Customer Reviews

Between Five & Seven

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've had this CD for about a year now. I bought it (along with lots of others) after seeing Cry Cry Cry live at Town Hall in NYC -- perhaps the most wonderful musical performance I've ever experienced in 30 years of attending shows. Tracing the musical lineage of the CCC artists leads to a group of incredible singer songwriters. Gorka is one of the best of the group. I've listened to this CD at least a hundred times. I'd say at least twenty times I've listened to it all the way through, then just hit play again. I simply love this album. No question, "Blue Chalk" is an awesome song. But I especially love "Two Good Reasons," "The Mortal Groove" and "Scraping Dixie" (did anyone pick up the reference to "Honore", a James Keelaghan song?). The man has a very rare ability to make words work, to create images, impossible images, notions... it's what poetry is all about. And great music that works with it. A rare, rare artist. J. Mark Lane

I bought this CD blindly from a music club, not knowing what I was getting. It was one of the best risks I've ever taken. The songwriting is superlative! Amazing insights into human character (or characters!)and very beautiful songs. I cried like a baby the first time I listened to "Part of Your Own" ... over and over again for an hour straight; it captured my feelings towards my own mother. I also love "The Mortal Grove" and "Edgar the Party Man." I've known many "Edgars" in my time. These songs seem to identify and beautifully describe unarticulated observations and moods that we all experience.

The song on this CD that captivated me was "Two Good Reasons." In just a few simple words, John shows us the Meaning of Life and the reasons for keeping on keeping on. John Gorka is an incredible lyricist, writes songs with substance, humor and that are downright pleasin' to the ear. Any John Gorka CD is worth the listen, and this one is worth it for that one song. Listen closely to the words.

John Gorka delivers again with a dozen brilliant folk masterpieces. long time devotees of gorka will be pleased; new fans will be won over, if they only give him a listen. gorka again borrows john jennings from mary-chapin carpenter, to good effect, both as co-producer and as instrumentalist. as veteran fans know, gorka alternates between heartfelt songs that'll break your heart or that touch deep truths, and clever wordplay on lighthearted tunes. of the former, deeper variety are "blue chalk", a story of desperation, "two good reasons," a straight-up love song, and, most compelling to me, "part of your own," a heartfelt ode to his mother (gorka fans know that he had previously written several songs for his dad; this is the first tune he wrote for his mom). in the latter, lighter mode, are "can't make up my mind," "airstream bohemians," ("he was the kind to look for work, although not the kind to find it...") and "edgar the party man," a cautionary tale of a man who can't quite seem to handle the commitment thing. if you're a long-time gorka fan, you probably already have it. if your collection so far has not been enriched by the bard from new jersey, this is a fine introduction to gorka, a mature work that adequately covers both his myrth and his muse.

The songs vary from upbeat to soulful, but they always have something to say to the listener. I feel "Part of Your Own" is an absolutely beautiful expression of a son's feelings and worth the price of the CD by itself, but not, by any means the only song worth listening to on this outstanding effort. Warm is exactly the right way to describe Gorka's voice as he makes you feel the emotions of the songs he has chosen for this album.

This Cd was easy to get into,and puts everyone who listnens to it in a good mood.

Don't read this, just get it!!!! You won't be disappointed and the honestly moving songs will enrich your perspective. So improve your outlook, give this a listen.

For someone who has released cd's like "Bottom Line" and "after yesterday", this one may come as a slight disappointement. Although a good record, it's not in par with his best efforts and most of it is overproduced. It's still Gorka, the great songwriter, though. The song are as good as ever.

John Gorka has an exceptional voice -- perhaps the warmest voice in folk music today. With "Between Five and Seven" he reminds us that he is also one of the best songwriters in popular music. "Blue Chalk" is a gem - and worth the price of this CD. Catch Gorka in concert, if possible. He will not disappoint.

Reading the two or three less than completely enthusiastic reviews here, I am compelled to rush to the defense of John.

"Only pretending to expand his musical horizons?" "Overproduced?" Less than memorable melodies? Muzak??? Did he say John sounds like Muzak??? Uhhh.. Sure. Right. Now, that old cliche "everyone's entitled to their opinion," gets bandied about quite a bit, and we do "live in free country" and all, so people can in fact say what they like. But really, folks, anything less than deliriously joyful acclamation of the Great Gorka ought to get one hustled quickly off to the asylum for a little shock therapy.

Now, it is true that this is not roots music. Or some sort of avant garde experimental fusion of African kazoos with banjos or something. It is not as spare as some of John's earlier work. But. So. What. John has one of the warmest baritones around. His songwriting and choice of material is inspired. His melodies - contrary to one of the nay sayers - are wonderful, and though they're not of the sort that will haunt you like one of those idiotic pop tunes that get stuck in your head until you want to wrench it off and throw it into a wood chipper, they're always emotionally appropriate to the lyrics, which are what John Gorka's music is driven by.

All the songs on this album are gems. Every one. Some are wryly funny or goofy like Campaign Trail, Edgar The Party Man or Invisible Gun. Others are meditative, even melancholy, but in a way that always makes me glad to be alive. The Mortal Groove. Part of Your Own. And one of my favorites of all time, Two Good Reasons: "If there's love in your heart, then I count two good reasons to survive."

Blue Chalk is another of my favorite songs of all time. It's about a pool player, but I never try to parse the story in the song- I take it more as a flow of lyrical impressions that always leave me slain: "So I wonder how she's doing, I hate it when the rumors fly - They give off such a strange sense of mission, wing your helplessness on high.."

John Gorka just speaks to and for me. His music ennobles me, and makes everything better, even when it's very good. I've been listening to this album since it came out - I can't even tell you when that was, but it was a while ago. It is an old friend of mine, and it annoys the cuss out of me when people say appalling things about my friends. Muzak. Holy smokes.. How stupid. Heh heh. Seriously, though, this is one of the greater albums I've ever heard. Do yourself a favor and check it out.

I leave you with a line from John that always makes me smile:

"One combination still impresses: women in their summer dresses.."

You said it John. Amen.