Around

Tom Verlaine | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 25, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Thrill Jockey
• ASIN: B000ELJ8X0
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #128,186 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Verlaine has truly shaped the sound of modern music, from his early days with the Neon Boys and Television, throughout his solo career, and most recently, as the guitarist in Patti Smith's band. Always ahead of the curve, Tom's influence is immeasurable throughout the rock world with bands as diverse as The Strokes and Dos. No one, however, has been able to replicate his sounds, from delicate lace-like details to soaring and singling lines. "Around" and "Songs And Other Things" are his first new releases since "Warm And Cool" in 1992. "Around" picks up where the last one left off ? varied tones move effortlessly from melody to rhythm and are at once panoramic, pastoral, and atmospheric. It's largely an improvised record and features Tom's old Neon Boys bandmate Billy Ficca on drums. "Songs" is his first vocal album in sixteen years and it includes instrumentation from Television bassist Fred Smith. This record finds Verlaine's songwriting at its most colorful. With so many years between this and his last vocal record, he's got a lot of storytelling to catch up on, which makes every track here a gem.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars noir guitar, May 16, 2006

By 

twangmon (Nashville, TN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Around (Audio CD)

In the early '90s, Tom Verlaine surprised fans of his edgy guitar work with new-wavers Television by releasing a collection of brooding instrumentals. Titled Warm and Cool, the album revealed the spacey, cinematic side of his muse, and introduced the New Yorker to a new audience. Now, some 14 years later, Verlaine has returned to this format with around, a collection of 16 instrumentals featuring his twangy and super-clean electric guitar. These include solo meditations, grooves accompanied by sparse bass and drums, and ambient soundscapes constructed from layers of electronically processed guitar. Verlaine's sonic palette extends from soukos to film-noir jazz to sci-fi effects-disparate elements he sometimes weaves into a single song. His music has an underlying psychedelic current that recalls the late-'60s modal jazz of tenor saxophonist Pharaoh Sanders, as well as the slowly uncoiling energy of Indian ragas. Quirky, subtle, and refreshingly original.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dream-like, April 28, 2006

By 

Hank Schwab (Indianapolis, IN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Around (Audio CD)

This album has a lot in common with "Warm and Cool", Verlaine's previous instrumental album. The backing seems familiar, and the tunes themselves never seem to start or stop. It has the sound of a film soundtrack, little slices-of-life. The sound is mostly moody and melancholy.
The guitar work, though is very different. "Warm and Cool" featured a deep-throated, Duane-Eddy-like sound, whereas this album is much more varied. You can still hear some of his trademark licks, but he is really pulling out all the stops on this one.
Verlaine has been busy working on his craft. If his reputation as a soloist hasn't been established already, this should do the trick.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars small delights, May 12, 2006

By 

Pierre Lacoste (France) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Around (Audio CD)

I can't understand why Gary has wasted his time knocking the two recent Verlaine albums in such an unpleasant, supposedly humorous way. It simply doesn't give an objective view and is nothing less than misleading. The album is full of little spine-tingling delights, with that inimitable guitar style that is Verlaine's, carrying on from where 'Warm and Cool' left off, only broadening the spectrum. My only niggle is that some of the songs could have been longer and a little more developed.