Customer Reviews

69 Love Songs 2

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Stephin Merritt has yet again created another fantastic album. Volume 2 is highlighted by "When My Boy Walks Down the Street," "My Only Friend," "Epitaph for my Heart"...the list goes on. This is my favorite of all three volumes because it's the most consistently listenable. Volumes 1 and 2 have some dry patches which aren't as instantly accessible or interesting as most of the stuff on this album. I was lucky to catch TMF twice in the past couple months in the NYC area - first at the Knitting Factory for everything from "World Love" (#34?) through "Zebra" (#69)and then at Maxwells in Hoboken where they included older songs. They were great on each night but Stephin definetly needs to lighten up when he's performing! There's a good article about his personal history that was recently published in the Village Voice which any fan would find interesting.

Although others here have said that it is impossible to like one volume of "69 Love Songs" over any other, I fear that it is. This is, currently, my favorite volume.

There are just too many good songs on here -- "Roses," "When My Boy Walks Down the Street," "Time Enough For Rocking When We're Old," "Very Funny," "Grand Canyon," etc, etc. And "Papa Was a Rodeo," "Epitaph for My Heart" and "Asleep and Dreaming" are some of Merritt's best compositions, lyrically and musically.

Sure, it sort of drags a little bit in the middle ("Washington, D.C." and "Kiss Me Like You Mean It" come to mind), but all three volumes have their share of somewhat mediocre songs.

It also has the best opening and closing tracks of the three volumes (although "Absolutely Cuckoo" is pretty amazing) -- "Roses" is a lovingly sung thirty second song that defies catagorization (there's no music, just a beautiful voice); and "I Shatter" also defies catagorization with it's Laurie Anderson-like vocals (anyone remember that oddity "O Superman"?).

Regardless, you should not just buy one or two volumes -- buy the box set. There are some songs ("Absolutely Cuckoo," "A Chicken with Its Head Cut Off," "Busby Berkeley Dreams," "The Death of Ferdinand de Saussure," and many, many more) that are not available on volume two. But, if you must buy one, I guess I'll be one of the few to say "pick volume 2."

if you're considering buying vol.2 please don't be hindered by negative reviews found herein. if you like what you've heard on vol 1 and/or 3 make no mistake these songs have much to offer. although the styles are widely varied, merritt's fantastic melodies and clever lyrics still flow second to none one after the other. i feel blessed that this recording caught my attention because hours of blissful songwriting are to be had. of course the box set is the best bang for your buck but if you must buy only one or two, volume 2 has material which easily equalls that of the others. check out "(crazy for you) but not that crazy" and "when my boy walks down the street" to satisfy your indie/retro rock urges while the other tunes may encourage to investigate other music styles; merritt is a master of simple, catchy yet deep songwriting craft.

...The song was "When My Boy Walks Down the
Street", and I ordered the CD for it. Well, it was so
good, I hardly ever listen to When My Boy, because I love
the other ones so much!! Papa Was A Rodeo is excellent,
a short little ditty called Washington DC makes me want
to get up and cheer:)Stuffed with good things, I'm telling
everyone I know about it. And now, I must get the other discs
in the set. BUY BUY BUY!!

OK, I got Volume 1 about 6 mos. ago and loved it but his one is just so good, maybe I'm just so enthralled because I don't kwow every single note but I think it's every bit as good as the other two dare I say better...no, they're all great.

Volumes 1 & 3 have it all over this one. That other 3 star rating was right -- it obviously upset the Merritt fanatics.

The boxed set is terrific, but if you don't want all 3, this is clearly the one to skip. Other than "Papa Was A Rodeo" (a C&W parody that works [unlike, say, Merrit's punk rock parody] because of the underlying affection for the genre), there's not a great song on the disc. Plenty on the other two, though.

Um. Im not sure if the kid who gave this disc 3 stars really ever listened to it. Im thinking not because THIS IS THE BEST DISC OF THE SET. Case closed. Pencils down.

Stephin Merritt gives you 23 amazingly haunting and beautiful nuggets of pop wisdom on this disc. Starting with 'ROSES' which could easily be a Dorthy Parker poem, and finishing up with 'I SHATTER' which is like a Kate Bush song sung by froggy from the Little Rascals tv program. Cute!

Between these two soon to be classics, you will find a mass of Wilde wit and pure pop sugar to keep your head buzzing for days. There are some tunes on here that would be perfect for a 'breaking up with you' mix tape. Check out my personal faves; No One Will Ever Love You, If You Don't Cry, Epitaph For My Heart, and (Crazy for you)But Not That Crazy.

To prove that the world is not all about sadness and pain, Stephin also includes some of the most beautiful love songs you will ever hear. Songs like; Asleep and Dreaming, Papa Was A Rodeo, Washington DC, and Kiss Me Like You Mean It.

This Disc goes from faux Beat Poetry to 1980's New Wave to Corny Country to 1960's girl group super power pop and makes every stop between.

I would suggest getting the boxed set of all 69 songs but if your mom said you could only get one disc, this is the one I would most strongly suggest. If you dig the magnetic fields, you will love this disc.

To debate which of these CDs are better than others seems silly. They all contain well written songs with incredibly catchy production techniques. I think you end up like the one you hear first the most. Then they each have a turn being the favorite once they all grow on you.

Volume 2 has some of the best songs I've ever heard!