Customer Reviews

Angels Turned Thieves

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

 

 

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.

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.

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.

Well I'm no Lester Bangs, but I think this record deserves a little more of a pat on the back on the old Amazon BB than it seems to be getting. Ok let me try my hand at "record reviewer": It is a very self-assured debut, not too showy, but a very artful demonstration of folk-grass songwriting. Produced by dobro-master Mike Brenner, who is finding a bigger press buzz with his other band Marah, it has a great sound with some fine playing and singing and excellent, thoughtful, understated lyrics. I especially like "Air of Gettysburg" with its quirky vocal and thought-provoking lyrics, and the whole family digs "Broke TV". In some places it's a little too mellow, and they could've standed to substitute a raver or two for a couple of the slow ones; otherwise this would be a 5-star hit. I can't really compare it to other bands- maybe kinda like a space-age Stanley Bros., a little Hank Williams, a folkier Old & In The Way, acoustic Son Volt, with some fiddle tuneage ala Del McCoury mixed in. It's not jumping on any big alt-country trend, and it sounds true to itself- The singer definitely has a "voice" of his own.

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.