreshing to listen to. It has a nice mixture of textured sounds; best listened to relaxing, driving or in the middle of your thoughts. I honestly think the Morrisey influence isn't really warrented (although they toured together). I find it more strikingly similiar to a mixture of David Bowie and Air. Anyway, I really enjoyed the album. Go in with an open mind and some time to let it grow on you.

Average customer rating:

Classic
A hamlet worth visiting
it's the new 70's!

Feeling the Fall
The Village Green
Manufacturer: Spin Art
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000H0M54M
Release Date: 2006-08-29

Tracks:

Om: The Meaning Of Life
When The Creepers Creep In
Three Hours Ago
Chomping At The Bit
Wrap Your Love Around Me
Bullet To The Head
Country Road
Life On The Run
Yelm (Revisited)
Rosa Glynn
Mossyrock
Yelm

Amazon.com

It takes some kind of moxie to borrow the name for your band from an immortal Kinks' album, but the duo that is known as Portland, Oregon's Village Green wears its moniker proudly on its debut record, which salutes not only the Davies brothers, but all things Brit pop throughout its pool of 11 gleaming rock songs. Led by songwriter and vocalist J. Nicholas Allard, whose mood-altering voice can evoke Colin Blunstone as easily as Pete Shelley, the self-produced release flaunts a complexity and dexterity in both wordplay and melody. Try "Om: The Meaning of Life" or "Chomping At the Bit" for their simplistic luster or be bowed by the Pretenders-like "Bullet to the Head" or the Stonesy "Mossyrock, both of which strap on an urgency commonly reserved for bands on the run. Riffs and rhymes ahead of its previous EP, Feeling the Fall is so good that even the Kinks would tell the Village Green to hold onto the name as long as they'd like. --Scott Holter

Customer Reviews:

Classic.......2007-06-04

It's such a shame this album isn't better known. The whole album is amazing from start to finish. Better in my opinion than some albums by some of the classic rock bands that influenced them. It's sad that we have to look so hard to find an album like this these days. I guess there's just no room for such great music these days with all the commercialized, dime-a-dozen emo and teenybop artists flooding the airwaves. If the tide ever turns and these guys get the recognition they deserve, this album will go down as a classic.

A hamlet worth visiting.......2007-01-03

For a change, the positive reviews were right - this is a helluva CD. I'm no rock critic so I won't wax poetic here. But trust me (where have you heard that before?), this musical compendium is worth your hard-earned lucre. End of story.

it's the new 70's!.......2007-01-03

bought it as a recommendation... very well done cd. I'm not a huge fan of the retro style alternative that's been in the scene lately, but for what it is worth, this is a good example of how to do it right. there is also enough variance in the tracks to keep you listening.

Average customer rating:

One of the Best
I was going to only give it four stars but.....
Diverse, certainly...
Undiscovered genius
Gift from Heaven

Strange Bird
Augie March
Manufacturer: Spin Art
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0002T2QVA
Release Date: 2004-09-14

Tracks:

The Vineyard
This Train will be Taking No Passengers
Little Wonder
The Night is a Blackbird
O Mi Sol Li Lon
Song in the Key of Chance
Up the Hill and Down
There's Something at the Bottom of the Black Pool
Addle Brains
The Keepa
The Drowning Dream
Sunstroke House
Brundisium
O Song
The Vineyard (video)
Little Wonder (video)

Album Description

Augie March is a band whose very name was poached from perhaps THE great American novel, to give the people of America an inkling of the underside of Australia. In 2002, the band had set up camp in a disused telephone company building in outer Melbourne to write the album that would become Strange Bird. It covers a lot of sonic terrain, veering from the sweet, building harmony of The Vineyard, through the Wild West gallop of This Train, the heavy Song in the Key of Chance and muted melancholy of O Mi Sol Mi Lon to the plaintive balladry of The Night is A Blackbird, and that's all in the first twenty minutes. It was released in Australia in October 2002 and did great things. A few insightful American music journalists from Rolling Stone to The Big Takeover to the All Music Guide have caught wind of the release and have already signed on as their champions.The rest of the world is about to catch up. The US release of Strange Bird contains the award winning videos for "The Vineyard" and "Little Wonder."

Customer Reviews:

One of the Best.......2006-04-16

This is an amazing CD do you self a favour and get it.

I was going to only give it four stars but............2006-03-12

A year and half since I first bought it and still discovering how good this album is. The depth and richness of both the lyrics and music are simply unparalleled by any contemporary band I've heard. The new album is finally out....living in the States, I'll have to wait a little while for it to arrive. So for the past few weeks I've been listening to this one a lot, and developing a newer, deeper appreciation.
I heard the last 30 seconds or so of "Train" on the radio while flipping through the stations. Made it a point to stay on the station after it was over, to get the band's name. Oggie Mark, or something. Made a mental note to not forget it-the song was too cool and I had to hear the whole thing. Haven't heard them on U.S. radio more than twice since. Went home, went on amazon, typed up the name and- ah- Augie March, from a Saul Bellows novel. Underground Australian band. Read the reviews for this album and figured it was worth the $14.00 or so. Haven't looked back since.
I think the crown jewel of Augie's music is definitely the lyrics. Glen Richards' love of-and mastery of- language is apparent throughout the album. I would go so far as to say, if there was such a thing as virtuoso lyricism, this is it. Glen uses grammar, vocabulary, rhyme, etc., to bend and polish the lines of each song into uncommonly vivid and breathtaking imagery. Every word is necessary, carefully chosen; each song has it's own logic, it's own resolution. I'm no expert on poetry, but a while ago it became a sort of high compliment to call rock musicians "poets"- from Dylan & Morrison to Eminem & Tupac. Well sir, this is poetry. It borders on affectation- lots of "O'"s and "a'"s- and sometimes crosses the line- "Brundisium" (awesome song, but some of the lyrics don't quite do it for me) and particulary "O Song" (I just think songs about songwriting are the height or pretense)- I feel are examples of that. And I'll be honest- I will probably never know what some songs are about ("There's something at the bottom of the Black Pool"- cool imagery, no idea what he's talking about). From what I've gathered Glen is very well read and a lot of these lyrics allude to the works of authors like T.S. Elliot. Again, that might be a wee bit pretenious.
But this is ok; because as high-fallutin' as the lyrics are, what gives them weight is the incredible music. Effortlessly diverse- from jazz to folk to heavy-retro-psychedelic-whatever. Never sounds forced or contrived, and utterly devoid of cliche or filler. I hear Pink Floyd mainly, also The Beatles, maybe a little Radiohead. Like all great pop music, it's when the lyrics and music intertwine and feed off of each other that the best results are achieved. And the results are sublime....I feel the best tracks on the album are "Train" and "Little Wonder". "Train" is just the best song of this century (that I've heard) and on track to be one of my favorite songs ever. Absolutely timeless. And "Little Wonder"- well the last verse of that song.... with the terribly sad, almost disturbingly vivid lyrics juxtaposed with the bittersweet lullaby-like melody...well, you just have to hear it. Other standout tracks include "The Vineyard", "O Mi So Li Lon/Song in the Key...", and especially "The Drowning Dream" (although again- no clue on the lyrics, except that there are very dreamy). I dig the heavier and psychedelic stuff the most.
So why almost only 4 stars, after all this gushing? Like most albums today, it's too long. A record with 8 great songs is superior to one with 8 great and 4 mediocre! There are a couple songs I wouldn't miss if they weren't included. And there are flow problems....The lilting "Little Wonder" works great after the manic ride of "Train"- but then you have another, even slower song in "The Night is a Blackbird". Beautiful song, but a bit of a pill. And the middle of the album kind of drags with several mid-tempo, jazzy songs in a row. Good songs- I love "The Keepa"- but one after the other like that-kind of a drag.
But in spite of this, I have to give it 5 stars. The other day I was listening to "Addle Brains"- an ok song- and the lyrics just clicked- it's about a homeless man and apathy. Now I have a whole new appreciation for the song. That is what I mean about the depth of this album....over a year later and I'm still discovering it. It's not like I've been listening to it straight for a year and half, but every few months I get the urge and dive right in. That is worth 5 stars. If you can't tell, I highly recommend it....a unique and beautiful experience awaits you. No matter what music you're into (I'm an 80's Metal/Classic Rock guy!). Get it! Now!

Diverse, certainly..........2005-11-21

This one is a little disappointing after the band's first album, Sunset Studies. Their debut album was dreamy and beautiful, whereas Strange Bird is a bit more abrasive. Songs like "The Drowning Dream" harken back to the first album but a stark contrast can be heard in songs like "Song in the Key of Chance". Glen's lyrics are still in fine form, but the delivery of the songs has changed. Sunset Studies was like snuggling under the covers on a winter's night. Strange Bird is... well, it's hard to say. Being up too early the next morning, perhaps. Pretty, with a frost on the ground... Shiny, glinting, polished. Definitely more polished. And the songs are much more diverse. Where Sunset Studies was held together by a definite mood, Strange Bird veers all over the place. Jazzy upbeat songs like "Keepa" nestle between slower, plodding songs like "The Night is a Blackbird". My favourite songs are those melodic, dynamic songs at the end of the album, namely "Drowning Dream", "Sunstroke House", and "Brundisium". Also a standout is the rollicking "This Train is Taking No Passengers".

Overall, second to Sunset Studies, but still highly recommended.

Undiscovered genius.......2005-09-28

What. An. Album. What. A. Band.

Seriously, if you haven't heard of this band, go out and by both of their albums now. Go on, I'll wait for you. They are probably one of the greatest bands in the world at the moment. And their new album comes out this year. Yippee!

I'm not quite sure how to describe this music. Indie-folk-pop, perhaps? Well, it's an extremely diverse album. One second you are listening to the chamber pop of The vineyard, the next song This train will be taking no passengers sounds like a lost Pogues number. Glenn Richards (the lead singer and songwriter) has a real way with words. He scatters literary references throughout his songs. His songs are gems of melodic beauty, complex without losing sight of what makes a song enjoyable -- a great tune.

Album of the year no doubt.

Gift from Heaven.......2005-04-17

The path taken includes ISB, Love, Mike Oldfield, Modest Mouse, Wilco, Flaming Lips, Arcade Fire....If any of those appeal to you, give this CD a try. I sound rather objective, but my spirits are so elegantly lifted by oh, such a magnificent band of individuals. The music is clearly heavenly, craftly blending voice and instruments for an amazing journey into gorgeous dramatic music. These guys are for real. I treasure this music.

Average customer rating:

The Rich Voice is Not There
Gordon Lightfoot
Great work
Gordon LIghtfoot Harmony
Old and New

Harmony
Gordon Lightfoot
Manufacturer: Spin Art
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0002234YK
Release Date: 2004-05-11

Tracks:

Harmony
River Of Light
Flyin' Blind
No Mistake About It
End Of All Time
Shellfish
The No Hotel
Inspiration Lady
Clouds Of Loneliness
Couchiching
Sometimes I Wish

Amazon.com

The 20th album of Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot's rich career holds a special place in his heart: it's the album he very nearly didn't live to complete. Brought down by a catastrophic abdominal aneurysm during a September, 2001, show in his hometown of Orillia, Ontario, Lightfoot's recovery was long and arduous. He sought relief by turning to his band for help in fleshing out the handful of demos he'd recorded prior to his illness, playing long-distance collaborator from his hospital bed. While some of the vocals here may reflect the temporary, work-in-progress nature of the original performances, they also reveal a more intimate, vulnerable side of the veteran troubadour. But there's nothing tentative about the material--the core tracks here stand with the best of Lightfoot's 30-year canon. The lilting melodies of "Inspiration Lady," "Clouds of Loneliness," and the title track offer his familiar bittersweet takes on romance, while "River of Life" and "Flyin' Blind" musically invoke his love of nature and his fascination with those who challenge it, respectively. Live 2001 renditions of "Shellfish" and "The No Hotel" nicely round out the album, a personal ordeal turned warm, personally scaled artistic triumph. --Jerry McCulley

Album Description

GORDON LIGHTFOOT -Harmony

Songwriter Gordon Lightfoot will release his new CD Harmony, on May 11th, 2004. Harmony is Gordon Lightfoot's 20th album. A stunning collection of new and previously unreleased songs which he has been working on over the last two years. Gordon was struck with severe health problems last year, almost losing his life, and has been steadily recovering for the past 12 months.

Gordon was felled, during a concert in his hometown of Orillia, Ontario by a burst artery, had emergency surgery and was in a coma for six weeks. Hospitalised for six months, Gordon began to process of finishing the album that he started prior to being hospitalised. Producer Bob Doidge and Gordon 's band went to work on the recordings, overdubbing parts and bringing their work to Gordon in the hospital for his approval and changes. The result is Harmony. The title track is a truly haunting ballad, followed by the traveling tale of River Of Light. The first single Inspiration Lady is yet another inspiring ballad of love and adoration. The album ends on a song of hope and dreaming with the song Sometimes I Wish.

Harmony will be released May 11th, simultaneously in Canada on Linus/Warner and in the USA on SpinART/Ryko. Gordon just spent a day filming scenes for his new video Inspiration Lady which will be released to radio and television in March 2004. Following another round of reconstructive surgery, Gordon should be ready to continue touring again by the end of 2004.

Gordon sums up his thoughts about Harmony in the album liner notes: "In the final analysis, the job was what mattered. It was good being preoccupied in a very constructive way with a project in the works; one which would carry itself forward, right up through the artwork and editorial, until it's ultimate completion. A feeling of confidence was in the air. Meanwhile, the simple practice tracks had served us well, and for the first time ever, I had an opportunity to proceed with an album while lying on my back."

Customer Reviews:

The Rich Voice is Not There.......2007-03-31

I recently purchased about six Gordon Lightfoot CD's. All of them are prior to 1983. It seems about that time frame that his voice started to change. While he is still a fine song writer, his beautiful voice is simply not there anymore. That said, I do like the song "Inspiration Lady". Even though it is not the voice of the younger Gordon Lightfoot, it is a beautiful song nonetheless. It certainly expresses a beautiful sentiment, which, is what so many of Gordon Lightfoot's songs do.

Gordon Lightfoot.......2007-01-16

Gordon has done it again! His first cd after nearly dying is an amazing look into his life. Once again, he captured my heart with his tender and real life lyrics. His voice is still touching, even without the richness of his younger days...the feeling is there, as always. He is a legend and one of a kind. He has it all...a writer, arranger, singer and musician. Also, his band has been with him for many years. Together, or alone, they continue to bring magic...a one of a kind simple yet intricate blend of lyrics and music that has stood on its own for decades and continues to bring joy to my days! God Bless you, Gordon, and of course, all "the guys".

Great work.......2006-12-19

Simply put, one of his best works in several years. I am so glad he made it back from his collapse a couple of years ago. I have seen him twice over the years, sorry to have missed his performance in Northampton earlier this year.

Gordon LIghtfoot Harmony.......2006-08-25

I have read the reviews you people wrote of Gordon Lightfoot's HARMONY cd and personally I think it's his BEST material since SHADOWS and A PAINTER PASSING THRU...and YES, I LOVED PAINTER! I have been a Gordon Lightfoot fan since he first started and I don't care how raspy his voice is at this point in time.

I am just grateful the man is alive and able to write and sing. My husband is a surgeon--so I am well aware of the gravity and near-death this man experience when the aneurysm he carried for God-knows how long ruptured in concert in Orillia and nearly took his life. YOU SEE HOW YOU SOUND AFTER BEING COMATOSE FOR NEARLY FOUR MONTHS. I feel truly blessed he is still alive and able to write and sing again, no matter the "impure sound" of his voice quality compared to what it was 25 years ago.

I still attend his Wolf Trap, Vienna, Virginia and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania concerts religiously and will faithfully until he no longer tours. I will continue to purchase his cds as long as he continues to record them.

It's your perogative to feel as you wish--I don't have the voice I used to have either; I was always told I "had the voice of an angel"---I don't have it now but I don't have the voice of the devil either so I feel I still break even. Thank God I don't have most of you as my critics---I would most likely tell you where to go and "Keep On Singing!!!!!"

Old and New.......2006-06-01

As to certain reviewers who eagarly compare the works of artists in their 'prime' to works of the not so prime, I say that these actions neither accurate or kind to do so. This album is not a "If You Could Read My Mind" or a "Sundown". Gordon Lightfoot has produced, in my humble opinion, the best ablum that he could with what he has. Harmony comes after an exhaustive succession of 'moody' albums, most of which were not worth the time or effort. This is the best since "Shadows" (which came out in the 80's) and I am glad to hear the lighter side of his song writing after so many years. Lovers of his 60's and 70's music who haven't heard his voice for a while should prepare for a shock, but after so many memorable hits, I think we could all give him the benefit of the doubt.

Average customer rating:

Brilliant
tonight i feel like elvis longing for his longlost twin
Clem Snide in Wisconsin
Sounds like Steve Malkmus with a violyn...
Another great new disc for 2001!

The Ghost of Fashion
Clem Snide
Manufacturer: Spin Art
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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End of Love
Your Favorite Music
Soft Spot
Bitter Honey
You Were a Diamond

ASIN: B00005K9TH
Release Date: 2001-06-19

Tracks:

Let's Explode
Long Lost Twin
Ice Cube
Chinese Baby
Don't Be Afraid Of Your Anger
Evil Vs. Good
Moment In The Sun
The Curse Of Great Beauty
Joan Jett Of Arc
The Junky Jews
Ancient Chinese Secret Blues
The Ballad Of Unzer Charlie
No One's More Happy Than You

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

"Don't be afraid of the language, I know you don't mean what you say," sings Clem Snide frontman Eef Barzelay in his distinctive brittle whine. Clearly, Barzelay is fascinated by double meanings and odd juxtapositions. His songs ruminate over sleeping in ashtrays, Elvis's long lost twin, and eating anger with mustard and wine; his personal memories twist pop culture like a pretzel, producing titles like "Joan Jett of Arc" (about his first love) and "Ancient Chinese Secret Blues" (a sleepy dirge that ends with Barzelay imploring "Calgon, take me away"). Yet Barzelay's examinations of love and happiness hit you more like mysterious and curious runes than murky hipster rants thanks to a certain wide-eyed perspective and the band's expertly textured music, which makes effective use of grand, soulful horns and subtle strings, plus various other instrumental touches. The hushed laments, bouncing rave-ups, and witty shuffles on the Brooklyn band's third album are unique and well crafted, setting Clem Snide apart from the "downtwang" scene. --Marc Greilsamer

Customer Reviews:

Brilliant.......2005-02-09

Great songs, great album. This is the first Clem Snide CD I bought after after hearing one track on radio. Soft Spot followed and I also bought Your Favourite Music and You Were a Diamond. One or two tracks a bit 'iffy' but overall still a top effort by the band

tonight i feel like elvis longing for his longlost twin.......2002-04-23

This is just a great CD - smart, touching, weird and funny lyrics, haunting melodies, great instrumentation. It really manages to be different without becoming inaccesible. Nobody twists the English language as well as Clem Snide.

Clem Snide in Wisconsin.......2002-04-12

I was convinced by a friend to go see Clem Snide at the Miramar Theatre in Milwaukee, WI. I had never heard their music much less heard of them. They played with Jimmy's Comet and Mark Waldoch that night, and I must say it was the best [money] I've ever spent. I had no idea what to expect but walked away a huge fan. I even drove to Madison the next day to see them again. The music is AMAZING. Just when you think the song is gonna be slow, like "Don't Be Afraid of Your Anger," it turns out to be upbeat and silly. "Evil vs. Good" has some great horn and strings rifs, and "Moment in the Sun" makes me wanna sing along. "Long Lost Twin" cracks me up and makes me a little sad at the same time. I highly recommend listening to these guys. I didn't even know they existed and now I'm telling all my friends...

Sounds like Steve Malkmus with a violyn..........2002-01-09

I am not a big fan of the alt-country scene, but am a big fan of the lo-fi sound of Pavement (now Steven Malkmus solo) and the like. Clem Snide reminds me of a mellower, violyn-playing Steven Malkmus. Mellow folk-ish alternative with a country overtone, with quirky and at times amusing vocals, yet it maintains a certain intensity. Try his prior cd, Your Favorite Music, too.

Another great new disc for 2001!.......2001-12-29

This will easily make it onto my "Best of 2001" list for new music. I loved Clem Snide's 2000 release "Your Favorite Music" and this is a strong follow-up. Part alt-country, part indie-rock and part catchy pop tunes. The songs here, especially "Ice Cube" and "Joan Jett of Arc" are catchy and carefully crafted pop gems. The wonderful wordplay on these songs only makes them all that much more fun to listen to. Highly recommended.

Average customer rating:

Good...
Tired And Emotional
LOVE IT, DISC 2 IS BRILLIANT!
A must-have for hardcore fans
Not sure what to make of it

Frank Black Francis
Frank Black , and Black Francis
Manufacturer: Spin Art
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Honeycomb
Show Me Your Tears
Black Letter Days
Fast Man Raider Man
Frank Black and the Catholics

ASIN: B0006213SA
Release Date: 2004-10-12

Tracks:

Holiday Song
Nimrods Son
Caribou
Vamos
Isla De Enchanta
Ed is Dead
Oh My Golly
Build High
Ive Been Tired
Break My Body
Broken Face
Im Amazed
Rocka My Soul
Subbacultcha
Boomchickaboom

Tracks:

Monkey Gone to Heaven (Doolittle)
Wave of Mutilation (Doolittle)
Where is My Mind (Surfer Rosa)
Cactus (Surfer Rosa)
Into the White (Here Comes Your Man EP)
Caribou (Come on Pilgrim)
Nimrods Son (Come on Pilgrim)
Levitate Me (Come on Pilgrim)
Holiday Song (Come on Pilgrim)
Velouria (Bossanova)
Is She Weird? (Bossanova)
Subbacultcha (Trompe Le Monde)
Planet Of Sound (Trompe Le Monde)

Customer Reviews:

Good..........2007-04-24

A nice little disc for ultra Pixies fans. I especially enjoyed the acoustic disc and Frank's vocals have even improved with age.

But Frank's version of "Into the White" comes no where near Kim's. Sorry.

Tired And Emotional.......2006-02-08

Kurt Cobain said Nirvana stole all their best ideas from them, key Radiohead members Jonny Greenwood and Thom Yorke have similarly emphasised their debt to them, U2 were so enraptured with them that they took them on the Zoo TV tour as special guests and even David Bowie claims they breathed new life into music in the 1980s. If you're new to this act The Pixies that everyone is raving about since their reformation, don't start your collection by snapping up this solo CD set from head Pixie Charles Thompson IV (hunt down Death To The Pixies as a greatest hits taste-test to begin with, then grab a copy of Doolittle and Surfer Rosa). However, if you're a fully fledged fan of The Pixies, Frank Black Francis acts as an even greater revelation than the less expansive but similar period's Pixies (also known as The Purple Tape), with the first of the two CDs (Demo) showcasing Black Francis's 1987 acoustic outlines of all the tracks (bar Levitate Me) that would make it to debut album Come On Pilgrim, as well as Surfer Rosa's Broken Face, Break My Body and Oh My Golly. I've Been Tired reveals a measure of Jack White in Frank's erratic yelps, while the sketchy demos also interestingly include Frank's comments to producer Gary Smith such as "There's supposed to be screaming here" mid-song. Such a rough compilation was never meant to be released, yet Black's fully-formulated idea of how he wished Come On Pilgrim to sound makes the first disc compelling for completists. Of lesser note is the woozy bass-heavy revisionism of The Pixies' legacy on disc two (Treated), although Frank concedes in the liner notes this re-recorded and re-interpreted collection was only put together to bolster the musical content of the Frank Black Francis package. While Where Is My Mind? and Nimrod's Son are interesting due to their `Frank On Tranqs' malaise, similarly classic tracks such as Cactus and Levitate Me don't work quite so well in this sluggish sonic territory. Nonetheless, replacing savage guitars and shrieking howls for tubas and keyboards on awesome tunes such as Monkey Gone To Heaven and The Holiday Song shows Frank is commendably unafraid to experiment with his classic tracks. While such reinvention has divided many fans, the creativity on display on both discs creates an exceptional stop-gap between his 2003 solo album Show Me Your Tears and (fingers crossed) the next Pixies album.

LOVE IT, DISC 2 IS BRILLIANT!.......2005-12-28

I've been a Pixies fan since 89 and have followed Frank Black and his other bandmates other projects since the group broke up. The Pixies were great, and seeing the reunion tour was fun, but it didn't really excite me in the way of new ideas or material. Where the music was once fresh and innovative, it's 15 years later and without new material or any updating of the songs, it just seemed like too much nostalgia. (At least hearing Pixies versions of some Catholics or solo FB or Breeders or Martinis tunes would have been interesting) Disc 2 here remedies that! FB teams up with the duo Two Pale Boys to reinvent the songs so that they sound just as playful imaginitive and whacked as they did 14+ years ago. One of the best parts is that the lyrics stand out more in this format, you can hear what FB's saying and follow the stories. It's just so fun. I hope Francis & the Pixies record some new material that is this bright. Disc 1 is good too, but to me it's more a trip down memory lane, not a step forward.

A must-have for hardcore fans.......2005-12-09

Frank Black/Black Francis is one of the most significant artists of the last 25 years and is still making incredible music with his latest band. These 2 discs are really an oddity, but for any hardcore fan they offer unique musical perspectives on some of the most classic Pixies stuff ever. Yes, the first disc is much more lively interesting, a rare sonic insight into early Pixies. But the second disc will sneak up on you as well if you love the songs.

Not sure what to make of it.......2005-09-24

This set comes on two discs. One is early demo tracks of Pixies songs performed by just Frank Black and his guitar. Two is what I can only describe as reminaginings of classic Pixies songs.
The demos are amazing. Raw, a little dirty in the sound quality, and rough around the edges. It's like listening to old friends who were recorded before I met them.
The re-imagined versions are a whole other thing. It's not that I feel like hey have no business messing with classic songs this way. I love to hear different versions of the same song. It's just that I'm not sure I like the style in which it was done. Some, like "Cactus" and "Where is My Mind" are cleverly done enough. But as a whole the tracks come off as unfocused and even, in a couple of cases, boring.
Still, they are Mr. Black's songs to let people mess with as he wishes.
I'm not going to call it horrible, but I'm not sure very Pixies fan will be into this. In fact I'm sure some will outright hate it.

Average customer rating:

Contemporary folk/rock at its best!
Couldn't wait to get this after hearing you on "Queer Eye" (says this GRANNY)
Well worth the wait!
Another Great One
WOW!

White Knuckles
The Bacon Brothers
Manufacturer: Spin Art
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Can't Complain
Live: The No Food Jokes Tour
Forosoco
Getting There
The Bacon Brothers Live - No Food Jokes Tour

ASIN: B000BGH28Q
Release Date: 2005-11-01

Tracks:

White Knuckles
What Am I Gonna Do?
Flowers
Good News
Unhappy Birthday
Tuesday
If I Needed Someone
Hasnt Got A Heart
Swing Low
Coffins & Cradles
Peace Dance 12. Get Away With It
Johns Song
Playboy
I'd Write a Song

Album Description

CD includes 2 bonus tracks not available anywhere else. They will not be available for digital download.

National Drive Time on-air appearances on AC & Triple A comm. radio: WPLJ (NY), WWMX (Baltimore), WRNR (Annapolis, MD) and many more.

OCTOBER • 7 Bancroft Benefit - Bancroft, NJ • 13 Belly Up Tavern - Solana Bch, CA • 14 Make-a-Wish Foundation Benefit - Thousand Oaks, CA • 15 Coach House - San Juan Capistrano, CA • 28 B.B. Kings (two shows) - New York, NY NOVEMBER • 17 Tampa Bay Perf. Arts Center - Tampa, FL • 18 Van Wezel PAC - Sarasota, FL • 19 Lyric Theater - Stuart, FL DECEMBER • 2 North Quest Casino - Spokane, WA • 3 Vashon Is. Benefit - Seattle, WA FEBRUARY 2006 • 18 Ridgefield Playhouse - Ridgefield, CT MARCH 2006 • 16 Queens Theater in the Park - Flushing, NY

Customer Reviews:

Contemporary folk/rock at its best!.......2006-03-26

I discovered the Bacon Brothers recently, through their debut album FOROSOCO. Having immensely enjoyed that particular record, I was slightly disappointed--at first--by the sleeker production of WHITE KNUCKLES. After a while, though--say, when "Unhappy Birthday" kicks into overdrive--I realized that change isn't always a bad thing...in fact, sometimes it's pretty darn good.

This is an album that will make you think. Whether it's the bitter irony of "What Am I Gonna Do Now," "Good News," and "Playboy," or the healing of "Unhappy Birthday," or the heartbreak of "Tuesday" and "Hasn't Got a Heart," or the yearning of "Get Away With It" and "Peace Dance," or...hell, you get the idea. WHITE KNUCKLES is a stellar record by two talented musicians--Kevin and Michael Bacon have forged some great records and some incredible songs, and this album stands as testimony that there is still hope out there for rock 'n roll.

Couldn't wait to get this after hearing you on "Queer Eye" (says this GRANNY).......2006-02-04

Kevin and Michael, you are now an added treasure in my music collection. I am listening to "White Knuckles" for the first time as I write. Wow, there's some great music and the sound of your folky voices are purely to my liking. I play guitar so can appreciate the 6's and 12's going on. Terrific sounds!

NOW I HAVE ONE BEEF ! Please, on your next album, don't save a buck by allowing the designer to use fonts SO SMALL that they can't be read. I can't read them and first thing I wanted to do was read your lyrics.

MICHAEL - Loved your "makeover". Those Queer Guys are great, aren't they?

I don't know how you made it this far without me but I assure you, I'll be along for the rest of the ride. Wish I could afford all your albums now...... I'll be listening. Keep on keeping on............Bacon Boys! AND THANKS !

Well worth the wait!.......2005-11-27

I have been a huge fan since the Can't Complain CD came out. I had heard them on Howard Stern and ever since then I have bought every CD they had made, including their live DVD. I have seen them in concert 4 times and during the last 3 times I had seen them over the course of 2 and a half years they played some of the songs from this CD. Songs like Tuesday, Unhappy Birthday, and especially Peace Dance I couldn't wait to have them in my collection. It felt like forever until they announced the release of White Knuckles for download so I downloaded it and it was worth the wait. Although I wished I had waited for the hard copy CD because there are 2 extra songs on the later version that are not available to download so I would have to buy an entire CD just for 2 songs. Peace Dance is my favorite of the CD, with a great beat. Tuesday is a sad song that incorporates Michael's chello in a way that the cello seems to be having a conversation with the lead guitar at the end of the song. Unhappy Birthday is also a meloncholy song about 9/11 that has a 60's sound to it. Other great upbeat songs are Good News, Write a Song, and What Am I Gonna Do?

The entire CD is great and I strongly recommend the hard copy, not the download version. Buy it today!

Another Great One.......2005-11-03

I accidentally found The Bacon Brothers on a library CD rack and have been a huge fan ever since. My all time favorite used to be their Forosoco CD and it was hard to love the newer stuff as much as the old stuff(although I always eventually did), but with this new CD the love was instant. After downloading it in September it has had constant play in my CD changer ever since. Listen carefully to the lyrics, they make the songs not just fun to listen to, but fun to sing along to. Be sure to check out "Get Away" and "Good News", my two new favorites. "Tuesday" is pretty powerful also. Great job by a great band!

WOW!.......2005-11-02

Talk about a quantum leap! The Bacon Brothers have been a decent band from their first album forward, but this new one is at a different level from the others. Yes, there are distinct influences of the Beatles, Rolling Stones, James Taylor, and even Donovan, but this band has proven that they are now in the same league with those acts, (well maybe not the Beatles)- and they prove it with every song on the disc. This is not just Michael and Kevin - this is a complete unit who have jelled into one of the best bands recording this type of music. More rock and roll than their previous albums - and oh so good. Too bad they will not get taken seriously. My Guess is that the critics won't give this band the credit it deserves because they can never get past the fact that a movie star is in the band. Too bad. Buy the album anyway.

Average customer rating:

Now That I'm Found, I Miss Being Lost
I LOVE this cd
MELANCHOLIC OPTIMISM!
I Clem Snide I know and love has returned!
Best Clem Snide in 4 years

End of Love
Clem Snide
Manufacturer: Spin Art
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Ghost of Fashion
Bitter Honey
Your Favorite Music
Soft Spot
You Were a Diamond

ASIN: B0007N19ZU
Release Date: 2005-02-22

Tracks:

End of Love
Collapse
Fill Me with your Light
The Sound of German Hip Hop
Tiny European Cars
Jews for Jesus Blues
God Answers Back
Something Beautiful
Made for TV Movie
When We Become
Weird

Album Description

"End of Love" finds this indie pop-rock band in tip-top form, at turns witty (no surprise) and empathetic A- Clem Snide, the musical vehicle for lyricist/singer/songwriter Eef Barzelay, is a group of art-pop revelers with old-school country & western leanings, noted for their dynamic, hard-to-classify records recalling the likes of Neil Young, Tom Waits and Jonathan Richman. The band has released four full-length albums, and will release its fifth - "End Of Love" - on February 22. 2005. "End of Love" utilizes noted musicians and friends Ben Perowsky (credits include the Lounge Lizards, Elysian Fields), Lara Meyerratken (Crooked Fingers), Paul Burch (Lambchop, Paul Burch and the WPA Ballclub), Tony Crow and Ben Martin (Lambchop), amongst the regulars in the Clem Snide troop : Pete Fitzpatrick, Brendan Fitzpatrick and Eric Paull. The record is the first Produced solely by Barzelay and is recorded by noted engineers Bryce Goggin (Pavement) and Mark Nevers (Calexico).

Clem Snide has previously performed on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" and "The Late Late Show on CBS," amongst others. Clem Snide's fanbase is growing by its involvement with featured tracks on two high profile compilations. On "The Late Great Daniel Johnston" (Gammon) Clem Snide is featured among Tom Waits, Beck, Flaming Lips, Bright Eyes and Death Cab for Cutie. While "The Future Soundtrack for America" (Barsuk) again links Clem Snide with David Byrne, REM, They Might Be Giants and TheYeah Yeah Yeahs.

Customer Reviews:

Now That I'm Found, I Miss Being Lost.......2005-11-19

Nothing groundbreaking on album number 5, and that's a beautiful thing, because if it's one thing we rely upon with Eef, it's his absolute sincerity, deadpan surrealism and steadfast belief. The dichotomy of Brooklyn and Nashville, where he was rooted and sojourned to, trickles in and out of his lyrics, as does loss [he lost his mother this past year, as did his wife], confusion, awareness, and inevitably, love. It's a rock n' stroll by the deftest songwriter since Randy Newman. Words to live by: `Now that I'm found I miss being lost'. My grade: A-

I LOVE this cd.......2005-09-17

I was introduced to Clem Snide through an article in a newspaper in Detroit and thought I'd check them out especially since they mentioned that their name was from a character from Naked Lunch (both the novel and movie are great). I love all their cd's, especially their cover of Beautiful which I play all the time when I need a lift but I really love this cd most of all. It's melancholy and deep and just interesting like all the others. I play it a lot because the lyrics intrigue me and just because it sounds so darn good! If you're a Clem Snide fan, they is a must have.

MELANCHOLIC OPTIMISM!.......2005-06-02

Ghost of Fashion was recommended to me by someone who knows how I love violins! I downloaded most of the songs from it, burnt them, and happily carried them around for ages before I got the brilliant idea to explore more Clem Snide. Man! All I can say is what *took* me so long!? But this cd in particular makes me so happy! I can add it to the handful of discs that I look forward to every song on. Nope--no song skipping here, although I do have my favorites.

Lyrically--it's good. Not as much obscureness as Ghost of Fashion, but still a few odd moments. A couple spots are a bit contrived, but nothing that makes your teeth hurt. All forgivable in the big picture. Perhaps the most manipulative moment is in "Made for TV Movie", which is almost an intentional tear-jerker referencing Lucille Ball (how cool is that?). A child sings the "La la la la's" along with Eef, and you gotta wonder if your heartstrings were mistakenly plucked in place of the guitar strings for a minute there. But somehow, it works. It's a pleasure you might not want to share with your more cynical mates.

Musically, it's innovative and solid. This "Alt Country" movement is the antidote to Guitar-Bass-Drum for me. And I loove guitar. But sometimes it just needs freshening with banjo, violin, vibraphone, saxophone, and definitely--trombone! The instrumentation is fresh and optimistic.

The songs range from the out-and-out funny of the boot-scooting, rollicking "pub hit", "Weird"; to the more polished, pop, and infectious "Fill Me With Your Light". (You can see the video for this if you visit the Clem Snide website.)

So, my fave three, in no particular order:

FUNNY: The "Latin-esque" "Something Beautiful". Never. Ever. Has another song done so much toward making being passive-aggressive this much fun!

MELANCHOLY: I've heard "Collapse" is about the death of Eef's mother, but don't know any details or for sure. The components of a disaster however, are definitely woven throughout lyrically. The banjo winding throughout, the imagery (can we have another word for this, please?) eg. "a grass roots initiative based upon sharing and trust...went into production to harness the power of dust...", the plaintive vocal ... a sad beauty.

SUNNY: I'm completely in love with "When We Become" with its strings, lilting keys ... that poignant violin solo that with its optimistic warmth reminds me of the Leonard Cohen lyric "...the sun pours down like honey..." I really feel that rich golden sun in this song. It is just one of those uplifting beautiful numbers -- and hey!-- it takes a lot to get me out of my preference for dark and emotionally painful! Congratulations Clem Snide for doing that! I'm going to get some more!

I Clem Snide I know and love has returned!.......2005-04-04

I first became aware of this band during their tour opening for Ben Folds, and subsequently purchased 2001's 'The Ghost Of Fasion,' which quickly became one of my favorite releases of the time. As with many fans, I was a bit disappointed with 'Soft Spot' upon it's release, but I'm happy to say they've bounced back quite nicely with 'End Of Love.'

This is an ideal starting point for potential fans, as it combines most of Clem Snide's best qualities into what I would call, if not their best, certainly their most accessible album. The title track, "Fill Me With Your Light," "Something Beautiful," "Made For TV Movie," and "Jews For Jesus Blues" are among the band's best songs ever, and the arrangements and production are wonderful throughout. There are usually a few songs I prefer to skip on Clem Snide albums, but 'End Of Love' is really very solid all the way through. In this regard, I will only say that I think most of the best material comes on the second half of the album.

Overall, a great return to form for Clem Snide! This will likely be one of my favorite releases this year.

Best Clem Snide in 4 years.......2005-02-26

While it was evident in Soft Spot that Eef Barzelay found something in his life that he was desperately missing while he was writing Clem Snide's first three albums, it was also fairly clear that a lot of intensity and drama wasn't present. Plain and simply put, it was the `happy album.' And as anybody that's ever listened to Clem Snide knows, you didn't buy Soft Spot because you were expecting three or four of the songs to be sub-three minute filler.

That is exactly the reason why listening to End of Love provided a sigh of relief-at least a slight one-that helped us realize if we can't ever get back to You Were a Diamond or Your Favorite Music, we at least have something worth our time as far as Clem Snide is concerned.

Granted we don't hear the harmonizing of Jason Glasser's cello and violin or the trademark three-four waltz time of so many of our Clem Snide favorites. But Eef has put together a worthy mixture of emotions, songwriting, and his left-handed lyrics that can have you laughing before you're done wiping away your "poignant tear."

There are a few tracks that echo past Clem Snide songs, including "Jews for Jesus Blues" and the melancholy "Made for TV Movie," but a lot combines new with the old, which is exactly what makes this album unique and acceptable. "When We Become" is possibly the most beautiful song written in the past year and a half.

Oh, and I heard some banjo in a track. And who doesn't like banjo?

Average customer rating:

Good, but...
An American Master
"freedom is just the end of the longest downhill climb"
Good cd from a Great artist
Not since early X.

Freedom Is...
The John Doe Thing
Manufacturer: Spin Art
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Dim Stars Bright Sky
For the Best of Us
Forever Hasn't Happened Yet
Kissingsohard
Meet John Doe

ASIN: B00004U922
Release Date: 2000-07-18

Tracks:

Catch Me
Someday/No Day
Beat-Up World
A Picture Of This
Telephone By The Bed
Ever After
Ultimately Yrs.
When No One Cares
Smile & Wave
Too Many Goddamn Bands
Drift Away
Glass-Phalt
Totally Yours
Sueltame

Customer Reviews:

Good, but..........2001-01-11

The John Doe Thing is the solo project of John Doe, the co-leader of X. X, an LA-based band that fuses punk, rockabilly, and country, began playing in the late 70s and have released a long line of mind-blowing fantastic albums. By comparison, John Doe's solo work tends to be more straight-up pop and rock and less edgy than X. That's certainly true with this album, though it features less roots and more indie-pop stylings than his previous solo records. While Doe's voice remains one of the best in the biz, the songwriting on this album falls a bit short of his previous solo work. This album certainly has its moments, and many of the lesser songs will sound great live, but knowing what John Doe is capable of producing, this album is an ever so slight letdown.

An American Master.......2000-11-12

John Doe, destined to be in the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame, has released a masterful work. A textured album that gets better with each listening. Doe specializes in those things that each of us face privately, songs about loss and redemption. It's a shame that he is locked out of the pop mainstream, but his work will stand the test of time. He is an American Master in the vein of Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan. See him live if you get the chance!

"freedom is just the end of the longest downhill climb".......2000-09-07

Isn't that just another way of saying "freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose"? Probably. But then most of what songwriters do is rework preexisting materials, including classic Kris Kristofferson songs. John Doe is an excellent songwriter. If there was any justice this album would be getting airplay, all the critics would be praising it, and it would be nominated for a Grammy, that's how good it is. But no, it languishes in obscurity, shoved aside by marketing machines and talentless drones. I just saw Doe with his still punky trio in Salt Lake City, and they kick posterior live!

FREEDOM IS... has great dynamics, moving from acoustic introspection to powerful electricity. It took a little while for the production to grow on me -- at first it sounded overproduced and murky, with too many layers of sound. But the foreground grabs you right away, and now I can hear what the use of a top-flight studio adds to the songs. Doe specializes in romantic anguish. If you haven't ever experienced that, you perhaps won't appreciate what he's doing. For the rest of us, he's tapped into it in a way that reminds you your pain is definitely not yours alone. Don't miss John Doe if he turns up at a club in your town, he is one of the best.

Good cd from a Great artist.......2000-09-06

I first heard the entire CD after seeing John play the songs live at a club in Salt Lake City. This is a good album that keeps getting better every time I listen to it. If you are a John Doe fan you will love this album. The stand-out tracks on this album are "Beat up World" and "Too Many Goddamn Bands". The best voice in rock belongs to John Doe.

Not since early X........2000-09-01

Not since the early X recordings have I been so moved by a J.Doe recording. Previous John Doe releases left me hanging, craving more...to be satiated, & finally it comes with "Freedom is..." Maybe it's the beautiful back up vocals done by John Doe himself, maybe it's the sultry way he sings "i touch your lips with my little finger tips." I can't tell exactly what it is but I do know that John is playing guitar and singing better than ever. I can't stop playing this record! Freedom is...everything I hoped it would be & more. Buy this album!

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