Angels Turned Thieves

John Train | Format: MP3 Download

Product Details

• Original Release Date: May 18, 1999
• Label: Record Cellar
• Copyright: (C) 1999 Record Cellar
• Total Length: 37:40
• Genres: Country/Alt-Country & Americana, Folk/Contemporary Folk
• ASIN: B000QZPEO6
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars From "the outlaw in his brain," John Train rings true., February 19, 2000

By 

Paul Hickey (Fairfax, VA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Angels Turned Thieves (Audio CD)

OK, I'll admit it. I got "Angels Turned Thieves" mostly out of curiosity, just to hear what a band named after the infamous evil alter-ego of the legendary Phil Ochs would sound like. Imagine my surprise when the group's album turned out to be an excellent blend of modern twang country music and urban folk songs that stand the test of repeated listenings.

While "Angels Turned Thieves" lacked the crazed energy that I somehow half-expected Train would have, the record has more than its share of small gems and even an occasional minor masterpiece. Jon Houlon does an admirable job of singing, and his guitar works well with Bill Fergusson on mandolin, Jay Ansill on fiddle, Steve Demarest on bass, and Mike Brenner on dobro. Together, this Philadelphia quintet has produced a very impressive debut.

The writing is crisp and the lyrics are often quite clever as they cover familiar terrain, ranging from humorous ditties about love to earnest tunes about the meaning of ancient battles. The title track nicely captures a mood of quiet desperation, while "Air of Gettysburg" pretty much succeeds at linking the Civil War sacrifice to the great Lincoln speech and the change that resulted from it. "Looking for Hints" and "You Come to Me" are finely detailed and nuanced descriptions of relationships gone awry or undergoing renovations, whereas "Broke TV" and "Down in the Draw" provide the album with some of its lighter notes. "Trains Rollin' By" has a traditional hobo feel to it, but "You and Yours" almost crosses the line into radio-friendly fare with a pop hook or two. "Ask Me to Stay" and "Underside" are a couple of other pieces worth mentioning, both for their concise effectiveness at turning a phrase, and for the way that they manage to combine the regrets of experience with hope for the future.

Oh, there are some clunkers here, too. "Take You Home Tonight," "Wait Until Spring," and "I Know" come to mind as failed efforts that do little but fill space and waste time. Overall, however, the disappointments are few. In short, there are more hits than misses on this release, and (unlike the deranged Doppelganger of the late Mr. Ochs) John Train ends up offering something that nearly everyone can enjoy.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars --A perfect blend of folk, pop, and bluegrass., August 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Angels Turned Thieves (Audio CD)

John Train's "Angel Turned Thieves" is a superb example of strong songwriting and expert musicianship, tastefully produced into an album of rare and subtle beauty.

5.0 out of 5 stars Jon Houlon is a genius, August 14, 2001

By 

S. Jones - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Angels Turned Thieves (Audio CD)

I love every song on this album. There is also great variety among the songs. The lyrics are clever and understated. The music is interesting and often quite beautiful. Obvious influences include Townes Van Zant, Phil Ochs, and Butch Hancock. However, I hear other influences as well: Billy Bragg, Elvis Costello, and Bob Dylan. An absolutely brilliant debut album! I can't wait for their next.