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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)

Haunting and Beautiful
Damien Rice has a beautiful Irish tenor voice. And it works wonderfully in his folk aranged album. He also has a female companion who harmonizes with him, and she is a fantastic vocalist. This album is composed of guitar, the two vocalists, some percussion, and generally a cello or small strings arrangement. That makes for a wonderful album to listen and relax to.
The song-writing on the album is amazing. Rice writes songs like conversations and uses the wonderful (and beautiful if you've seen the video) female to sing the response. Many songs are about lost love or bad love or just love, but they are not just simple, stupid, pop love songs. They are incredibly crafted lyrics that can stand alone without music, which says a lot about Rice's songwriting skills.
Buy this album if you enjoy folk/pop music. James Taylor, Angie Aparo, Radiohead, Jeff Buckley, Gark Jules and David Gray are a few musicians I would say if you like you'll enjoy Damien Rice.

The most beautiful album I have ever heard...
Searching for words to describe this album are like trying to count the stars in the sky. (I know it's cliche, but it works). This album is amazingly beautiful.

Back in May I picked up a friend of mine in Chicago after she spent the semester in Ireland and the whole way home (a 3+ hour drive) all we listened to was O. After we arrived home, I decided I had to have the album. I ordered the import off amazon and before it arrived, I got to see Damien back in Chicago at Schubas. If the album itself doesn't amaze you, go see him live and you'll fall in love. Just a few more weeks until he plays Chicago again.

This album ranges from soft ballads (The Blower's Daughter) to heart-wrenching rock (the second half of I Remember). Unlike many albums from folk singers, I think this one is best listened through all the way at once. While there are great standout tracks (Amie, I Remember, Delicate), the whole album tells a story. There is a gradual almost epic-like progression throughout that sends the listener on a roller-coaster of emotions.

One of the greatest things about this album is the fact that Damien recorded this (mostly) in his basement over the course of a year. Instead of being thrown into a studio for a month to record the album using manufactured emotion (having to record on days you don't feel like it), Damien recorded each of the songs when he was "feeling it". That's why all of the emotion in these songs are SO real, so genuine. There is nothing manufactured about its sound. Another magnificant thing about it is the range of instrumentation and musical genre used. As I said, there are the slow, soft ballads, and rocking songs as well as Operatic elements (Eskimo)and beautiful orchestration in "Amie" and "Cold Water".

From listening to the album and several live shows I have, I can tell that Damien does not have a powerful, controlling, confident voice. Rather his voice sounds strong at times, but is usually more reserved and cautious. This cautious tone makes the album all the more believable, showing it is true emotion that has not been overproduced or forced.

I really can not say enough good things about this album and if I could give 10 stars, I would. As I said, my favorite tracks are #1 Delicate, #6 Amie and #9 I Remember, but there is not a bad song on the album.

As one other reviewer already said, my only complaint is that the last song (Eskimo) has 2 "hidden tracks" [Prague, and Silent Night (a song set to the tune of the traditional Silent Night Christmas song, but with different lyrics)] that should have been seperate tracks finishing off the album with 12 instead of 10. But as my only complaint, I must still recommend this album.

E-mail me if you have any questions whatsoever.

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!!

Fearless
This is my first review of anything on Amazon, though I am a constant reader. I simply had to talk about this album.

The best way to describe this album is fearless. He takes the road less traveled by other up-and-coming singer-songwriters. While the new batch has had some very good singers, nothing compares to this album. They seem more interested in making a "clean" album, while this album seems like he is alone in a room baring his soul.

Though the strange thing is about the album s that you know he could not have been alone in a room. There is so much going on, so many chances taken that it is hard to descibe. Simply saying that it is an acoustic album is wrong. The album brings in much more.

Fearless in his atempts to expand beyond just him and his guitar. Consider how at the end of Amie, out of nowhere comes what sounds like an entire orchestra. It sounds beautiful and it becomes almost impossible to imagine the song without it. Then the gorgarian (sp?) chants that enter into Cold Water. By the end of the album it seems only appropriate to have an opera singer at the end of Eskimo.

But the wonderful things about the album is that it doesn't rely on these tricks. They are simply used to enchance the songs. Cannonball is simply him and his guitar, and it is one of the best songs on the album (a song friends of mine have confessed crying to when they heard it).

Another huge difference between him and others is the feeling involved. I have yet to hear another singer coming out now who you can feel their pain so clearly and identify with it(Howie Day is close). The only line in the chorus of The Blower's Daughter is "I can't take my eyes off you..." The way he sings it and the passion in his voice make the line more romantic and meaningful than an entire boy-band album.

Just the other night I went outside with my CD Player to sit on the front porch and listen to music while I smoked a cigarette. I started at track one, and became so engrossed in the songs, I just sat there until the album finished. It is THAT good. And it is that feeling that is put into every song that gives me the impression this album will age very well.

I agree with others that he brings back memories of when Jeff Buckley was around. They invoke the same spirit. And that is nothing but a compliment, because if there is anything music needs now, it is someone who can do to people what Jeff did. Even though Jeff died too soon, people are still listening to his music because it means so much to them. I have the feeling that this album will do the same. It is Damien Rice's "Grace".

My only concern is the same as others. How in the hell is he going to follow this up? But here is the fun part, imagine if he somehow makes a better album?

Finally...
When I first heard Damien Rice I immediatley felt pleasantly confused and relieved, thinking to myself, "Finally someone new with passion and true emotion".

I highly recommend this CD and hope more people discover this wonderful collection of songs. A true music fan will appreciate this one. Damien Rice's music is honest and full of heart. His backing vocalist, Lisa, is a purely gorgeous angelic voice that compliments Rice perfectly. The comibation of acoustic guitar and cello is simply beautiful. This CD has a refreshing classical feel that is delicate but full of power. The album was made to be heard loud from the first track all the way to the end. The songs are ordered to perfection and have a lot to give out to its audience. Don't miss out.

We need more artists like Damien Rice and it's wonderful to know true artists are actually creating good sound somewhere. It's difficult to believe this is Damien Rice's debut CD, the possibilites are endless for a follow-up. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Posthumous releases fall into two categories: those which the artist was working on at the time of their death, and those which are gathered from every nook and cranny to keep fans enthused and cash registers ringing. Elliott Smith's from a basement on the hill is of the former variety. It was close to completion at the time of his untimely death. Over the course of the set's 15 songs, Smith's powerful songwriting and production skills are shown in their full breadth. From thickly interlocked chordal guitar riffs ("Coast to Coast") to shimmering melancholia ("A Fond Farewell"), the songs are each brought to their own particular focus by whatever means were most appropriate. There are lush background vocals, keyboard washes, pounding rhythms, and heart rending balladry. This disc is a sad goodbye to richly emotive artist. --David Greenberger ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

Hot on the heels of The River, his commercial breakthrough, Springsteen's decision to release the stark, demo-quality Nebraska seems downright perverse. But the genius of the album is unmistakable--with just an acoustic guitar and his howling harmonica to back him, Springsteen tells the stories of characters walking on both sides of the law, some of them directly on the line in between. The effect is that of a powerful series of black-and-white photographs--the details are bleak in and of themselves, but they ignite the imagination in ways that are more satisfying than full-color shots would be. "Mansion on the Hill," "Highway Patrolman," "Atlantic City," and the frightening "Nebraska" are among the most sharply rendered and memorable works of Springsteen's career. --Daniel Durchholz ... Read more

Reviews (95)

Bruce's Finest
I always preferred when artists go acoustic, and record a low-quality album. Albums like Nebraska capture an artist at their most intimate. This was Bruce Springsteen's stark, low-key acoustic record. It was very dreary, as it was beautiful. His tales of suffering and being on the wrong side of the law was profound and you can feel it in his howl and his singing. He already had the reputation of being a high-energy, bombastic satdium act but Nebraska captured him in a whole new light. It was more reserved than Born to Run, and it had more personality than many of his albums. Songs like "Atlantic City," "State Trooper," and "Highway Patrolman" send chills down my spine, whereas other songs like "Nebraska," "My Father's House" and "Used Cars" express Springsteen in a more vulnerable, yet very striking voice, particularly Nebraska's tale of a serial killer. Even non-fans of The Boss can appreciate this album for its sense of intimacy and depth. Springsteen would never be this bare after this album, although certain subsequent works do show his profound side (particularly Tunnel of Love and the Rising).

Not for Everyone
"You wanna know why I did what I did; well, sir, I guess there's just a meanness in this world." So ends the first and title track of this album. The song 'Nebraska' is based, like Terrence Malick's 1973 movie 'Badlands', on the story of the 1950's killer, Charles Starkweather. As with all the songs here, Springsteen sings in the first person, becoming the characters he breathes to life. The first song, chilling and nihilistic, sets the tone for the rest of the album, which portrays the stark working class existance of small town life.

Here we meet people living on the edge. People with a thin sense of hope running on empty. Yet out of the initial depression and bleakness of his landscape, Springsteen can find a humanity in many of his people, still shining just beneath the surface.

This is not an album for everyone. Certainly, it is different from most of Bruce Springsteen's music, perhaps finding it's closest echo in 'The River'. The sound is raw, apparently recorded in Springsteen's own basement, and features a solo performance with only guitar and harmonica. It's tone and sometimes despair recalls the desperation of the dust bowl blues; the lyrics resonate like Raymond Carver stories put to music. Never before or since has Springsteen created such evocative slices of life with such an economy of words.

All in all, an extraordinary album. Unique, wild, raw, and beautiful. Deceptive in its simplicity, and disturbing too. A great album.

Shows his true artistry and ability
Bruce decided he had to make this album to further himself as an artist, as to not get stuck in a routine of writing typical pop songs. It took a lot of guts to do, especially because he knew that it wouldn't be an immediate big smash, and because he also knew that he could have easily remained in the same vein he had been in and sold more records at the time. In the book "Howling At The Moon," Walter Yetnikoff, who was President of CBS Records when Nebraska came out, described the first time he listened to it with Bruce. He said Bruce was very nervous, because he knew it wasn't a commercial album, and so Yetnikoff, who was drunk at the time, listened to it, and responded by calling the album the wrong name, "Yeah, I really like 'Omaha,' Bruce." A mistake in the name, but it was not a mistake to release this album. It allowed Bruce to explore darker and different areas of his craft, and to master them, while showing people that he is not the one-dimensional caricature that many make him out to be. Highlights on this album include: Nebraska (very scary), Atlantic City (it's interesting to listen to the original version and compare it to the version on the Live in NYC DVD; really one of his best songs ever), Highway Patrolman, State Trooper (his visceral screams are the highlight of the album), and Open All Night. You can really hear his influences on this one, including Dylan, Orbison, and Buddy Holly. It paved the way for him in the future by opening up his creativity, and for fans of typical "Born in the USA" Bruce, this is a realy eye-opener, and it might take a while to grow on you, but believe me it will!

"Deliver me from nowhere..."
Raw and unrelenting, Nebraska is a shock to the casual Bruce fan's system. Alike nothing he had created before, it was a true testament of Bruce's artistry. He rarely gets enough credit for the chances he took musically through the years--Nebraska being probably his biggest one. This album could have been awful. It could have cemented the notion that Bruce could never be anything close to "Dylanesque." This could have done to him what going electric did to Dylan. But...it didn't. Not only does Nebraska prove Bruce's lyrical talent, but it also proves that he is not just the electric guitar wielding, theatric stage performer that we all know and love.

Recorded on his own tape recorder, in his bedroom, it's just Bruce and his acoustic guitar yearning for redemption, deliverance, and a reason to believe. The lyrics on this album will get inside you immediately, within the first few lines of the title track. They will pull you into the desolate world of his disparaged and lonely characters. Bruce is a master at painting portraits of life in his words by creating characters you can feel, see, and love. On 'Nebraska', he creates antiheroes for the common man. In "Johnny 99" you start to empathize with the main character as he descends toward madness after losing his job at the plant in Mahwah late last month. In "Highway Patrolman" Bruce displays the moral ambiguity of an honest man torn between his duty as a law officer and his own flesh and blood. Others like "Used Car" and "Mansion on the Hill" are Bruce's retelling of his childhood memories. They will leave you feeling lost in time, like you are looking into the soul of an old black and white portrait.

"State Trooper" is a song like no other. Bruce himself wasn't sure if it could be even called a song, but he threw it on the record anyway. I wouldn't recommend listening to it while driving alone, especially after midnight, because it might scare the s*** out of you. Either that, or you will go mad and drive endlessly trying to escape from nowhere.

'Nebraska' is one of those albums that takes on a whole new persona depending on when you listen to it. In the daytime, it is a realistic journey into the past, a walk with each character down the street of hopelessness towards a meaningful existence. At night, however, it turns into a descent into loneliness, desperation and uncertain fear. Listening to this record will definitely take you somewhere. It may be somewhere unpleasant, somewhere to close for comfort, to real to discern. It may take you to a place where everything you've ever known in life fails you. And it may strike you kind of funny...but at the end you'll somehow be left with more of a reason to believe.

Taped it off the radio in 1982
Maybe it's got something to do with my frame of mind at the time, but I really found myself able to enjoy Nebraska while not having much use for The Ghost Of Tom Joad past "Youngstown". My original tape of Nebraska came directly from radio when it first came out. I had to sacrifice one of my precious Beatles tapes for Nebraska, but I considered it a good trade. I was about to leave work as it was starting and wasn't going to make it home in time to tape it there, so I stuck the Beatles tape in and let it record on my boom box while I listened in the car on the trip home. I wound up sitting in the car and listening to the whole thing, then went to work to retrieve the tape the next day. I know people who absolutely hate Nebraska because it "depresses" them, (these people also consider BITUSA his best work,) but I've always just considered it moody. It's perfect for late night drives on dark and lonely highways, and that's where I was back in 1982. It always reminded me of a Johnny Cash album, something that hit home years later when Johnny recorded "Johnny 99". ... Read more

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Three albums into Tegan & Sara's career, it's still somehow necessary to get a couple of facts about them out of the way before diving into their latest offering. They are, yes, identical twin lesbians, and they do occupy the space--more like a vacuum, really--between the riot-grrl menace of Sleater-Kinney and the un-fun folk of Indigo Girls. That out of the way, So Jealous is the duo's best disc yet, meriting more than the mainstream notice that has so far evaded it. All the components are in place: a beyond synthy, full-throttle band, including John Collins and David Carswell of New Pornographers, and songwriting so honest as to make a person--any person--check to make sure no one has been snooping in her diary ("I won't mistake you for problems with me/I won't let my moods ruin this you'll see," from "I Won't Be Left"). The vibe is early-80s pop-punky (Tegan & Sara's singing can sound like Missing Persons' minus the squeals) spiked with a rock'n'roll edge--if the title track were noisier, it might sound at home on a Yeah Yeah Yeahs disc. Destined for hugeness, if only in indie circles for now, Tegan & Sara provide something crucial for pop princesses to be So Jealous of, and that's genuine talent. --Tammy La Gorce ... Read more

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Resembling at times a soft-sung Robert Plant, Buckley was an intuitive vocalist capable of dizzying arabesques and choir-boy sweetness. He is joined here by a tight band for 10 tracks highlighting his stylistic range--Pearl Jam bluesy on "Eternal Life," impossibly serene on Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah," art-school noisy on "So Real," Led Zep daring on "Mojo Pin." Unorthodox, this was the debut of '94. --Jeff Bateman ... Read more

Reviews (418)

Jeff Buckley: lives on in "Grace"
Jeff Buckley's debut album "Grace" evokes the strongest of emotions every time I listen to his intense lyrics and dramatic voice. How can an album be anything less then beautiful with such truthful lyrics as, "I remember the smell of the fabric of your simple city dress..." and "lover, you should've come over, it's not to late..." Everything he writes comes from the heart, nothing is ever embellished or overdone. An indescribable feeling comes over me when I listen to "Grace." It strikes an intense emotional chord that has never been duplicated by any other artist. Jeff Buckley was one of the few original artists with both attributes of talent and a ethereal voice. It saddens me that I will never have the opportunity to see him live or hear other genius melodies that I'm sure he would have released. Jeff Buckley's life and career ended too soon when he left the world in 1997. Though he is gone, his honest words and beautiful, confessional music lives on in "Grace."

Best debut by anyone---would have been #1, one day.
Grace is an album that young musicians hope to make and experienced musicians hope they can be remembered by. He certainly left his mark on the singer-songwriter world, influencing popular acts such as Lisa Loeb and Radiohead front-man Thom Yorke. Grace is deeply rooted in the classics, (Led Zeppelin etc...) and makes no attempt to distract anyone from Jeff's golden pipes with feeble attempts to sway an ever-changing audience. His confidence is overwhelming seeing as though he choose to cover Lenoard Choen's Halleluiah and the old standard Christian carol. His band, led by the soft yet convincing hands of drummer Matt Johnson, is certainly nothing to sneeze at considering Jeff co-wrote some of the songs with them. His live show was the perfect complement to this soon-to-be quintessential 90's album. It was complete with broken srtrings and spitting,and swearing, and the music was well above the standards of any youngster in that room. (July 15, 1995 Danforth Music Hall, Toronto, Ontario) God rest his talented soul.

Excellent
This is undoubtedly one of my favorite discs. When the album originally came out I was overwhelmed by the range, ecclecticism and rawness of Buckley's voice and lyrics. His covers are also adeptly rendered.

Buckley's talent is lost on some, but anyone with an appreciation for creative and daring musical exploration will enjoy this collection. Years after first buying the album I still have it in "active rotation." This is not for everyone. Buckley seems to be a love him/hate him artist, but he managed to indelibly mark the musical landscape and is often cited by other illustrious artists as a point of inspiration and reference.

haunting, sweet, heavy, light, flawless, broken
Any attempt I have made so far to describe this album to those who have never heard it has fallen far short of the power of actually playing it, but I must try again, I always do... it is not music for the background, or for a party... It is haunting, it is sweet, it is perfect and flawless and yet broken and, at times, heavy with the emotion of a sinner. Yet also it is light, in songs such as "Hallelujah", a constant favorite. Every song is full of various emotions, and they are not simple or wonderously happy. They are the feelings of one who lived a life, however short, full of misery and yet found a way to leave that behind. Buckley was different from the rest of us, its true. Everything he felt was hundreds of times stronger than a normal person should feel. And yet, his music is not complaining, it is just feeling. You can adapt the beautiful lyrics and quavering,(perfect) voice to any feeling you may be having, and be immediately lifted by the beauty you hear.

It is beauty. It is perfect. It is also ironically indescribable.

a classic!!!
anyone that would call this cd crap is a goof and that is what he ate for dinner.what a fool!long live jeff and tim.now go home and listen to boy george!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Even after 15 years of releasing albums on her own Righteous Babe imprint, it's hard to know what to make of Ani DiFranco. Some see her as a folkie-punk-bisexual-feminist-radical-crap-kicker, while others reckon she's merely Alanis Morissette with better lyrics. On her 15th studio album the truth just might be somewhere in between. She does dysfunctional family portraits ("Studying Stones") and broken affairs ("Lag Time") just fine, but she also manages to leave room for rambling, autobiographical beat poetry ("Parameters"). And then there is the music. Matching acoustic guitars with earthy funk rhythms and soft moonlight moods with out-of-leftfield song arrangements, it reconfirms the one label everyone can agree upon: fiercely original. --Aidin Vaziri

Recommended Ani DiFranco Discography

Out of Range	Not a Pretty Girl	So Much Shouting, So Much Laughter
Little Plastic Castle	Revelling/Reckoning	Living in Clip

... Read more

Reviews (26)

Ani's still great, and that Kevin guy who gave her 1 star?
This isn't my favorite Ani album, but, like all of her albums, each song has it's moment and application to my own life.I shaved my head once (although, sadly, it I don't have the head for it), found myself wanting to angrily lash out at unrequited love (which is why I absolutely love Dilate), and am now growing a bit older and wiser, which I see happening in her work.And I love the fact that she's still giving the man the finger; it reminds me that I need to give up a bit of comfort for honesty, too.

And, as for Kevin, the fellow who gave the album 1 star.Well, I'm sure he didn't even listen to it as, if you check out his record of reviews, all he does is write reviews with one star.This indicates to me that he is either a bitter, lonely man sitting in his basement blindly raging against some unknown enemy (could it be his own stunning inadequacy?) or he's just a hack who thinks he's being witty by trashing other people.Either way, I do feel sorry for him and hope that he finds some joy in life, before he bites the big one and the only thing proving his pitiful existence will be some pithy amazon.com reviews.So, Kevin, if you're reading this, take a shower, get dressed, and go meet some people.Or take up a hobby.Do something.You need to find some joy in life.

The Fine Ani As Always
Over the last fifteen years, the politically outspoken Ani DiFranco has made a name for herself as a fiercely independant artist.She's created a large cult audience that have followed her every move.Through everything, she's received rave reviews for her music including a Grammy award (2003's "Evolve").Her poetry and her melodies have always stood beyond the test of time despite little radio airplay.This folk-rock artist has often experimented with other genres with her signature sound: punk, funk, jazz, blues, and others.She's never recorded anything below her top potential.Therefore, she's maintained the respect as an artist and as a person.This has influenced many artists who have come after her (Pink, Dar Williams).

In 2005, she changed some traditions with her album "Knuckles Down".Surprisingly, she hired a producer, Joe Henry, to assist in her music.This collaboration resulted in a more folk-pop sound with quality that continues her run as a phenomenal artist.This album shows a more mellow side of Ani.Yet, she never loses her signature musical edge.The melodies and the rhythms flow greatly through the instruments, namely her guitar.The various instrumental line-up keeps this album interesting; yet, the album flows smoothly.Her poetry continues expressing her deep thoughts.This album expresses more of her recent personal turbulances in a less outspoken fashion.Despite, her artistic stance never loses itself.Such quality shows great artistic evolution that makes this album shine.

This allows her performances to remain expressive.As always, her musical talents give her music the heart and soul it deserves.Her performances show her poetic side greatly.Her expressed sadness never loses its emotion.This album shows a more mature side that has never been heard previously.Her passion leaves listeners in a trance.In every song, she slides her listeners to a deeper sense of her theme.Her indistinguishable performances leave a longlasting impact on everybody.All her songs stand out in the modern folk industry.

Through the dying mainstream music, Ani DiFranco always prevails.Her music defines true music."Knuckle Down" is no exception.This album is a great escape from the often-selling-out mainstream music heard too often on the radio.She has never sold out.She remains true to herself and everyone else.Therefore, this album is sure to please new and old fans.

***Expect Ani DiFranco to receive at least two 2005 Grammy nominations: Best Contemporary Folk Album and Best Recording Package.

Knuckle Down is a must-have..
'Knuckle Down' was my first foray into the musical world of Ani DiFranco, and has quickly become one of my favourite albums of all-time.If you're tired of the generic, manufactured music so common to modern network air waves, this disc is for you.The songwriting is developed and well-thought out, and the tonality of the album is warm and inviting.Do yourself a favour, buy this album.

Back To the Fold
I've read several of the reviews below, and some are very good.My review of this album won't be quite as technical and thorough as those I've read, but I'll give you my honest opinion.This is a great cd.I've been listening to Ani for about 11 years now....I came in around the "Out of Range" and "Not a Pretty Girl" days.I was a very "devoted" fan (read crazed) for much of my late teens and into my early twenties...sometimes driving as long as 10 hours for a concert.I've loved several of her cd's along the way....Dilate, Little Plastic Castle, To the Teeth, Revelling/Reckoning, Evolve.But as life kept on going, and I got older, I became less and less crazed.Not because of her music, but because I had more going on.....more important things to worry about.I didn't even buy Educated Guess (I didn't even *gasp* realize that she had released it!)But after seeing her perform "Studying Stones" on, of all places, the CBS Saturday Early Show, I was intrigued about "Knuckle Down."So I got the cd, and expected to go through my usual Ani routine.Listen to it, think "hmmmm this isn't anything like Little Plastic Castle or To the Teeth or Evolve....I'm not sure I like it," and then a few weeks or months later listen to it and think "OH!I get it, this is awesome!"But I haven't been able to stop listening to it since it arrived in the mail.This cd has snapped me back to that old place.I'm not sure how, and I'm not sure why....but that's what's happened.I absolutely love this disc.It's really hard pick a favorite song (okay, maybe I like "Studying Stones", "Paradigm", and "Sunday Morning" a little more than the rest.)I'm not saying everyone will love this as much as I do.But if you've kept listening to Ani through the years, through all the different bands and styles and personal experiences, I think you'll dig this cd.

not good
This effort, I have to say, is simply not good. I used to like Difranco's stuff quite a bit, but something's missing here, and it's a substantial enough problem that it compromises the entire work.

On a side note, I must defend porterhouse from lucibuis' attack. First, it's not like porterhouse is off the mark. The comments about the music notwithstanding (with which I happen to agree, at least concerning this album, but that's beside the point), all porterhouse did was call it like he or she saw it. Honestly, any objective observer couldn't really disagree. But what is truly absurd is Lucibuis' hypocrisy. Lucibuis purports to give us all a lesson about what makes a great American citizen and why Difranco is just that, right after calling for Amazon to censor porterhouse. Nice. I guess it's good old fashioned stuff like liberty and free speech, but only for those with whom you agree, right Lucibuis? Twisted. ... Read more

Amazon.com Music Reviews

Blessed with the voice of a wispy angel, Elliott Smith creates sad little pop songs, which, like the work of Nick Drake (to whom he's been compared) threaten to disappear into the night air. Several of the tracks here were featured in Gus Van Zant's movie Good Will Hunting, and they're among the album's best (though "Miss Misery," nominated for an Academy Award is only available on the soundtrack album). "Angeles" and "Say Yes" are bittersweet laments that feature Smith's idiosyncratic guitar picking, which is well served by the album's decidedly low-fi production. --Rob O'Connor ... Read more

Reviews (96)

Where Have I Been?
I have to thank Spin magazine for my purchase of Elliot Smith's Either/Or. I saw the album located as one of the best albums of the 90s and decided to go purchase the album. SPIN WAS COMPLETELY WRONG. This album should have been way farther up than the rating it got. Where have I been? How come I had never heard of Elliot Smith before this? I love every song on this album. Beautiful melodies and flowing intelligent lyrics - Either/Or is one of the most haunting and elegant albums I have ever heard. Speed Trials is glorious and so is Alameda. Ballad of Big Nothing is without a doubt the highlight of the album. Between the Bars, Pictures of Me, No Name No.5, Rose Parade, Punch and Judy, Cupid's Trick, 2:45 AM - all GREAT songs. Say Yes and Angeles are other highlights. Elliot Smith has a ethereal voice and combined with his guitar- creates an experience that can only be heard. I haven't heard XO or his self-titled. But from some people I've talked to - they say XO or the self-titled is better. How can you top this? I can't wait to find out.

elliott smith's best album!
i didn't know a whole lot of background information about elliott smith when i first heard his music, and i still haven't seen good will hunting, but after a friend introduced me to his incredible music he has become my favorite musician! his voice is just plain beautiful! i can't describe it any other way.

either/or was the first cd i heard by elliott smith, and is probably my favorite out of all the elliott smith albums. every song is pretty emotional and full of feeling. the tone is really mellow, and not abrasive like most of the music of today. i personally love "depressing" emotional music, and it makes me feel good. either/or is perfectly blended between sad and beautiful music. this is one of the few albums that i can listen to the whole cd straight through. my personal favorite tracks are: "between the bars", "angeles", "2:45", "speed trials", no name no. 5", etc. i love every track!

this is somewhat sad music, but it doesn't really make you sad. i am really amazed that this truly gifted artist exists! really, this is beautiful music that everyone can appreciate!!!

Hauntingly Beautiful
Elliott Smith's music is so sincere and brutally honest that just him and his acoustic beat all those mainstream fishooks out there today. The acoustic fingerstyle does conjure up the ghost of Nick Drake. The album has great dual layered vocals on songs like Angeles and Between the Bars which are reminiscent of the best harmonies from Simon and Garfunkel. This truely is the work of a fine musician and will make a nice addition to your collection.

love, love, love this record.
i highly recommend this album if you like the honesty and passion of artists like john lennon, kurt cobain, or leonard cohen. you know what i'm talking about. elliot smith is one of the few that can touch me on such a deep level. this record has a sound of its own and it's truly haunting - even more so now that elliot is gone.

Own this now
I love this cd and have listened to it at least once every day since I bought it. One of those great albums you never forget. Everyone needs to own a copy of this. I dont think I oculd find one person who can honestly say they dont like it (people that do are just lying). ... Read more

Amazon.com

Bruce Springsteen followed his muse on this haunting 1995 release. Perhaps that's why it barely made a dent in the marketplace, even while it thrilled the faithful who were willing to take another dark, Nebraska-like journey with him. It's abundantly clear that Springsteen had been soaking himself in the work of John Steinbeck and Woody Guthrie during the writing of The Ghost of Tom Joad, but their combined influence is found on more than just the title track. It's all over these windblown songs (including the haunting "Dry Lightning" and "the seminal "Youngstown") and their hard-scrabble protagonists. Not the Boss's biggest record, but certainly one of his best. --Michael Ruby ... Read more

Reviews (83)

A Stunning American Classic
Don't get me wrong, I am primarily a maniacal fan of Bruce's rock 'n' roll masterpieces and his stupendous live shows, but his acoustic work shows equally important facets of his genius as a songwriter/musician/poet. These "Tom Joad" recordings have the haunting quality of Appalachian folk songs with the lyric depth of the poems of Federico Garcia Lorca or Dylan Thomas. I honestly can't think of another musical artist that has captured the heartbreak, complexity and hope of the American experience in the way that Springsteen has. "Galveston Bay" talks with quiet irony of way in which our nation of immigrants tends tragically to discriminate against each latest wave newcomers. And yet, by the end of the song, the antagonists finally relent and allow new blood to reinvigorate and replenish the American dream. "Across the Border" captures the mix of hope and illusion that draws so many to "El Norte." "Youngstown" speaks achingly of the betrayal of the American working man and woman. "Dry Lightening" paints a word picture of the itchy, discomforting freedom promised by true love and the unending horizons of western plains. I could go on and on. I never tire of this album. It still has the ability to change my life just a tiny bit for the better each time I hear it. If you don't love "Tom Joad" on first bounce, play it again and let its power seep into your soul. You'll never be sorry.

There won't ever be another CD like this
When 'The Rising' came out I went back and bought all of Springsteen's past collection. I came across 'The Ghost Of Tom Joad' and sat down to listen to it, not really knowing what is was about. It really blew me away, and for the first time I actually felt like I was pulled in to the album, thanks to Bruce's brilliant song writing. You listen to an album like this, which is so beautifully crafted, and then listen to basically any song from pop bands, you will be put into a new light. This is how music is suposed to sound, intimate, fun, and emotional. I can honestly say, if you buy this record you won't be sorry.

Out on a limb? It's artistic genius!
Bruce Springsteen's a reliable rocker. His lyrics aren't always the best, and his voice could use a little touchup, but people love him anyway. Why? He sings about the common man. And he's talented as hell.

On "The Ghost of Tom Joad," Springsteen finds himself at his peak--even if he had to leave the rock arena to do it. Sure, his electric guitar-fueled rockers are superb (find one rocker who's had a more lasting impression on various generations, past and present, than the Boss; and if you say McCartney, I'm gonna hit you). However, these gentle (mostly) acoustic numbers are sublime--graceful folk/country songs that sound the bells for the downtrodden (and Springsteen's multi-instrumental talent).

"Straight Time," for example, deals with a former criminal who can't seem to live a decent life; "Highway 29", about a fateful Bonnie and Clyde couple; "Youngstown," about a factory worker who needs a reprieve; "The Line," about a border guard who falls in love with a refugee; "My Best Was Never Good Enough," a darkly humorous tune about a man who just can't win, no matter what advice he's been given; and several other songs, most about immigrants and their troubles.

Yeah, it's a little opressing at first. Springsteen can be that way, when he's writing from his soul. And the album never really picks up, tempo-wise. It's not something you're gonna party to; but if you want good quality music, that'll make you think about yourself and the world, and shine a better light on your relations with others, then "The Ghost of Tom Joad" is your album.

A Masterpiece
As far as I am concerned, this is the best album Bruce has ever made. As I own practically every album he has released, I am speaking with some knowledge.

An amazing sequel to Nebraska
The Ghost of Tom Joad is one of the most haunting albums I have ever listened to. It was in fact listening to this album that I noticed the tremendous influence he has had on so many of our great singer/songwriters. The music on Ghost is tremendously affecting. It is Springsteen without his pop-enthusiasm. The songs are bare, and his tremendous talents as a songwriter really stand out for all to see. Ghost is a great album that showcases the considerable talents of one of our great songwriters. ... Read more

Amazon.com

One of the most striking debut albums ever released, this disc instantlyestablished Chapman as a musical force, and with good reason. Immediacy, integrity ofpurpose, and unqualified artistry are apparent in nearly every song. And while "Fast Cars"remains Chapman's best-known work, "Talkin' Bout a Revolution" is that rarest breed: asong which is both topical and timeless. Any exploration into Chapman's work shouldbegin with this at times stunning effort; it's a disc of remarkable uniformity and claritythat Chapman has yet to improve on. --Wayne Pernu ... Read more

Reviews (73)

Absolute perfection
I genuinely don't think this disk could be any better. There is not a single song on here that isn't a work of art. I owned this on tape initially, but I had to get the CD because the tape was getting worn out, because I listened to it constantly - particulary to Baby Can I Hold You, Why, and Talking About A Revolution.

Chapman's voice is stunning, particularly on the a capella Behind The Wall, which never ceases to bring a chill down my spine. I always thought I didn't like folk music, but Chapman has made me reconsider that belief. Her lyrics are meaningful, and the collection of songs come together to form an overall feel, a mood, that is extremely moving and empowering. She exemplifies how music can bring people together and be an impetus to change, ala the greats like Bob Dylan. Make no mistake -- this is a political album and Chapman wears her left wing leanings like a badge of honour. If you can't tolerate her political views, you probably won't like the album as much as her core fans. That said, her voice and the music itself may make it possible for you to give it at least an intial listen. Chapman is more than a singer and musician - she's a poet, and her message is one that I believe we all need to heed.

I highly reccommend this album to everyone. Even if you don't agree with her politics, hopefully she'll make you think. At the very least, you'll be listening to one of the purest, best voices in modern folk/r&b/soul around today.

Tracy tingles your soul with her lyrics & voice
Tracy Chapman's first album "Tracy Chapman" shows depth & bredth of an artist with at least 20 years more maturity and experience. The lyrics to her songs are deceptively simple yet manage to touch deep social issues and provoke contemplations on your world-outlooks. The songs "Talkin' Bout A Revolution" and "Fast Car" were her big breakout hits, but the entire album is stellar. A special standout is her chilling acapella " Behind The Wall"--if that doesn't wound you to the core, then turn in your membership card to the human race!

Time to call it a classic
I think enough time has gone by that this album should finally be called a classic.

With a voice this expressive, lyrics this blunt, and a musical sensibility this exciting and haunting ... Tracy Chapman deserves legendary status for this album alone -- even though she's made more good ones since.

Hard to imagine anyone going through teenaged years without lying in bed and listening to this at least once or twice. It's gritty and honest -- brutal, yet strangely comforting all at once. Made a whole generation want to buy guitars and make up their own songs!

One of the essential albums of the 80's!
Winner of 3 Grammys in 1988 for Best New Artist (one of the few winners that were the best of their years), Pop Female performance (Fast Car), and Folk Album. It was also nominated for Album of the Year, and Best Song & Record. I was shocked to find out that she lost Best Song to Bobby McFerrin for "Don't Worry, Be Happy". While I remember McFerrin's song, it has not aged well. But "Fast Car" still sounds relevant, with its telling lyrics about people who reach for a better life. A theme in her album is a cry to the lowly to try to rise above their conditions. While she doesn't give an answer how, she gives words of encouragement to let others know that there is hope.
On this album a lot of musical genre influences can be heard. You can hear things from Pop (Fast Car) to Reggae (She's Got Her Ticket). This was labeled as Folk music but it has such a blend of styles that you really can't categorize it. It's a great album and is mentioned many times when people talk of great debuts and great albums of the 80's.

Unparalleled
After almost 16 years and over 7 million copies of this album sold, each of these songs still bears an importance to just about anyone who is willing to listen carefully. Tracy Chapman tells stories, sometimes entertaining, always emotional, through her songs. Whether she is singing acapella or with accompaniment, her voice, lyrics, tone, and just about every facet of her tracks are inspiringly unique. Tracy Chapman is without imitation or contenders, for this album is truly without flaws. Besides being a work of art, it is excellent listening as well. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Riot on an Empty Street
Okay, let us get real people, the only similiarities between Simon and Garfunkle and the Kings of Convenience are that they both use acoustic guitars and sing in triads. Honestly, that's about it. Moving on to the album...it's good, quite good in fact. That's all I have to say, and it should be enough considering the fact that this comment came from me, a rather fickle pickle.

Music for a lazy afternoon
It must be tough to follow up a success such as "Quiet is the New Loud", and many people feared that Kings of Convenience would be a one-off as the band members each got stuck into other projects - Erlend Øye went solo with an ambient project, and Eirik Glambæk Bøe concentrated on his studies (in psychology, I think). But here it is: The long awaited follow up. And it's a very pleasant listen.

This sort of subtle, acoustic music never really goes out of style. You could just as easily give this album to your mother or even grandmother and they'd probably enjoy it just as much as you do (yikes!). That doesn't much sound like a good recommendation for a pop record ... but it is. The crisp clean production and first-rate musicianship makes this a treat to listen to, even though the harmonies are the oldest in the book, but also probably the most immediately pleasing for exactly that reason. This time the duo invite a French female guest writer and vocalist Feist for some variation - which works really well.

Take Simon and Garfunkel - add a bit of jazzy stuff here and there and a bit more melancholy in some places, and you have a pretty good general idea of what this record has to offer. I don't understand, though, why some reviewers find this only mopey - but then again I am familiar with Erlend and Eiriks home town where the weather is always rainy. We do nothing but stare out of rainsplashed windows all year (well, almost). And I know that this is when you want something as soothing as this on your stereo: While you make a cup of hot tea and read the paper, or invite some close friends around for a quiet, home-cooked meal. But it's equally good to rest your sleepy head to on a sunny, lazy summer afternoon: "Gold in the air of summer", indeed.

I'm also already waiting in anticipation for the Röyksopp dance remix of "I'd rather dance" - probably the catchiest uptempo tune on this record. (Röyksopp, can you hear me??)

soulful, sensitive, Scandinavian
The Kings Of Convenience: soulful, sensitive, Scandinavian (tick all that apply).

Norwegian duo Erlend Øye (the earnest, bespectacled one) and Eirik Glambek Bøe (the enigmatic, hunky one) channel Simon and Garfunkel in Riot On An Empty Street, the follow-up to their critically acclaimed debut Quiet Is The New Loud.

In fact, Homesick and Gold In The Air Of Summer capture the melodic spirit of the folk duo so uncannily and so beautifully, that for a moment I thought I was listening to the wrong CD. Either that, or to a Simon and Garfunkel covers band.

The gentle strumming of the acoustic, nylon and steel string guitars set the offbeat, folksy mood as the duo sing together, one 'high voice', the other 'low voice', of the usual melancholy and suffering for love and art, with cut-out-and-stick-on-your-fridge axioms like "a song for someone who needs somewhere to long for" (Homesick), "love is no big truth, driven by our genes, we are selfish human beings" (Love Is No Big Truth), and the "summer child that sits by the water, weaving sunlight threads in his hands" (Live Long).

Interspersed between the occasionally austere folk songs are fleet-footed melodies and whimsical words, but the messages remain consistent: gentle advice ("A friend is not a means you utilize to get somewhere", Misread) and sepia-tinted, idealised memories ("These canals, it seems, they all go in circles, places look the same, and we're the only difference", Cayman Islands). A guest appearance by the current-toast-of-Paris/Jane Birkin-look-a-like Feist on Know-How only cements the album's chic-ness.

The Kings Of Convenience have an undeniable appeal to those who adore fruit-infused tea, minimalist furniture and staring out through blurred windowpanes on dreary rainy days. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Gillian Welch has captured the ethos of mountain music in a way that few lowlanders have managed, and that's just a little disconcerting. Outsiders aren't supposed to be able to infiltrate tight-knit clans. Producer T-Bone Burnett creates intimacy by recording Welch live with a small cast of supporting players, including Welch's partner, David Rawlings. While many of the songs are built around duo acoustic guitars and two-part harmonies, Burnett spices up a few of them up with some neat tricks, mixing an upright bass above the vocals on "Pass You By" and getting a fat, dirty sound out of three instruments. Welch's vocals, meanwhile, are stoical and matter-of-fact as her songs, which are infused with a repressed dread and contrition that's utterly convincing. White gospel tunes like "Orphan Girl" and "By the Mark" feel as if they were culled from hymnals, yet they were written when Clinton, not Coolidge, was president. --Steven Stolder ... Read more

Reviews (60)

Gillian Welch; powerful artist
Thanks to Amazon, I found Gillian Welch via their "customers also bought" information bar while purchasing an Emmylou Harris recording. Ms Welch posesses a sincere and refreshing approach to "country" music. Her soul searching lyrics are brought together with her haunting voice as a Hermann Hesse novel. They both express the human life experience. Ms Welch's diversity is far reaching with "Paper Wings" (Billy Holliday would love this song) to "Acony Bell" (a sweet and precious song). I used to write and play similiar songs to my daughter Amber Faith. If you desire an experience with soul searching music, purchase this recording.

One I can't live without...
I walked into a record store one day and heard the first few songs off of Revival over the store speakers and they stopped me in my tracks. I immediately bought it (and I'm not the impulsive type) and my husband and I played it just about every morning for the first month we owned it. Gillian and David have somehow managed to channel the ghosts of Appalachian oldtimers through their souls and onto this disc. This music is as real and haunting as it gets. I can't say enough about it, it just gets under your skin and stays there. If you ever get a chance to see them live, you'll understand how incredibly gifted they are. If you like alt country or twangy folk, this is a must have!

Essential Gillian Welch
Forget the hype of 'O Brother Where Art Thou'. Forget about "alt-country". Forget about "mountain music". This is the debut album from Gillian Welch and David Rawlings. And its an experience.

How can you NOT mention Rawlings every time you talk about Welch? It is only together, that they've created some of the most beautiful, haunting, melancholic songs I have ever heard. I've been fortunate enough to see them play on two occasions, they're also outstanding live musicians and they had the audience spellbound for the entire length of the concert. This is the perfect record to start your GW/DR collection with...

Beautiful alt-country debut album.
It's hard to believe this is Welch's first album: the songwriting is unbelievably solid, and the music is hauntingly reminiscent of early bluegrass and country music. She came from a musical family (her parents scored the music for "The Carol Burnett Show"), and she attended the Berklee School of Music in Boston, where she met her musical partner David Rawlings.

Welch's and Rawlings's voice and instrumentations blend beautifully, and one of the standout songs on the album is "By The Mark", where you can hear Rawlings clearly echoing and harmonizing with Welch's voice. Other songs worth mentioning are the mournful "Annabelle" and "Tear My Stillhouse Down".

It should be noted also that Emmylou Harris was so impressed with Welch and with this album that she later covered "Orphan Girl".

Disappointing
If this is her best (as indicated by many others here), I'm incredibly disappointed. I bought this CD because I heard one song (from "Soul Journey") that I liked on the radio. After reading the reviews, I chose this CD because it was the most raved about.

Three of the songs on this CD sound just like her tune on "Oh Brother..." The rest of the CD is, well... mediocre. There's absolutely nothing original or touching here. I don't care about Gillian's background, I just want to listen to great music. This is not great music. She sounds like any other mediocre country-folk artist.

... ... Read more

Amazon.com's Best of 1998

A ghost, a band, a troubadour. Easily the strangest co-op project ever, and easily one of the finest and most evocative albums of the year. British socialist and folkie Billy Bragg was given unprecedented access to Woody Guthrie's unrecorded lyrics. Teaming up with alt-country band Wilco and quoting from more than 50 years of country, folk, and rock music, Billy and company bring Guthrie's politics, poetry, and morality to the end of the century and prove he's as necessary now as ever. --Tod Nelson ... Read more

Reviews (119)

I'd buy 10 cds to find this one.
I'd buy 10 cds to find this one! Billy Bragg and Wilco have created the feeling that Woody Guthrie is alive and well and enjoying a little rock and roll. Their use of Woody's lyrics with original music is still true to an evolving Woody if there could be one. The music grabs you emotionally, hard and holds you through each cut. It's riveting. The range is amazing from Woody in love with living cuts such as "Walt Whitman's Niece" to serious political tunes like "Eisler on the Go" that focus on the witch hunts of the '40s and '50s in a very human way. And then there's what could have been a children's song--"Hoodoo Voodoo." Who else but Billy Bragg with help from Nora Guthrie could have done this? The album is a real album. It's all there. You can feel Guthrie writing 1000 songs in twenty years and then spending the next twenty years trapped in a deteriorating body in a state hospital. Sadness but not desperation, Guthrie never gives! up. Bragg extends Woody's contribution by pulling music from the lyrics, many of them written after Woody realized he faced a horrifying disease. Whatever else you do, listen to Mermaid Avenue and love it!

Do you know how hard it is to JUST ADD LYRICS to music?
Especially if those lyrics are over 50 years old, practically poetry, and created by a master songwriter? Or put another way, imagine someone handing you the lyrics to a tune from "Nebraska" and saying, "OK, now just sing it real good." JESIS, I don't think so. And if that doesn't put this stellar effort by Bragg and Wilco into perspective, what more can I tell ya? [Eh, keep yer shorts on, there'll be another 3rd Blind Biscuit Korn Hole album out 'terrectly.] So i'm amazed they pulled it off? And with such interesting results -- there really is something here for all kinds of tastes: from the breadth of musical influences displayed [a bit of Dylan, Lennon, Garcia, the Band, it could on and on] to the lyrical content [from the personal to the political].

Essential? You'd have to agree.

Remember; this is not Woody's music.
This cd at least makes me wonder how Woody would've done it. I think the vocals would be edgier, and clearer,easier to understand and remember, even after one listening, as I can when listening to actual Guthrie recordings. Perhaps some of the sappier melodies here might have been a little harder, a little more manly, for lack of a better term. As for the choice of Bragg; I'd sooner have some digitalizing freak collect all of the appropriate Woody syllables, and put them back together into the 'new' material. Second choice, Dylan. Third choice, somebody who's not Billy Bragg.

4.5 Stars.... Masterful Mix of Guthrie Lyrics and New Music
Nora Guthrie, Woody's daughter, thought it might be fun to have new music set to Woody's "lost songs" (lyrics to which Woody had music set in his head, but he never published the music). Billy Bragg and Wilco may make a curious, or at least not a very obvious, choice for the task, but boy, are they up for it!

"Mermaid Avenue" (15 tracks, 49 min.) is a true collaboration between the artists. Some songs find Wilco's Jeff Tweedy at lead vocal, Bragg on others. Music on some tracks is written by Bragg, others by Tweedy/Bennett, yet others by Bragg/Wilco. While I'm a huge Wilco fan, I must admit that the Bragg-written songs are more coherent within the Guthrie legacy. Check out for example the sparse "Eisler On the Go", and "Another Man's Done Done" (with Tweedy on lead vocal). The best is "Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key" (with Natalie Merchant on back vocals). Natalie also sings lead on "Birds and Ships". (So you really shouldn't be surprised by Natalie's fab collection of folk tunes "The House Carpenter's Daugther", issued independently last year).

In all, this is a terrific collection, which deservedly received a second volume as well. Recommended for fans of Billy Bragg, Wilco, Woddy Guthrie, and of course Bob Dylan.

I'll try to be brief, for a change
. . . If you are a Wilco fan and you don't have this album (and Vol. II), you should feel very silly, and buy this right now. It is absolutely sublime. ... Read more

Album Description

Damien Rice has quite simply taken the music world by storm.From ecstatic reviews to winning the third annual Shortlist Music Prize honoring the most adventurous and creative albums by emerging artists, Damien offers his new legion of admirers and friends in the States an EP of B-sides previously released outside the U.S. These seven stunning tracks will undoubtedly whet the appetite while fans await his forthcoming record. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

The Anti-Christ of Christian Pop
While it be too early to call Sufjan Stevens 'the next Nick Drake', 'Seven Swans', his stripped down follow-up to 2003's excellent 'Greetings From Michigan: The Great Lake State', makes such a declaration awfully tempting. Of course, there are significant differences between the two. Whereas it's difficult to separate Drake's music from the thought of his eventual suicide, Sufjan Stevens balances his whispered nostalgia with an underlying hopefulness. Billed largely as a collection of b-sides from the Michigan sessions, 'Seven Swans' arrived without much fanfare, aiming to serve as a musical appetitizer to Stevens' next entry into his ambitious '50 States' project. Yet, despite the humility with which it arrived, 'Seven Swans' finds Stevens surpassing his prior work with stronger songwriting and a more intimate, banjo-driven approach. For much of the album, Sufjan Stevens reflects on spirituality and his faith, exploring Christianity with honesty and love. Whereas most Christian pop condescends to its listeners with melodramatic 'shalls' and 'thous', Stevens sings about his faith without preaching. While the 'switch baby with Jesus' strategy of Christian pop is at work here at times, Sufjan pulls this off in a good way, capturing the intimacy of a great love song to integrate into his pious musings. In a sense, it's the Anti-Christ of Christian pop: a thoughtful, delicate album that evokes the quiet joy of the faithful. On 'In The Devil's Territory', Sufjan softly sings 'I'm not afraid to die, to see you... at last' as if he were singing to a lover, leaving out the self-righteousness that characterizes the megalomaniacal zealots of most Christian music. The best tracks, however, are saved for last. 'Seven Swans' is a haunting, metaphorical depiction of the coming of the apocalypse, in which Sufjan gives his only warning to the unfaithful, crying out: 'He will take you. If you run, he will chase you. Because he is the Lord.' The last track, 'The Transfiguration', is probably his best song to date. The perfect fusion of folk, faith, and pop, it brings a flawless conclusion to a truly blessed work.

Another great album from Sufjan!
Wow - I was really happy upon listening to this album - I of course had high expectations after "Michigan" - and though I would not say this album surpasses that one, it is certainly quite good - very good indeed. The instrumentation is lovely - acoustic almost exclusively with banjo and guitar - the songs are great and Sufjan's singing is very hushed and sweet - like he's whispering us secrets - reminding sometimes of Iron and Wine...highlights include "the dress looks nice on you", "to be alone with you" - which a had hoped would be a Dylan cover, but it wasn't - but it was a very well, maybe superior song with the same title...also, "he woke me up again" is excellent. Highly recomended - as well as "Michigan". "A sun came" is good too, but Sufjan has certainly honed his skills and become more consistently good since that debut...sorry for rambling, enjoy!

Wonderfully fragile
The strong presence of Christian imagery on this album shouldn't really surprise anyone familiar with 'Michigan' (close attention to the lyrics of 'Vito's Ordination Song', in particular, reveals an allegorical undercurrent). Stevens' lyrics are more overtly Biblical on this record, but no less affecting, because he never grandstands or resorts to proselytizing. These are simply snapshots of a personal faith. His delivery of lines such as 'Take instead the ram/Until Jesus comes' is wisely low-key where lesser singers would try to imbue them with stilted drama.

Appropriately, since the scale of the subject matter has moved further inward from the Everyman scope of 'Michigan', the music itself has become more sparse and minimal, in terms of both instrumentation and songwriting. The backing vocals on the first track, All The Trees Of The Field Will Clap Their Hands, repeat the same wordless melody ad nauseum in a way that is reminiscent of Philip Glass. (Incidentally, the title of the song is a reference from Isaiah 55:12 that may be lost on some: 'For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap [their] hands.') The banjo and guitar on 'In The Devil's Territory' repeat polyphonic fragments of melody, slowly shifting and letting the song breathe. In fact, the entire affair has a cool, airy feeling to it, like Stevens is playing in a field on a mild afternoon. He coaxes some gorgeous sounds out of fairly standard folk instruments.

The only flaw this album has is its slightly below-par middle third: it's still gorgeous music, but the material preceding it is so good that the slightly more rote folk songs pale in comparison. This is a minor quibble, though; think of that 5-star rating as a 4 1/2, rounded up.

Breathtaking
I too had high expectations of this anticipated follow-up to "Greetings From Michigan." Seven Swans is softer. It also deals more heavily with Biblical references (ex. Abraham, Transfiguration) but isn't overbearing or preachy. Seven Swans is filled with lush soundscapes and thoughtful lyrics. This one's not to be missed.

Kickass
At one of our power meetings at Free Williamsburg at the beginning of this year we were throwing around names of people who might be good people to interview or review. Sufjan Stevens came up. I had never heard of him let alone spell his name. It is detailed folk music. He is famous for the banjo work. Songs like "In The Devil's Territory" evokes the past and looks to the future. Sufjan worked with Daniel Smith of Danielson Famile to get this multi-layered sound. It's good that someone is obsessed with beauty in music. This record is strong and complex. It is not easy reading. The religious themes are an interesting shade. It is a vision of death and despair. It comes off sounding like something Badly Drawn Boy or Elliot Smith cooked up. Stevens may be the heir to Elliot Smith's legacy. ... Read more

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

The considerable promise carried forth on Gillian Welch's first two albums is thoroughly fulfilled on Time (The Revelator). Welch has traded the guidance of her previous producer, T Bone Burnett, for the sympathetic studio skills of her longtime guitarist-harmony singer David Rawlings, who loosens the reins just enough to allow moments of spontaneity to sparkle within the duo's spare, eloquent playing. "Revelator" is an instant classic, perhaps the first great folk song of the 21st century. "I Want to Sing That Rock and Roll" is three minutes of Louvins/Everlys-style bliss. "April the 14th, Part 1" haunts its historical context with an achingly melancholy melody. It all leads up to the epic 14-minute "I Dream a Highway," one of the finest closing tracks ever put on record. --Peter Blackstock ... Read more

Reviews (96)

Simple and beautiful...who needs a band?
This is the best new releases I've heard in a while.

On one end of the musical spectrum, you have all the stuff that comes out today sounding really over-produced and over-edited. Sometimes it's hard to tell whether the artist you're listening to really sounds like how they're portrayed on the CD you buy. "Can she really sing like that, does his guitar really sound like that, or are those studio 'tricks of the trade' I'm hearing?"

On the other end of the spectrum, you have Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, both on guitar and vocals. No effects...not even any electric instruments. True "roots" music. It doesn't get much simpler than that. The whole CD is so sparse and desolate sounding. You can just tell it's all real. Gillian's vocals (as well as her lyrics) leave you with this haunting feeling, particularly "Revelator," "Dear Someone," "Elvis Presley Blues," and the long and driven out (maybe a bit *too* long) "I Dream a Highway."

I'll definately be checking out her other works soon; I like this style.

Beatuful, sparkling music!
Gillian and Dave have done it again! They have created an album of simple, early American style folk music, and churned out an