Customer Reviews

Blue Swan Orchestra

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Hmm, I've actually never seen them live but I know people start looking all delighted and get all enthusiastic when they tell about the average Goldenboy show...
I know their album, I know live mp3s and I've seen the singer play with Neil Finn too and the comment they get from me is a wow!
There should be posters out of them, the band looks gorgeous, but it's not only that they're cute boys, they're also nice and funny and the album is just like them!
The songs are so cute and make me smile whenever I'm really down, they are very Belle and Sebastian'ish - this happy/sad thing packed into great tunes.

The album is marvellous and I can only ask you to have a listen... If this was a Silke-tyranny I'd make it a law for everybody to listen to this CD because it's soooo beautiful!

See them live, listen to the album... it's just so great!

For those who were curious, the song "Almost Perfect" by Goldenboy on this album is the song used in the ESPN commercial where the Ohio State guy and a Michigan girl are making out and it says "without sports, this wouldn't be disgusting."

I stumbled upon this disc a little more than a year ago while out in Portland, OR at a listening station and I never put it back on the shelf. Although little is made of this band outside of the well-known circles (and not to be confused with the electronica group of the same name) this release on b-girl records in 2002 was pleasing at the start of the opening track. Light indie pop with acoustics set right enough of the time to make it a soothing, relaxing listen most of the time. Some lyrics are too soft for the matured listener and although Neil Finn and Elliot Smith fans may not be tested with this work, neither will they be disappointed.
The instrumental "Sunlight Through The Fog" deserves countless spins.
3.5 stars.

A friend let me borrow her Blue Swan Orchestra CD and once I listened to it, I just couldn't stop playing it. This is one of those really rare cds where you can just listen to it all the way through and often. The songs just get better as you listen to them! I really like the song Kittens of Lust but really the whole cd is awesome. These guys are really talented and the songs are full of great melodies -- fun kinda "pop" melodies but not dumb stuff like the dreck you hear on the radio. So, I let a few friends borrow the cd and now one friend won't give it back to me! So, I'm having to buy more. But that's ok. Because great music is worth it. I'm telling you, get this cd -- get it get it get it. And go see this band if you can. You'll be addicted!

Last summer I went to see Neil Finn with my Mom, and Goldenboy opened for them, and she loved them (not to say that I didn't, I just wasn't as enthusiastic as she was)! So I just got a used CD of their album for her for Christmas, and I put it in to have a listen. It's SO good, I'm reluctant to give it to her. Very reminiscent of the Beatles and the Kinks, but still so thouroughly modern!

I Used to live 3 houses up from the Drummer of this band when i was a little kid. Back then you knew this guy was going to be good. He played the Drums in his Garage nearly Night and Day, and everyone on the street knew when "Brian" was playing. Once about 4 or 5 years ago they came back to their home town of Diamond Bar, California, and played in a Small Pizza place called "Rudy's Pizza". I had seen them a few times in the past, but this Particular intimate setting was played for just a small group of Local Fans and Friends. As you can imagine, It was Awesome. These guys are little known, but Should be very well known. The CD is great, and if you ever get a chance to see them live, Do so. A little Side note, When i was a Little kid, The Drummer Brian Boss gave me his Entire Collection of "GI Joe", He was a very cool guy back then, and well deserved of his success.

After a couple of listens this album really grew on me. Each song offers something different there's plenty of catches particularly in the singers voice which rises and falls and sounds vaguely like morrisey- highlights include wild was the night, blue swans of winter and babydoll but really each song is unique with a feelgood tone and is enjoyable to listen to. If you want loud electric guitars and drums you wont find it here the songs are gentle and understated but this is no criticism.

Shon Sullivan,Bryan Bos & David McConnell are Goldenboy at this stage & with help from Jeremy Lopez & Elliot Smith have created an intriguing album that somehow seems to catch the mood of the 60's best songwriters.Shons gentle vocals have real depth & a wonderful clarity,everything is so well pronounced(reminds me of Donovan & Nick Drake)& his guitar work is beautiful & has the same unique clarity.The talents of David McConnell & Brian Bos on percussion drives & compliments the whole album(check out Goldenboy newly released album, if you like Blue Swan Orchestra you will love "underneath the radio").I came across Goldenboy via Grandaddy, as "wild was the night"(the first track on Blue Swan)is featured on Grandaddy's compilation album of the same title "underneath the radio" & is a favourite of Jason Lytle .I cannot think of any higher recommendation than that!

P.S. Shons distinctive guitar work can also be found on track 7 of new indie band let's go sailing album "the chaos in order",another must buy for your collection.

I have known Shon for the past 15 years (mostly as a fan and intermittently as a friend) and I have always known he would always be a beautiful, inspired musician. Admittedly, my heart will forever belong to his band Moonwash Symphony; but, I do love Golden Boy. Follow this man's work, he is amazing.