Come Somewhere [Import]

Jerry Gaskill | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 13, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: InsideOut Music
• ASIN: B0001VOPSQ
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #148,193 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jerry Gaskill - Come Somewhere, November 8, 2004

By 

Mr. S. St Thomas "suckerfly" (UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Come Somewhere (Audio CD)

This album has caught me completely off-guard.

I didn't know what to expect from the drummer of one of my favourite bands in my life. It was expected that I'd buy it, but what I was buying I was unsure of. Gaskill's presence as a songwriter for King's X seems mostly evident in the songs 'American Cheese' from Ear Candy, and 'Six Broken Soldiers' from Faith Hope Love. Two songs in a nearly 20 year recording career is not a lot to go on. But his voice was always distinguishable in King's X, so I knew what I was getting in that at least.

I am a huge fan of Doug Pinnick's Poundhound albums, particularly Pineappleskunk, and I bought both of those releases when they came out. I am a later fan of Ty Tabor's solo work, having just recently purchased both Safety and Moonflower Lane. I had owned Naomi's Solar Pumpkin since its release in 1997, but I have to be honest and say that it didn't particularly floor me at the time. I took a recent listen to it, realised it was actually very good, which prompted me to buy his 'official' releases. Gaskill's album I picked up a little while after its initial release.

Since I bought it, it has not been off my cd player in weeks. I can listen to this album once, twice, or three times in a row, and have at times. I am slowly coming to the conclusion that this album has become my favourite of the King's X solo releases, though I have been an admitted fan of anything Pinnick does solo anyway. There is a certain something that Gaskill has captured on this CD that I haven't heard on a King's X album in about 3 years, maybe even longer, maybe 12 years.

The songs are mostly all acoustic based, and the heavy sections only appear when needed. But what happens on these 15 songs is something I can remember happening on the first 4 King's X albums. Something a little mystical in the music, something unsaid happening in the songs. Maybe that's just me, but there is a vibe throughout Gaskill's CD that is very hard to find on some of the latest King's X offerings. It only makes me hope that Gaskill takes an even stronger role in the King's X writing chores next time around.

First of all, Gaskill's sense of melody is even more distinct and harmonious than Tabor's obvious talents. Where Tabor emulates Lennon's blues based melodies, Gaskill is far closer to McCartney's classical derived melodic lines, and for some reason, it makes these songs incredibly accessible to a wider variety of people. This album is in homage to The Beatles just in execution, but one has to realise The Beatles and other European bands were just as influenced by the Bach's and the Beethoven's as the Chuck Berry's and Elvis Presley's.

This album is full of irresistibly catchy melodies. I could recommend this album to anyone unfamiliar with King's X, and not worry that they would be 'put-off' by this thing or that thing, whatever that may be. Songs like 'She's Cool', 'Johnny's Song', 'All The Way Home', 'I Saw You Yesterday', in fact any one of the 15 songs are so radio-friendly (apart from 'Face The Day'), that I can only hope someone starts requesting at least something from this album to be heard on American or European radio stations.

My wife is not much of a King's X fan, but the few songs she has heard from Gaskill's solo album she has liked emphatically. She actually called the album 'refreshing' compared to what else is out there on the music scene. From a non-King's X fan to endorse a King's X related album has to say that this album deserves a bit more attention. This album deserves to reach as many ears as possible, because it seems so many different ears will be able to appreciate it.

If you don't like it on first listen, give it another chance. Let the album sink in, because pretty soon you'll find the songs are starting to stay in your head, the melodies and arrangements are that good.

Come Somewhere is quickly becoming to these ears, possibly the best solo release from a member of King's X. And it's the drummer!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars King's X Does It Again, May 19, 2004

By 

Mark Flickinger (Hanover, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Come Somewhere (Audio CD)

After waiting years(I think Jerry first mentioned a solo album back when Doug and Ty did their first ones)I catch my first listen to "Come Somewhere" by King's X skinman Jerry Gaskill. I wasn't sure what to expect at first. All we ever heard from Jerry in the past was "Six Broken Soldiers" and "American Cheese". First off let me say that nothing on here sounds like "Soldiers". But that's in no way a bad thing. What you get is several layers of Jerry's fine acoustic guitar playing and drumming and a dash here and there of Ty's electric guitar and subtle keyboards. A fine bake indeed. Vocally Jerry sounds pretty much like you'd expect. "A nasally version of Ty" a friend of mine once said. This is true but Jerry's songwriting is different than Ty's. The whole album has an unpredicatble John Lennon quality. There'll be a nice straight- ahead acoustic riff thing going on and then all of a sudden an "I Am The Walrus bridge" comes swirling through the speakers. This is very evident on "She's Cool". Some of the tracks have that "American Cheese" vocal melody but elsewhere this is a Jerry Gaskill that none of us have heard before. From what I can gather from most of the lyrics he's been divorced. I guess he got the kids because tracks 1 and 3 both talk about that. Bottom line is that this is a great album and is my favorite of 2004 so far. King's X does it again!!!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 4.5 stars... real close to perfect and unique, May 3, 2004

By 

David Koblentz "King's X Guru" (Edison, New Jersey) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Come Somewhere (Audio CD)

This one has been a long time Come(ing). Jerry (the legendary drummer of the oft underappreciated by the masses, loved by musicians King's X) finally unleashes his solo work. A great album can be listened to in one gulp, prepare to swallow. While some of the latest King's X efforts have been a bit lackluster this one strides home in it's focus and overall attention to the feel as an "album". This isnt (or doesnt listen like it is) a collection of songs that jerry has had brewing over the years. It owes much in direction to the beatles and led zep (think of their acoustic guitar material). The acoustic is very prevalent here.. and for a drummer's solo album (usually the kiss of death) we are treated to a virtual lesson in song writing with conviction first, chops a very little considered component. It is solid chops wise.. but if that is all you are looking for, look somewhere else. Jerry brings a unique inflection to his vocals and lyric delivery, often choosing odd ways to break up syllables rather than get stuck in basic (and trite) rythymic patterns (ie a/b a/b rhyme patterns). The lyrics can be read so many different ways.. or not read at all, they arent required as a component to enjoy the album but are a surprising extra layer of depth to be enjoyed if you want to delve deeper than a casual listen in the car. This is a pretty mellow album with it's moments of heavier riffs... but more trippy than bangy. It almost presents itself as one long song (or story). There are a few sinister type of moments (like "crazy") but they are not full out thrash, almost more of a creeping tempo.
The CD art is solid and over all well packaged. The production is fantastic, the acoustic guitar is bright when it needs to be and the electric guitar/bass is subdued, which fits into the album. Ty Tabor told me personally that as of this moment he is the proudest he has ever been about a CD's sound... who am I to argue with that?
The only reason it didnt score 5 stars is that I am not totally in love with 100% the songs (I am not sold on "the kids" and "walk alone")... but this is real close to an absolutely classic release. The generations this spans are enormous.. and jerry pulls it off. If you go in with preconceived notions you might be dissapointed, let the feel be the focus, not what it has to do (or not) with King's X.