Americano

Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers, Roger Clyne | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 20, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Emma Java
• ASIN: B0001CNR0W
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #53,587 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Americano!

2. Counterclockwise

3. I Don't Need Another Thrill

4. Switchblade

5. Leaky Little Boat

6. God Gave Me a Gun

7. Loco to Stay Sane

8. Mexican Moonshine

9. Your Name on a Grain of Rice

10. Love, Come Lighten My Load

11. Leave an Open Door

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Don't Need Another Thrill, January 7, 2005

By 

Kevin L. Nenstiel "omnivore" (Kearney, Nebraska) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Americano (Audio CD)

Listening to this disc for the first time, I was reminded of Creedence Clearwater, Buffalo Springfield, and Tim O'Brien. All in the best way. This band has a similar way of linking together songs that aren't necessarily thematically homogenous, and making them stand up as a unified whole. This collection of twelve originals (there is an unbilled track) rocks along, with a country-fried front porch undertone, both a party time soundtrack and a little something for when you're just chilling.

There are no out-and-out bad tracks on this album. The closest there might be is "Your Name On a Grain of Rice," which rambles a little, but is still quite good. Other tracks, like "Counterclockwise," "Leaky Little Boat," and "God Gave Me a Gun," weave in and out of a guitar rock sounscape that moves from the driving electricity of the title track, through dark reveries like "Switchblade," to the acoustic-based "Leave an Open Door" with scarcely a hiccup.

Not everyone will like this album, but not everyone should. There's an atmosphere to it like two beers and a basket of mozarella sticks with good friends. Gleefully unsophisticated and kickingly friendly, this is music for the kind of people who don't mind lying to the spouse about why you spent an extra hour at the pub with that guy you hope your kids never actually meet.

Some versions of this CD are packed with a DVD about the making of the album. This isn't exactly something you want to watch over and over again, like "Lord of the Rings," but it's a fun insight into the creative process and a peek into the life of the kind of band who deserves more attention than they get, but is happy to play for a core of devoted fans.

If only more albums like this came out for the devoted music lover, there would be no complaints against modern American recording. If you've heard of this disc, you're already ahead of the curve. Pick up a copy and play it loud, and see if you don't feel like there's hope for American music in the early Twenty-first Century.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars To The Next Level, February 11, 2004

By 

Eric KeoskySmith (Phoenix, AZ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Americano (Audio CD)

For fans of the (former) Refreshments or the alive and kicking Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers, this album is a welcome, long awaited gift. For those who have never heard the band - live or otherwise - it will take a little getting use to - but you'll find it very much worth your listening pleasure!

Rock with a southwest flair and lyrics that run deep is the only way to categorize this album and band. Previously pegged as alt-country, Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers (aka RCPM) have really grown to a new dimension on Americano! There are some who will argue - myself included - that this finest of work helps them reach a point in their music that Seeger, Springsteen, Buffet and Petty were at, just prior to being "discovered" by the rest of the country. Yes, it's that good!

From the opening explosion of the title song `Americano!", through the hard driving but simple "I Don't Need Another Thrill", and even with the raggee-ish "Leaky Little Boat", the bands lyrics and delivery leave you with both the hope and the despair that sometimes comes with living on either side of our southern borders. But through it all the rich distinctive voice of Clyne spins a yarn as good as any pop lyricist today. Backed by an incredibly tight band with former Refreshments and drummer-great P.H. Naffah, talented Danny White on Bass and the incredible Steve Larson on Guitar, the band manages to restrain itself where appropriate, and explode with power and life when called upon.

Capping off the album is the beautiful "Leave An Open Door", possibly the sleeper of the entire set. Of course the 'hidden' "Hungover You", as well as the sing-along "Mexican Moonshine" reflect on the light south-of-da-border atmosphere the band has come from .... and goes back to on frequent occasions. In fact as a bonus included with the CD is a simple but wonderful "In the making" and "on tour" 50+ minute DVD which helps take you through the trials, tribulations and ultimate success the band achieved in grinding out this 4th album. Much of the album and the DVD takes place either in Mexico or with the heavy influence of the Arizona/Mexican border from which the band comes from.

Not a bad song on the album, and a few I have not mentioned will surely get me a tongue lashing from real Peacemaker fans as being "great" - therefore - why not included? Which is fine in that there is such depth and variety for all to hear!

I can leave any reader with these 3 bits of advice:
1. Get this album
2. Absorb this album
3. Then see the band live. The music and the experience will open your eyes to the incredible combination of great songwriting, great musical talent, incredible energy and most of all the FUN that rock 'n roll was meant to be!

Salute!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy this CD or quit complaining about how rock is dead., August 26, 2004

By 

Amante de Música "Revolution's on the inside" (Spokane, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Americano (Audio CD)

Rock is alive and well amigo and survives by the independent artists who have the courage to support themselves soley on the merits of thier talent. The Peacemakers are the real deal.

Roger Clyne paints the picture and the band provides the color for a peice of art that brings joy to the soul. This CD is thier best effort to date. Steve Larson's guitar work simply shines while not distracting from the message. He is sublime and talented.Roger writes his best songs and lyrics ever. Simple and catchy. There are probably more references to Mexico than any other album he has done but I for one am not sick of hearing "another song about Mexico".PH Naffah compliments every song and he is as perfect as usual providing the beats. This guy is underated as percussionist.To see them live is to love them and you will find a dedicated upbeat audience who sings every word and you will be inducted into the Peacemaker army. Until then buy this CD.