Customer Reviews

Americana

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Upon my first listen of "Americana," I was immediately drawn in to the rapidly-enveloping sonic cocoon that is Starflyer 59. Starting with the album's first track, the classic rock-tinged "Voyager," the listener is immediately bombarded with an unrelenting, bass-heavy wall of heavily distorted rhythm guitar and distant, droning leads. Jason Martin's vocals seem almost whispered above the song's melodic onslaught. Other standout tracks like "Hearttaker" and the slower numbers "So You Think You're Radical" and "Help Me When You're Gone" continue in the same formula, using well-distributed dosages of reverb, slide guitar, and brush drums on the slower songs. Listening to the entire album in one sitting leaves the listener in a bizarre, yet eerily comfortable trance-like state, craving more. Even more anomalous perhaps is the fact that Starflyer have managed to create a completely unique sound in the often redundant world of rock music; simply put, there is nothing like them out there today. If you're looking for one more processed trend, you won't find it here, but if you're looking for the epitome of loud, melodic rock, then "Americana" is the album you've been looking for.

Starflyer continues it guitar feedback sound on "Americana" but in a more harmonic way. The songs are all great and they flow well into each other which shows that you should listen to this album all at once. Starflyer which has always been masterminded by Jason Martin has always had a knack for crafting great pop songs but there the type you want hear on top 40 radio. Thank goodness for "Americana" as it signals the last real distortion guitar sound on that was so prevelant on early releases "Silver" and "Gold". So you should buy "Americana" and enjoy the space song sound that is Starflyer 59.

...and i think that this was a turning point in SF59's musical progression. yes, the noise was still there, but it was suddenly more melodic...and the vocals were stronger, too. there are a few slower tunes on the CD, but for the most part, i love listening to this loud when i have tedious work to do. it's the perfect energy boost. in some ways, this was the last burst of noise from SF59; after this CD, melody took over and the signature SF59 guitar "wall of sound" played more of a supporting role. a great CD nonetheless!

I doubt many Starflyer 59 fans are ready for the sound Jason Martin and company have waiting for them on "Americana". While "shoegazer" seems like the word that best describes the sound of SF 59's previous records, "Americana" is nothing more or less than hard rock plucked from the 70's mingled with pop from the 50's. That may not sound very cool, but it definitely is for two big reasons. Martin has a knack for writing good songs with strong melodies, and his distinctive voice and fearless vocal style offer a unique counterpoint to the music. Plus, Martin surrounds himself with steady veteran players, particularly drummer Everett, who possesses a perfect laid-back style, and producer Eugene, who plays keyboards.

One could consider "Americana" a tribute album since it mines familiar territory in American popular music, but it's tribute in a good way because of Martin's vision and the group's execution.

On their third full length album "Americana", Starflyer 59 created the masterpiece of guitar space rock. This album is so good especially late at might, the guitar is amazing, there is also an organ thrown in from time to time. From the first track "Voyager", you'll be hooked. I love the mellow stuff like "You think you're radical", but this whole album is amazing. It's my favorite SF59 album to listen to, and all their stuff is great. Buy this album wherever you can find it, it's out of print!

to be honest this is one of the greatest cd's ever in my opinion. a true masterpeice of pop. driving guitars smothered in retro-distortion and fuzz, layered with chorus and reverb and haunting melodies topped off with a melodic garnish. a tasty dish to serve anytime of day no matter the setting or mood. dont let the color of the cd fool you. pick it up...if you buy one cd from this band this would be the one to buy. bon appetite!

This album is awesome. I believe this is the best of the "old" sound of SF59. The first three albums all have colors as their album art, then with the Fashion Focus they actually had album art. This appears almost as a metaphor for the change in sound they were undertaking. If you look at it that way this album is the last of the super distorted, heavily layered SF59 sound. Why is this the last one? Just by listening to this album you can tell that they had matured in this level and had mastered it to such an extreme that they had no room left to further develop this sound. This is the first SF59 CD I bought and with such strong tunes as The Hearttaker and Everyone But Me I could never stop listening to it. I guess you could say that I "Fell in Love at 22"

Starlyer 59 is a hidden treasure! they play ultra dreamy, spacey ,atomic "in love" makeout music with occasional high distortion ... it is unique - and once you listen to it when your "in the mood" with a loved one , you will definaitly become a hardcore starflyer fan ! I recomend for the full affect the cd's "she's the queen","the Gold album",and "americana" ... the newer albums arent as good, but the three i mentioned are prime choices !

Yes I agree with a previous reviewer. SF 59 is the perfect "Make Out Band". Silver is like the epitomy of make out album, just pop it in and be taken away into space. About this album. It's simply amazing. Another one to add to theirs (n Yours) already prestigious catalogue. Americana is the album I probably listen to most not because it's my fav (that'd be Gold) but because it's sooo consistently good through out. The songwriting is top notch. This one gets overlooked the most but it seriously is one of their better ones. Just listen to the hearttaker. It's got heavy crunchy guitars sweet melodies and an absolute catchiness to it all. It will get drilled into yer head, the whole album. Please stop reading this er... review and just buy the damn thing!