Customer Reviews

Age of Miracles

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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ive read a few reviews online and agree for the most part- this is a very "safe' or "accessable" CP offering. but in my opinion its one his best to date. after a few "road listenings" ive realized theres not one low point on the entire cd. the song that really grabbed hold of me is the one most critics had me believing "a weird throwaway"- YOU DID (bomp shooby dooby bomp). the way chuck constucts this tune is genius from beginning to the unwelcome end. the switching of the refain from megaphone static to finally upfront vocals is the capper for me. not to mention steph's angelic passage on the outro. and did i mention a little south o the border trumpet thrown in for good measure? cool.
AGE OF MIRACLES is an instantly infectious tune and every bit as hit-worthy as SUMMERTIME THING was a few seasons ago.
JUST TO SEE YOU SMILE rubbed me the wrong way at first. maybe a little too sunny for CP, but now i see where he was going on this one- to me it has a nice kinda brian wilson 60's groove to it. especially with that lou christie sounding "ahhh ah aah ah" backup.
dont get me wrong-theres also a good solid smattering of the "dark chuck" tunes here too. he may not come off as pathetic and desperate as his HOMEMADE BLOOD era on this effort- but thats just fine because he's deffinitely matured- and in a good way.
chuck gets some fine help on this one with his old bizarre writing buddy klipshutz as well as dan penn and kims- carnes and richey. you will also note some fine studio touches from the old "tucson connection".
lots of fun stuff hiding out on this one...and the more you listen the more you'll discover.
if i had any gripes about the album, i suppose i would have to ask for more of his blistering tele work- but thats why we go see him live, isnt it?

I bought this CD for the song "Pin a Rose On Me," but when I listened to the whole thing, I found two songs I liked even more: "Monkey on My Back" and "You Did." I've actually loaned out two copies and am now on my third. Unbelievably, my mom took my latest one, and she's 62, and the previous one went to my niece who is 16, so there is definitely a range of listeners who will like this music. I know the comparisons have already been made, but Prophet sounds to me like a combination of Tom Waits, Tom Petty, Leonard Cohen, and Bob Dylan. (Although my mother thinks he's a bit like Anthony from the Chili Peppers, as well. Yah, she's a cool mom.) Anyway, I think the entire CD is amazing and I've just ordered two other ones to listen to, as well.

If you are looking for something to kick back and relax to, this is it! I am a blues, rock, folk, funk and everything in-between lover and this happens to be one of my favs of all time.

AS A MUSIC LOVER WHO LISTENS TO HUNDREDS OF CD'S A YEAR,
FOR 2004 THIS IS THE BEST CD I'VE HEARD. THE MAN IS A TRUE
TALENT AND IT WILL BE YOUR LOSS IF YOU DON'T GET ACQUAINTED
WITH THIS CD ALONG WITH HIS EARLIER RELEASES.SPENDING MONEY
ON THIS CD WILL BRING IMMEDIATE PROFIT.

One of those albums that's great on the first listen, but gets even better with repeated ones.

We'd heard his name for a few years, but it wasn't until we heard `Just to See You Smile' come bubbling out of our radio that we took an interest. Although `...Smile' is the sprightliest song on Prophet's `Age of Miracles' there are a handful of others just as ear-pleasing. Prophet is a tough artist to categorize...our favorite kind. He mixes just enough elements of rock, country and blues to personify "pop". He is as versed and versatile a guitarist as he is a songwriter. He is an accomplished producer who blends organic studio sounds with those synthetic ones that denote the century in which they were recorded. Reminiscent, vocally, of a bunch of artists we've heard before (Lou Reed, Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen, Jerry Jeff Walker, Frank Zappa), he provides just the right combo of authority, humor, and edge to his array of fine songs. Prophet has a back catalogue. This cd is good enough to compel us, given the time and the financial resources, to go back and dig through it.

I truly enjoy this album. I really do. It's pop-ish and pleasant and caring, and "Just to See You Smile" makes me happy. It's just that I have to convince myself that I like this album whenever it comes on. Maybe it's that I listened to it too much when I first got it, but this album doesn't seem to age well.