Customer Reviews

At the Foot of My Rival (Dig)

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I asked myself that question all the way through about four listens of this album. I own one other New Amsterdams album, but I bought them at the same time, so this was an introduction.

For me this is a really poignant album. It is very thoughtfully arranged, which it sounds like from longtime New Amsterdams fans is characteristic of the band. This album is just a great listen all the way through.

It also has its standout moments. The two rock tracks on this album are really phenomenal: "A Beacon in Beige" and "Without a Sound (Eleanor)". In this sense the album reminds me of Augustana.

Other standouts: "Silverlake" and "Drunk or Dead". Some may ding them for somewhat simplistic lyrics, but the same can be said about critic favorite Elvis Perkins or pretty much every other artist (including Dylan at times, IMO). So then as always it is up to the listener. I will put this lyric from "Drunk or Dead" agaist any other tune I've heard this year

Don't tell me about the sins of man
I felt the sting of God's right hand

Don't miss this.

It would be difficult for me to say that the New Amsterdams (and the Get Up Kids, for that matter) ever seem to break new ground. Their music is consistently catchy, occassionally moving, and hardly ever easily dismissed. Yet, to me, none of their albums have been an absolute home run--the kind of album that hijacks your record player/cd player/iPod for months at a time. That is the case with "At the Foot of My Rival." There are some really great tracks on the album--particularly "Drunk or Dead,""A Beacon in Beige," and "Silverlake." Unfortunately, the few hiccups in the album keep this from jumping beyond past releases on the list of their best. A wonderful listen, but still a "striving to be great" attempt.

That's "Pryor" by the way, and not being a devoted fan (hardly knowing them at all), I wasn't bowled over by this CD to any extent. On the other hand most of the music is very good, mellow little hooks in a jangly subset of soft midwest rock. Pryor's voice fits in well in that setting, made for this kind of thing, like the human equivalent of a fuzz tone guitar. There's nothing here that really jumps out as a killer song, but several that please, particularly "Fountain", even though I hate harmonicas. Lyrically, and to some extent in the way he repeats his key phrases, he has a little Springsteen in him. Give him credit as well for not jumping around, the songs take a set and hold the groove.

Anyway, if it sounds like your kind of music you'll like it a lot I think. If the term "roots" or "country" makes you curl, then probably your reaction will be similar to mine; eh, it's alright.

This album is great. I have been a fan of Matt Prior's ever since the Get up Kids and have grabbed every album since the beginning. I have liked all of the New Amsterdam's stuff, but this is the most solid album to date. From the first song to the last this is classic Prior, great music, great lyrics, no filler. Go get it!