Customer Reviews

3 Sides

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(21)

 

 

Bob Guiney's "3 Sides" comes across first as "is this a joke"... "this is the bachelor guy right?". But after hearing "Girlfriend" and liking it I figured I'd buy the CD and give it a listen. I'm one of those people who listens to everything on a CD from start to end.

"3 Sides" is definitely a relationship album from beginning to end. There's no songs that aren't about dating, relationships, and the like. So if you don't want an album with these types of songs then look elsewhere for a purchase.

I'll run down my views on each song.

1. Girlfriend - Very Good song. Definitely a message here. Catchy. Gotta wonder if this was written after Bachelor was over but before he got to be with her.

2. Temporary Life - Very good song too. But seems the same basic story as the first song. He's waiting around alone when he wants to be with her.

3. Fortunate - One of the best songs on the CD. Definitely catchy.

4. So Wrong - I think this is a really great motivational song.

5. Bleed On - Overall a solid song and very well sung but the lyrics make me want to skip past it.

6. Spare Minute - I think this is absolutely the best song on the CD. Very catchy... worth turning up. If you get to hear this in a store or something... check this song out.

7. Craziest Girl I Know - Probably my second favorite on the disk. Good flowing song.

8. How Long - Another very good song. I never skip past this track.

9. Come Undone - For some reason I just don't care about this song. Not sure why. Infact I'd say it's my least favorite on the whole disk.

10. Slow 44 - Good song.. but a bit on the slow side and overall I could easily skip past it.

Ok I'll admit fully to watching the Bachelor & Bachelorette. It's been a good show both my wife and I have enjoyed since the second Bachelor series. So while for myself I'd rate this a good 4 stars... I can't objectively do that for the CD here because I'm looking at this as a recommendation for other people.

Overall production values are very good on this CD.. however the overall music seems a bit formulaic. While some songs I can honestly say I enjoy as much as anything from any other band I really love... there are several which I can easily skip past. So it's a mixed bag but more good than bad in my view.

So should you buy it? If you really enjoyed Bachelor Bob.. it definitely adds a little extra meaning to many of the events from the show. As stand alone music though I'd still say there's more good here than bad. It all depends on if you like bands like Better than Ezra.. and relationship songs. For that.. it's pretty good. There's nothing romantic about it. But it's good stuff.

I have been reading over some of the reviews of this CD, and it seems like everyone has kind of lost focus. I know that Bob's first single "Girlfriend" was written by July For Kings, and that his claims of "collaborating" may require some stretching of the term to be true. Still, it is not the first time a song's author has lent it to another artist, and it won't be the last. In fact, the popularity of the song is probably helping JFK more than hurting, and I had never even heard of the band until I noticed all the postings about it on this site. I went to their site, downloaded a few tracks, and am now a fan. Last time I checked, that was the goal of any music group out there; to gain fans and some appreciation.
With that out of the way, let's move on to the rest of the CD. The music is solid, if unspectacular, and fits into the mold of this pop/rock genre well. Bob has a good voice, and you can sense a comfort behind the mic, due in large part to his lead in a band (Fat Army). He handles his deficiences well, never stretching his vocal range or deviating too much from his song preference, and plays up his smooth vocals and ernest delivery. I liked "Fortunate" and "Temporary Life", though "Craziest Girl I Know" just seems a little...out of place on this CD.
Still, the CD worked for me, even though I am usually not a big fan of this music (I prefer bluesy-country and speed metal/hard rock). Forget about the cover issue and the fact that he was The Bachelor, and just give the CD a listen. And if you are still miffed about this C-list celebrity and his music career, just remember that Paris Hilton will be releasing a CD soon. If that doesn't put this in perspective, I don't know what will. :-)

I listened to Bob's work on his past band's cd's (Fat Amy) and I thought his vocals were great and the band was great, but their music just was a little "harder" than I normally listened to. HOWEVER, this new CD ROCKS! I think his vocals, lyrics, and the band's talent is expressed even more! Way to go guys! You did a WONDERFUL job! Can't wait to get more of your future music added to my library!

MissyAnn from Michigan

I heard Bob sing live on "The View" and wasn't impressed, nor was I impressed by his CD. Someone recently compared Bob to John Mayer, but I don't think his range or ability to sing is even close to John Mayer.

This release must be examined in two parts. The first five songs are very catchy, knee tapping "Pop" tunes destined for success on radio stations that play Top 40 music. Highlights include the opening track "Girlfriend" and "Temporary Life" although "So Wrong" appears to be the potential chart buster of the album. The first five songs are for the listener who wants to sing along with a sweet melody and easy to swallow lyrics.

The album takes a different turn with "Spare Minute". Paying homage to (or perhaps just simply revisiting) his early days with Fat Amy, the band he fronted and wrote for in the mid-nineties, Guiney delivers a welcomed increase in energy and complexity with the final five songs. Undoubtedly, the best track is the guitar shredding "Craziest Girl I Know" which shows off the musicianship of Guiney's supporting cast as well as his own vocal range.

"3 Sides" provides a taste of something for everyone. For some critics, that would be it's downfall. As for me, I would simply encourage everyone to pick up a copy. You're bound to find something you really enjoy.

Guiney seems like a perfectly decent guy, hence the generous two-star rating.

Still, this needs to be repeatedly stated: The song "Girlfriend" was written by Joe Hedges from JULY FOR KINGS! Every time that song is played on the radio, every single DJ nationwide should be required to acknowledge this fact. Also, the lyrics in Guiney's version have been modified and sanitized (for example, 'Cause they F***ed up my flight' is changed to 'It's the story of my life'.) Yik. Anytime this kind of erroneous and needless censorship occurs, it's both condescending and very disappointing.

If you like this song, please swing by your local record store and pick up "Swim", the debut release from July for Kings, which in addition to "Girlfriend" also includes great songs like "Normal Life", "Believe", and my personal favorite, "Champagne". This record is chock full of straight-ahead American rock music that seems to be ignored by program directors at most current radio outlets.

It is mildly bothersome that while July for Kings has never gained widespread radio airplay or commercial acclaim, Guiney is able to quickly churn out a Top-40 single with one of JFK's original tunes, as he rides out the troubling and inexplicable "success" of 'The Bachelor', while attempting to secure fifteen additional minutes in the spotlight.

I highly recommend JFK's "Swim" - it is 1,000 times better than Guiney's rehashing of other artists' songs.

Bob Guiney manages to hit the middleground of contemporary pop/rock sound with 3 SIDES, and he does so with enough energy that the disc -- if anything -- can be listened to like a welcome guilty pleasure. Sure, his performance on GIRLFRIEND is admirable (not making any comparisons to other covers of the song), and the track is a great attempt to make a mark on the music world with a swift stroke. However, other tracks on the album play out with far greater less pop-sounding interest, and, hopefully, they will find some airplay as well.

Much has been made in these reviews about whether or not the man is a gifted performer and whether or not this album deserved to made and/or released. I think this is unfortunately as 3 SIDES does boast so great musical performances and reasonably well-crafted vocals for a first-time outing. Give the album a complete listen -- don't dismiss it b/c of one or two songs -- and you might be surprised. Given some time and experience to hone his craft, Guiney may find a wider audience, along with a long shelf-life.

The clips that I've heard sound like nothing more than an unoriginal, copy-cat artist. His voice is overprocessed on every track, which may indicate that he doesn't have a really good voice to begin with. This may be an attempt to extend his 15 minutes of fame. I wouldn't take it seriously.

There is nothing of redeeming value with this music; the only reason it exists is because of the cult-like idolatry Bob Guiney receives from his adoring female fans of the ABC show 'The Bachelor'.

The single, 'Girlfriend', is a cover from the band 'July for Kings' which Guiney claims he "re-wrote" to appropriately fit the meaning of his life - which is basically as phony as his singing ability and his autobiography. Save yourself the money - don't bother.

Okay, so the guy can carry a tune. He's also been on t.v. However, personally i'd be more interested in artists who write their own music. Especially artists who dont take their 15 minutes of fame, "borrow" a good song and cover it. There's plenty of people out there who can sing. It's a shame that so many of them stay relatively unknown (see July for Kings) while some has been goes out and sings other people's songs. An additional note for all of you who have this romantic idea that girlfriend was written by Sir Bob himself, maybe even about the show...IT WASN'T.