Customer Reviews

Breakaway Angel

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

 

 

Nils Lofgren new album 'Break Away Angel' is a masterpiece in waiting. The muscianship on this album is supurb and along with the production make this an instant classic. Although not as heavy as his last album 'Damaged Goods', 'Breakaway Angel' has better crafted songs and a better atmosphere to it. Songs like 'I Found You', 'Tears Ain't Enough' and 'Without You' are songs you could class as being radio friendly, whilst songs like 'Driftin Man', 'Cryin Tonight' and 'Open Road' would be great in a live setting, especially in an acoustic form. 'Open Road' is very reminscent of the work Bruce Springsteen undertook on Nebraska, not only stylistically, but also in the production of it. Of the ballads 'Heavens Answer To Blue' could also be a hit at the moment as it is very similar to Dianna Kraull's 'Cry Me A River'. The lyrics on 'Break Away Angel' are full of the usual heart and spirit Nils Lofgren is famous for and show a man only getting better at his craft of song writing. Do yourself a favour by buying this album.

I had to write this after seeing the derisive comments from 1 or 2 others. This CD, while different from "typical" Nils, is outstanding from start to finish. It is softer, more sensitive, filled with superb musicianship and simply the best work he's every done.

This is the result of the maturation of a truly talented artist. Those who don't get it, are stuck in a rut wanting to simply here the same riffs over and over or can't stand diveristy of stlyle. Either way, anyone with an ear for greatness, will find it here.

This album sounds unlike anything else Nils has ever made, and the results are mixed. He puts aside the electric guitar for the most part and concentrates on his acoustic playing, which is exceptional and makes for a nice change of pace for long-time fans like me. And although Nils mostly plays acoustic, the other instrumentation is quite diverse, employing both electric and acoustic instruments with often-creative approaches. More than half the tracks feature a harp, and no, I don't mean harmonica. The sound is refreshing, and it works wonderfully on the album's best track, the opener "Puttin' Out Fires". But the songwriting is inconsistent, and on several tracks the arrangements are overly sugary, as if he were trying to imitate Dan Fogelberg at his drippiest. Most glaring example: "Love A Child". I liked about half the cuts, but the ones I didn't like, I REALLY didn't like. Highlights include "Crying Tonight" (best soloing on the album), "Driftin' Man", "I Found You", and "Seize Love".

It's true, this isn't the angry intense electric Nils we've come to know and love, but it's a great album nevertheless. Anything with Skunk Baxter on it (ok, only on one tune) can't be all bad after all. If the idea of mellow Nils bothers you just keep playing Crooked Line over and over. Hmm, I think I might go do that now...

I've been stuck on this album since receiving it. Full of great songs, especially "Putting Out Fires", "I Found You", "Cryin' tonight" and "Open Road". His treatment of the Everly Bros. song "All I Have to Do is Dream" is just perfect, such a great vocal interpretation, tugs at my heartstrings. I can't stop listening to it.

I couldn't help not writing a review about Breakaway Angel, if nothing else, to raise the stars average a bit.

Although it may not be rich in the kind of gritty rockers or stunning solos that you may know and expect from Nils, Lofgren still puts out here a great set of songs and definitely adds another notch on his belt as a songwriter and-yes-singer.

Probably more akin to the great Pop for the early Sixties-Dion at his peak comes to mind- than Crazy Horse's glory days, Nils churns out a bunch of beautiful songs showing that his guitar can have a range unlike many others and that he can write songs that can reach your heart straightaway and with plenty of romantic depth.

Stand-out tunes and proof of what I claimed are "I Can't Fly," "All I Have To Do Is Dream," "Without You" and the stunningly beautiful "Heaven's Answer To Blue."

All in all, an album that continues to make a case for this guy's brilliance and may further explain why gods like Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen have chosen and benefited from having him in their bands.

Are you kidding? This is Nils at his worst. I have been a Nils fan for a very long time, and this album is just "not Nils". It's like he experimented in something new and it didn't quite work out. He is so much better than this, and he has so much more to offer. I have been waiting for new material for so long (preferably with a full band), and this was really a disappointment. I really hope he gets back to basics soon.