Customer Reviews

44 & 66

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This was my first introduction to the music of Greg Brown years ago. I own 3/4 of his releases and I still come back to this one and think of it as a classic. I thoroughly enjoy it beginning to end, including the new song on the C.D. which is'nt on my LP or tape. Words can not express my graditude for the music of this man.

This CD never really reaches the heights of _Dream Cafe_ or _Further In_, but it does have its moments. My favourites are the mellow folk-jazz "Beatniks Gonna Rise Again", the sublime "People Hide Their Love", and the vocals-so-schmaltzy-it-actually-works "20 or so".

The first two paragraphs have been used in other reviews of folk musician/singer/songwriter Greg Brown's work.

Greg Brown is a particular kind of folk singer who before I listened to his "Greg Brown-The Live One " album reviewed elsewhere in this space I had not really paid attention to since the days of my early youth when I listened intently to Woody Guthrie whose songs were seemingly forged from the very heart of Americana. As a child of the urban folk revival of the 1960's I got caught up in listening to the more political message songs provided by the likes of Bob Dylan or Phil Ochs. As a poet/singer/songwriter Greg has come out of the heartland of America, like Woody, in a fury to write and sing his tales of love, remembrance, tragedy, desperation and, on occasion, just pure whimsy. He is thus in very good company, and belongs there.

His songs evoke, under more modern conditions to be sure, the days gone by when the community spirit of small town life meant something. A strong bass voice grainy with the trials and tribulations of life lend authenticity to his words, as does strong guitar playing when necessary. Needless to say the variety of topics covered in his songs speak for themselves from Grandma's food cellars to vanishing Iowa family farms to sweaty nights of lovemaking entwined with the up and down battles of love and, of course, the ubiquitous bouts of fishing that gain more than a nod in his albums.

Outstanding here are the ironically evocative "Bozo's In Love Again", the heartland small town tribute "Early", and the prophetic "Beatniks Gonna Rise Again". As always Greg is on top when singing about the seamy side of life, love and the mysteries of human existence out in the heartland.