Customer Reviews

Church Of The Falling Rain

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I was introduced to the Stone Coyotes nearly five years ago when I stopped by to pick up the DAT of the demo my band the Marshes was recording at Slaughterhouse studios in Hadley, MASS. They handed me their "saw you at the hop", and I've been a fan ever since.

The Stone Coyotes are a fresh sound in today's amazingly bland rock music world. They have an energy and sound which reminds me of some of the best new wave/punk stuff that came out in the late 1970s - while certainly sounding "now" as well. The Coyotes take the best elements of the Ramones, Joan Jett era Runaways, and Patsy Cline and mix it together with the type of energy that usually only 15 year olds playing together in their parent's basement seem to have.

This family band (it should be noted/corrected that Barbara is married to the drummer, whose son is the bass player) blow away the Partridge Family in all respects. Buy their cd, and you're in store for a treat to your ears! I am anxiously awaiting their next release!

I have been floored by new music, absolutely goofy at the beauty of it all, precisely three times in the past decade: by Social Distortion's Between Heaven & Hell, by James McMurtry's Too Long in the Wasteland, and now by the Stone Coyotes. A few weeks ago, I was parking my car as the world's best radio station, WXPN in Philadelphia, cranked up "My Little Runaway." By the time the song ended some three minutes later, I was left stunned, wiped out, almost in tears, my faith restored in pure, gutsy rock & roll. It was cathartic, it was transcendent, it was beautiful--and then I finished parking. Without pretention, without gimmicks, without any false notes, this album begins strong with the title cut and simply doesn't let up. Alternating among three-chord hard-driving rock reminiscent of Social Distortion and countrified ballads that may take you back to Johnny Cash, this album restores your faith in the three-minute pop song (not at all a derogatory label when handled as capably as this band does). My Amazon order arrived yesterday, and as I write this review, I'm playing the CD for the seventh time, and it sounds as fresh as on first listen. I haven't even opened Situation Out of Control yet!

Barbara Keith, vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter, is quite a poet. The lyrics on this CD invoke the archetypal, the extraordinary, and the sacred in the context of mundane life. Love, death, longing, & the falseness of modern life are some of the themes that crop up.

But this is not a book of poetry, it's a music CD. Barbara Keith has a voice that can hold its own against the likes of Stevie Nix or Janis Joplin. She renders her own lyrics with a strident beauty. She drives her guitar hard, and is well supported by John Tibbles on Bass and Doug Tibbles on drums.

No synthesizers, no London Symphony Orchestra, no rare bird calls or exotic drummers from far away lands fusing in a taste of the unexpected. This is basic, satisfying, rock. But, you don't have to take my word for it, there's a free download of the title song available. Quit lollygagging and give it a listen!

Five stars for poetic lyrics, five stars for basic, uncluttered music, five stars for vocal power. A totally satisfying package.

(If you'd like to discuss this CD or my review, please click on the "about me" link above & drop me an email. Thanks!)

Stone Coyotes remind me of the best of the garage bands of my youth. Not only do they make a heart beat, you can actually understand the words being sung. And those words are often touching.

I've fallen in love with Celtic and Clawhammer Banjo music, but I'll wear this rocking disc out.

There is a lot of stuff out there that people think is Rock. But for the most part it's just copycat rhythms and dumb songs. This album by the Stone Coyotes is an actual Rock album with a strong beat and really great songs. I have this as my top car CD right now.

Last summer I had a friend who turned me on to the MP3 craze. In the beginning I would go to obscure personal web sites(where all the really cool stuff is anyway) trying to find some Zepplin,Hendrix,etc,.etc. One of those times I spotted a song called "My Little Runaway" by a group called The Stone Coyotes.Of course I had never heard of them. But I liked the title of the song so I downloaded it. I was actually expecting some country tune...blah...but I knew I could always toss it. So I listened. And I listened. And I couldn't stop listening to it. It was one of those songs that gets you in the gut. I sent it to my friend(expert of cool music) and he loved it. So I tried to find more music from The Stone Coyotes, to find out if it was just a lucky shot song, you know, the only good song they ever played. I couldn't find anything on this band. I couldn't find a album ... nothing. So I just kept "My Little Runaway" on my playlist and gave up. About two months later my friend says hes found another song by The Stone Coyotes, "Church of the Falling Rain"...and it just blew me away. Got me totally hooked on this band for which I could find out NOTHING.;) A couple months later I finally find the CD (on-line of course)...ordered two of them. A spare for my friend. ;) I can't really remember the last time I anticipated hearing a album as much as this one. And something told me it would be all good. And it is. I can't stop listening to it. Every damn song...every one. And I love their story. And I love Barbara Keith's voice ... I love the fact she wrote the songs ... she's sexy and good. The lyrics touch ... the music rocks ... the guitar ... GAWD!. Its hard to pick a favorite from this album...but I have to say "My Little Runaway" gets the vote for being the first taste and all ...oh and also...this is a pure example of why MP3 is a good thing.Without it people like me might not have had an opportunity to discover artists like Stone Coyotes. And damn, wouldn't that be a shame? My only questions now are: 1) when will Stone Coyotes be coming to Atlanta, 2) when will we get more music from you? ;)

One of the best CD's I've picked up all year. Better than T.Petty, Counting Crows, Bowie, and several big names. I buy 100 discs a year and this is easily one of the best surprises I've ever had the pleasure to luck into.

Sort of a Breeders-type sound, but tighter.

Can't recommend highly enough.

This cd took me completely off-guard as I only knew Barbara Keith from her gorgeous debut album on vinyl. I was thrilled when at last this album became available on cd and so I ordered - completely unknown to me - also this album from the Stone Coyotes. As Barbara Keith was singing this couldn't be bad. But WOW what a surprise. This cd is very - to say the least - different from het debut but I love it. The pleasure they get from writing, singing and playing bursts out of the speakers (a thing rather rare nowadays as I have the impression that most groups are willing to sing or play anything as long as it sells).
I dare anyone, if you have a car to try this cd and not be thumping the wheel with a wide grin on your face. Love it, love it, love it....

If the internet (access) is the apex of the second American revolution (information), then these guys have to be the three scarred fife-and-drummers in the portrait. How else would such a fine, unassuming band be able to reach so far so fast? Like some other reviewers, I came to The Stone Coyotes through an MP3 download, picked primarily because I thought they had a cool name. What I discovered was a group whose sound defies easy categorization; they really rock, but in a sparse, honest, unadorned way. The lyrics are poignant without being saccharine; the vocals are superb without being showy; the backup instrumentation adds depth without detracting from the song. In short, these three are a near-perfect ensemble.

this cd is a gift...i don't seem to want to listen to anything else....it's a gift i plan to pass on to new and old friends....especially old friends i have not seen forever....just a reminder....organic and direct music....these are songs that have been nurtured...try to pick a favorite cut....it can't be done.....tell u what....buy the cd and if u don't like it....I WILL REFUND YOUR MONEY......and to b.k....please keep your wings unfolded..and strong....it's going to be a long high flight.....and u are going to have to carry us all......