Customer Reviews

Black Fingernails Red Wine

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

 

 

So what is a old blues jazz man doing listening to a frighteningly good young power rock pop trio from the
port suburb of Fremantle (former home of the America's Cup, and Bon Scott of AC/DC) in the beautiful west coast,
white sandy beach oriented city of Perth, Western Australia?

I was channel hopping one night and got hungry, so I tuned the television to a music programme and went to fix myself a sandwich.
Well, half way through laying down the cheese layer I found myself unconsciously singing to a rock song on the
television. This made me stop and take stock. So I listened a little harder and then found the hairs on the
back of my neck rising, and then I felt like having a beer, and I felt my youth was returning to me (at least the memories of it) with all
the hormonal urgings, and the dreams, and the excitement of discovering girls and surfing - all around this music.

I was shaken momentarily.

How would I describe the music of Eskimo Joe.
Infectious power rock pop with stunning male vocals and spine tingling guitar riffs and hooks.
What also stopped me in my tracks, was watching the 7 song cycle the band played on television and being glued to the screen. These guys have a definite presence, watch them perform if you get the chance.
I sensed I was witnessing something special, a band of enormous talent, perhaps not fully realised (even yet), and hey... they come
from down the road - unbelievable indeed.

I am forever amazed at how this world of ours continues to throw us curve balls, to make life interesting in a myriad of ways.

Listen to Black Fingernails, Red Wine, the "single to make you tingle". This song was picked up by radio
station Triple JJJ in Australia and it immediately took off like a concord - a great song.

The rest of the songs range from power cords with gorgeous guitar hooks and keyboards to gut wrenching power melodies and
achingly beautiful vocals that make one long to re-live life's youthful emotions, and all those urgent feelings and
human desires. The lyrics speak of home and of New York and of London, where we yearn like the singer for a woman who has left
Western Australia and gone home to London, and we worry for her safety from the London Bombs.

I am not sure if young people define this as surf music these days, but it made me want to go surfing again, kind of like the Hoodoo Gurus in the old days.

Each song is an interesting, and often touching story, sometimes enough to cause a strong emotional reaction, and many of these inspiring songs ask you the question in one way or another - "how does it feel?" (life I suppose!).

Well, Eskimo Joe, you have "surprisingly" made an ageing ex-60's/70's baby boomer hippy feel very emotionally good again, very strong.

Is this not what music is indeed supposed to evoke?

Anyway, good on you young fella's.
Let the spinakers out boys, and fly!!

This group appeared in Tempe several days ago in front of a very small crowd. Unfortunately I wasn't there but a friend was and told me to be sure and check them out. After listening to just a short excerpt from Black Fingernails, Red Wine, I purchased the album, and it has been playing non-stop in my car CD player every since. The group rocks hard and also knows how to put out a great ballad. If asked to compare them to other groups, I would say they were a cross between Tragically Hip and the Moody Blues. I predict a bright future for this terrific band.

These guys are the real thing--multi-instrumentalists, great songs. I saw them live at the Bottom Of The Hill, San Francisco playing to a fortunate few. See them while you still can in a club because they'll be playing much larger venues soon. They're definitely better than any of the headliners they've played with in the past. Let's hope the industry doesn't ruin it for these guys. I eagerly await the next album. Thank you Australia!

This epic album is true FIVE STAR material.

With the flood of music (most of it "so la la"..) which we have at our disposal these years, it is great to finally find an album which I have been able to play time and time again!

This superb quality album has very well written and arranged songs which, although being quite different to one another, have a collective style or atmosphere which can leave you with the impression that this is a brilliantly complete "concept" album.

The music has an energy which you can chill to with moderate volume in the backgound, but I really enjoy this wonderful CD cranked right up! It is also a very well produced and detailed piece of work, which starts and finishes perfectly.

I look very much forward to when Eskimoe Joe finally get their break here in Europe - As with almost all aussie bands, they are probably even better live!

Black Fingernails, Red Wine is certainly a CD which I recommend to anyone who yearns for interesting, intelligent and quality pop-rock music.

Do yourself a favour - Buy it!

I can't stop listening to this! I bought it after hearing them only a couple times on XMU on XM. My husband is hooked on it after hearing it in my car. It is a very consistent album so if you like one song, you'll like them all.

I'm an American expat living in Australia and cannot believe these guys aren't getting any airplay in the US. His first CD had 3-4 top 10 Aussie hits that I would stack up against any of the hits that topped the US charts in 2005. This CD is by far their best effort - not a bad song on it. Similar to Coldplay's X&Y, it grows on you the more you listen.

From the opening cords of 'Comfort You', to the closing strains of 'How Does It Feel?', Eskimo Joe deliver a superbly crafted rock album that makes you sing the songs long after the CD is over.

From their humble beginnings as winners of the Australian National Campus Band Competition in 1997 to their recent #1 album 'Black Fingernails, Red Wine', Eskimo Joe's music and sound has only improved over the years.

The first single from the album, 'Black Fingernails, Red Wine' delivered an evocative song that remained in your head long after the last notes were finished and the video images had faded. With the follow up singles 'Sarah' and the incredible 'New York', Eskimo Joe have continued to deliver not only strong and unforgettable rock music, but videos that leave an indelible mark on rock.

The next single from BFRW will be the brilliant 'Breaking Up' and once again, will deliver what Eskimo Joe is truly known for - fantastic, strong Australian rock music that represents the best of the best.

Not only do Eskimo Joe deliver on CD, but their live performances are simply amazing. Energetic, fun and captivating for the whole 90 odd minutes they hold sway over the stage and audience.

If you want to hear good, Australian rock music, then I would highly recommend buying this CD. There's not a song on it that I don't like, and it only took me one listen to LOVE the album. Its fantastic, Australian rock music at its best.

Once again my best friend in Oz turned me onto to another Australian band (the last one was Wolfmother) and this time it was Eskimo Joe. The title tune is irresitable. It is on heavy rotation on my play list. The rest of the album grows on you after 2 or 3 listenings. If you like Coldplay and Snow Patrol then you will definitely like this album.

It won't be long before this guys make it big in the U.S.
This album is great; highly recomend it.
Gerry O (Flower Mound, TX USA)

Not owning their earlier albums probably puts me at a disadvantage when reviewing this one. Having said that, this cd is a good listen. If you have heard their first single "From The Sea" from the album "A Song Is A City", then you probably know what this album will be like. The album never really hits its stride on the whole, with several songs sounding very similar and samey. However, "Black Fingernails, Red Wine" is in itself a great track and almost worth the purchase price. Others, such as Sarah, Suicide Girl and Pressure are certainly not terrible, but are not up to that standard.

All in all, the album is a solid enough listen. The best advice I can give you is that if you enjoy U2, Coldplay, Dashboard Confessional then you will recognize a similar sound here. Listen to the single "Black Fingernails, Red Wine". If you like this song, then you will most likely enjoy the rest of the album. If not, then it is probably best to stay away.