Customer Reviews

Big Circumstance

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

What an amazing gift this man has! Travel the world, take in life's atrocities, see things that most people simply can't comprehend. Then with the skill of a surgeon, carve out a painting with words and music. A painting so vivid in beauty and complexity, that you find yourself confused yet understanding at the same time! Life is not always kind. A broken heart, the death of a rain forest, hate and pollution so vile that it sickens us all. Bruce simply portrays it all in this one recording. The sheer diversity of this CD in both a lyrical and musical sense make " Big Circumstance" one of my favorites. You'll find rock, country, folk and a 9 min. rendition of some of the best blues you will ever hear on "Radium Rain".

I own nearly everything this this man has ever recorded. And though I punish my "Cockburn" CDs, with a relentless passion, I never tire of what he brings to my heart and soul. Please treat yourself to one of life's best kept secrets, the talents of Bruce Cockburn. You too will find yourself "Listening through his eyes"!

I've been a big fan of Bruce Cockburn's since "Stealing Fire", and I own most of his earlier work now. This is not his finest album, but it's very good. "I Don't Feel Your Touch" is one of the most poignant broken heart songs you'll find, and the playful, thoughtful "Shipwrecked At the Stable Door" is wonderful. Give it a listen; you won't regret it.

Carries the anger of "If I had a Rocket Launcher" (Where the Death Squad Lives), and environmentalism (Radium Rain, If a Tree Falls), and love (Pangs of Love), and so much more. I just re-listened to my tape (CD on "will-get" list), and every emotion is portrayed in these 11 songs. Plus, can the man ever pick guitar! One for the ages!

In the world of songwriters and performers Cockburn stands at the top - still one of the best in the world. I have been a fan since "In The Falling Dark". He still seems to try to push himself to new levels of creativity and relevance. He is constantly amazing me as one who also writes and performs. That said, about half this album's songs are excellent. Not enough to make me keep playing it. The album is good - not his best. Too many songs fail to speak to me, to my experience, my world. The songs about relationships succeed the most, like "Don't Feel Your Touch", and a pared down arrangement. Charity of Night and Nothing But A Burning Light are better.

Track Listings
1. If A Tree Falls
2. Ship wrecked At The Stable Door
3. Gospel Of Bondage
4. Don't Feel Your Touch
5. Tibetan Side Of Town
6. Understanding Nothing
7. Where The Death Squad Lives
8. Radium Rain
9. Pangs Of Love
10. The Gift
11. Anything Can Happen

"Pangs of Love" and "Shipwrecked..." are the best on the CD. Also check out "Radium Rain." He is not afraid of saying critical things about how people are handing the environment.
Once again, a very graceful blend of love and politics.

I have about 10 Cockburn albums, but this is the one I reach for when I want to hear the real Bruce. The variety of themes and musical styles on this CD makes for always-involved listening. There is hardly a so-so song on the disc. Recorded sound and production are top-notch. A winner.

The overall production is not as crisp as compared to other label's CDs of Cockburn, but this is a good effort. Several of the songs are very creative and entertaining. Of course, "If a Tree Falls" is now a standard. "Tibetan Side of Town" and "Where the Death Squad Lives" are extremely well written songs. They have become favorites.

From start to finish, Big Circumstance kept my attention and it has become one of those CD's that will stay my mind, until I want to play it again another 25 times. Cockburn... Another great Canadian!