Customer Reviews

Big Dream Boulevard

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

 

 

Having seen Antje Duvekot perform the songs contained in the superb "Big Dream Boulevard" acoustically, I worried that the songs might lose their intense innocence in the studio. Having done A&R at a major record label, my motto was always "less is more." However, this is not so in this case. "Big Dream Boulevard" is not an over-produced distortion of these lovely and moving songs. The additional musicians and incredible back-up vocals compliment Antje's lyrics rather than detract from their beauty. One listen to "Dandelion," "Diamond On Your Hand," "Pearls" featuring Ellis Paul, and the glorious "Anna" will have you learning how to pronounce Antje Duvekot immediately so you can sing her praises.

Antje's voice is simply beautiful and her lyrics are astonishing. It's very rare that I go completely ga-ga over a singer/songwriter, but Antje has me. There isn't a single track on this CD that I skip. The songs stand equally in their studio produced versions as they do stripped down live. I'd strongly encourage you to have both experiences. :-)

Antje's vocals are purely angelic! Her songwriting skills are outstanding. I laughed;I cried;I was happy;I was angry.It's an album that surely will spark us all into more beautiful humans. I saw her live with just her guitar and was equally enchanted.Antje Duvekot is truely a gift to the music world.

After listening to Boys, Flowers, Miles...I was so happy that Antje produced another CD. However, when I listened to this CD I wondered where she had gone. With the re-recorded tracks of Judas and Dandelion....she was missing. Her emotion filled voice was replaced by the studio "handlers" and the background musicals ran from distracting to annoying. Seems like the pros in the studio have taken her away those wonderful, genuine, whispered vocals that make her voice so compelling.
Now I wonder how her new songs would have sounded if she had done them on her own.
"Antje...go back to your roots"..and let us hear your real voice.

I first learned of Antje Duvekot from watching a movie titled 'American Wake'. I was spending a weekend at my parents' home where they did not subscribe to any form of pay television service and the film came on late at night on PBS. I enjoyed the film but I was especially taken in by two songes on The AMERICAN WAKE Soundtrack performed by Antje.

I purchased the American Wake soundtrack on CD which led me to purchase Big Dream Boulevard. Upon hearing the song 'Anna' I just had to have Little Peppermints and Boys, Flowers, Miles. I was lucky enough to find them at CDbaby before they sold out. (Sorry to rub it in.)

Antje contributes a shorter version of 'Hold On'. It clocks in at 4:07. 1:36 shorter than the version you hear here on BDB.

The other song you may not have heard (or knew about) is titled 'Enough Tears'. It goes without saying that it is great. I don't see it on any of her other recordings. The soundtrack was released approximately 2 to 3 months after BDB.

The two songs she performs also gives credit to Seamus Egan of Solas, the main performer on the soundtrack along with The Assembly. He is the producer of BDB. Solas has recorded 'Erin', 'Black Annis' and 'The Poisonjester's Mask' by Antje. The soundtrack has a lot of Irish folk music on it. Not too many full length songs. Mostly 'soundtrack' filler pieces. The CD is currently $24.50 on Amazon, and $14.95 on CDbaby. You can get both Antje songs for $0.99 each as mp3 downloads here at Amazon if you don't want to buy the entire soundtrack CD.

Sorry to stray from the BDB review, but I hope this little bit of inside info helps the Antje fans. Antje doesn't list American Wake on her web site in her discography credits. It is a shame that American Wake doesn't appear when you enter 'Antje Duvekot' in the search bar at Amazon. After all, the full soundtrack mp3 download lists the artists as Seamus Egan/Assembly/Antje Duvekot. 'Hold On' and 'Enough Tears' are credited as Antje Duvekot and Seamus Egan and Antje Duvekot/Seamus Egan respectively. (Fix that, Amazon.)

In conclusion, my review of this CD is that it is certainly a favorite of mine and I highly recommend it. I enjoy the coffee house feeling of the first two CDs, and I don't feel that BDB suffers from over-production. Everybody loves 'Dandelion'. 'Anna' and 'Hold On' are my faves.

I first heard of Antje Duvekot while watching a CD/DVD by the celtic group SOLAS, called REUNION (out of five stars I give it eleven.) It's an amazing live performance. One of their special guests is Antje Duvekot. Together they do a song of Antjes called Reasonland that blew me away. So I went looking for this womans CD's. Big Dream Boulevard did not me let me down. Where as I may disagree with her spiritual outlook on a few of the selections, it has not slowed me down from playing it for anyone who'll listen (always with positive results.) I whole heartedly recommend this CD. YOU WILL LOVE IT.

I fell in love with Antje while listening to WERS in Boston and watching her play on youtube. Big Dream Boulevard is good, but I was very disappointed that Dandelion had been redone in a very over produced manner. Where is the depth that I fell in love with? Some songs are too fast and I just wish Antje had left things as is. Get back to your folk roots and you'll be great.

Antje Duvekot is considered one of the younger leading forces in American folk music. Big Dream Boulevard is her debut album, her crystal clear voice fronting contemporary folk songs ranging from solo acoustic to a fuller, almost `commercial' production. The arrangement feels almost progressive at times, frequently evoking a Natalie Merchant feel/sound. That aside, she is clearly a talented songwriter, her quieter songs being more memorable and engaging. I look forward to hearing her latest album, which has gotten plenty of attention. GENRES: Contemporary Folk, Folk Rock.

BUY IF YOU LIKE: Natalie Merchant, Sheryl Crow, Liz Phair.
MUST HEAR TRACKS: "Diamond on Your Hand," "Jerusalem," "Helpless Kiss."

ANTJE!. I have your other CD's - they are great. Simple acoustics, very personal and intimate. Your unique singing style is wonderful, although sometimes the recording quality is not quite as good as I would like. Unfortunately on this new CD You have been homogenised and commercialised - I am tired of electric guitars and percussionists that dominate beautiful songs and wonderful voices.
Antje - if you are going this way - turn down the volume on those background people - I don't buy your music to hear them dominate your wondrous lyrics and special voice.
Please do not get done over!

We had the pleasure of hearing Antje live recently and we were blown away. She is on par with the devine Patty Griffin - truly she is. Antje is beautiful to look at and to listen to. Her cd is a gift and just gets better and better the more you listen to it.