Customer Reviews

33 1/3 Grand Street

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Road Trips were made for this CD. The lyrics are beautifully written, and the music is really just brilliant. He made a name for himself in New York and is currently just blowing up in Ireland, where he is headlining and selling out places like its nobody's business. He's performed with artists such as Josh Ritter and Elvis Costello, which only furthers his songwriting credibility, and his live performances are even more energetic and impressive than the album itself. But the record has a vibe very similar to that of Paul Simon's Graceland, in terms of the mellowness, tempo and rythym. Gingerman is a great song to open up with, and Obi's Chair is super as well. It Beats Me and Suzanne are also favorites of mine, and I'll round out the top five with America. But songs like South and Volunteer are like guitar magic, whatever that means. Some of the songs are very reminiscent of Nick Drake and even a little Counting Crowish at times, maybe thats just me. But this is a great acoustic type album with great songs and songwriting, and one that only gets better with play. Keep listening to it, and you'll love it.

The friend who turned me onto this CD called it exceptional "make out music" but I think I'd be too distracted trying to hear the amazing lyrics to get too busy. I actually listened to this three times straight through while driving around and got more into it each time through. The sound is soothing but the lyrics aren't predicatable (wish they were printed on the liner notes...). I kept thinking Mark's voice reminded me of someone else but completely dismissed that thinking--he's definitely an original. It's a solid (though slightly short) album that is yet more proof that indie labels produce art we might never otherwise experience.

Mark Geary appeared on the radar in February just before the release of his new album. Closely connected to Glen Hansard and the Frames who used to play regularly at my university (Limerick, IRL), Mark had begun appearing on a few TV and radio programmes to plug the new record. It has taken much time and effor to put together and boy is the end result a reflection of this. He is a superior songwriter with a voice that manages to retain a wonderful positive quality while soothing with melodies that weave you through beautiful songs that continue to grow, listen after listen. The instrumentation is spot on throughout alternating between the intense, bigger-band sound on the opening track "Gingerman" and a gentle, flowing finger-picking on tracks such as "Volunteer" and "Obi's Chair". Comparisons abound, but like any musician, comparisons only get you so far. Evidince of Nick Drake would appear obvious on a few tracks while perhaps some of David Gray's less electronic stuff fils other spaces. If you're in search of a writer of meaningful, introspective yet accesible songs and a musician who provides a wonderful backdrop for those songs, Mark Geary provides both in stacks.

This album is definitely worth 5 stars. Every song is great, there isn't one dud. The melodies, lyrics and instrumental playing (particularly the guitar and precussion) are excellent. some of the songs are quite mellow, others emotional. I bought this and albums from other artists after hearing the "Other Voices" compilation in 2003. This is the album I still listen to the most - I'm going to order his next album while I'm here.

With all the Pop-academy-fame-star-rival junk on TV in the UK (and probably over in the US too - if you haven't got that phenomenon yet, God help ya, if you do, em, God help ya too) it's just so cool to hear real pop sung by a guy with a real voice playing his own guitar and singing about real stuff. I mean, take the track "It beats me". Why is this guy not being played all over the place? In a way, he is a bit like David Gray with the emotional insight and the one-man-and guitar thing, except with mature lyrics you can actually understand and his songs all sound different (and best of all he doesn't waggle his head from side to side like David Gray when he sings - I've seen him). This mix of Irish upbringing, New York sass and personal insight is a great antidote to pop muzak as squirted out of the production line of the musical imperialists..! Go and buy it.