Customer Reviews

Angels Running

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you're here because someone told you you'd like Patty Larkin, if you're here because you've heard one of these songs and want to know if the others are as good, if you're here because you've heard one of her other albums and want to take a chance on a new one, if you're here because you like the likes of Patty Griffin, Shawn Colvin, Dar Williams, Ani DiFranco, Cheryl Wheeler, John Gorka, Holly Cole, Janis Ian, Nanci Griffith, Paul Simon or any good lyricist or any good ten-finger guitar player ever to stand on a street corner with an open guitar case belting out anthems for change...

BUY THIS. It is the best of the best. It is the gold standard for folk albums, the gold standard for female guitarists, for sultry vocalists, for smart women, for good music that stands up to time and tide and criticism.

Patty Larkin is a genius, and this is her best work. Get it first -- you'll want the others. I swear.

Starting with "Who Holds Your Hand" this cd is chock full of memorable songs. The heartbreaking "I Told Him That My Dog Wouldn't Run." The evokative "Helen." The rocking "Pundits and Poets." The genius of "Booth of Glass" (my favorite song) and "Good Thing." The fun of "Might as Well Dance." The picking and plucking of "Banish Misfortune/Open Hand."

Patty Larkin is not the Dixie Chicks. She's not Shania Twain or the Spice Girls. She's not Lauryn Hill or Will Smith. But she's got something for everyone.

This cd -- all of her cds -- sit in my cd collection between Peter Gabriel and Rickie Lee Jones and De La Soul and U2.

"Why haven't I heard of her, if she's so great?" you ask. Because she was a Boston local who did what she needed to do. She tours the folk circuit. She sings where she wants to, when she wants to.

As indispensible as U2's "Achtung Baby" or REM's "Document" or Nanci Griffith's "One Fair Summer Evening" is Patty Larkin's "Angels Running."

There is a hole in your cd collection if you do not have this album.

Whilst on holiday in Boston recently, I was buying CD's, and came across 'Angels' by chance. I'd never heard of Patty before, but decided to try her out. I was stunned at how good she is. Her guitar work is second to none, and the lyrics stand out because they're so different, and in most cases, enigmatic. As a result, I've ordered two more of her albums, and will eventually get them all. Having never heard of her, I didn't realise how close to her I was, when I was on Cape Cod. She is gifted as a singer-songwriter,and has a mind-blowing guitar-playing technique!! Take it from one who has seen the light! Get all her albums,pour a glass of wine, sit back, and drift away to an artist, who has more than just a touch of genius.If you revel in John Leventhal, you'll fall in love with Patty Larkin!!

Many of my male friends say that women don't make good music (and they have never listen to Joni Mitchell, Jane Siberry, Laura Nyro, Shawn Colvin....etc.). Women do make wonderful music, I have a collection of 2.500 of them. Patty Larkin is without doubt one of them. You would just love her guitars, her lyrics, her singing - everthing ; at least if you like artists like Shawn Colvin and Joni Mitchell.

I first heard Patti Larkin live back when she toured with the Bitchin Babes. With them she was funny ("Not Bad for a Broad" cracked me up!) and talented. Then I found this CD at the library, and discovered that he was SO much more.

It's the kind of music that is so powerful, so real, so from-the-gut that some days you just HAVE to listen to it. And some days, you just can't, because it cuts too close to the bone. Each phrase is finely etched poetry, each emotion seems taken precisely from your heart at some time in your life.

Today I woke up with a tear in my eye and "I Told him that my Dog Wouldn't Run" going through my head and admitted that it's time to toss my bootleg library tape and buy the CD.

Her music can touch your heart and your funny bone. Spiritually moving. Definitely an experience for the soul.

I heard "Good Thing" on the Random Hearts soundtrack which immediately got me interested me in hearing more of Patty Larkin's work. I bought this CD and Good Thing, although different from the Random Hearts soundtrack, is very good. She is indeed a wonderful guitar player and singer, but her original material seems weak - I think only hard core folk music fans would appreciate this album - she would benefit from better material - especially songwriting that would show off the strong emotion and breadth of her singing and playing - she has the skills but she needs better songs!

I'm not sure if this is her best, or it's Tango. In either, you'll find super guitar work and wonderful, funny, insightful, touching lyrics.

A nice fit in the Shawn Colvin like singer/songwriter/guitarist genre. Nice acoustic guitar work and good lyrics. She must have been going through nicotine withdrawals because she must have mentioned having or needing a cigarette in 5 different songs.

I loved this cd,"Good Thing" was my favorite song because they played it as Stephan and Laura's love song on the soap opera "General Hospital" and it was just so good. The words,music and voice of the artist was wonderful. I love her style and sound. Pick up this disc, you'll be very happy you did!