Customer Reviews

Company You Keep

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

John Gorka's new CD, entitled "The Company You Keep" is a masterpiece. For a long-time Gorka fan or someone new to his music, this CD is a musical delight from start to finish. Mr. Gorka's exquisite luminous voice shines through in every song. This "singer songwriter folk guy" as he refers to himself is a songwriter few can compete with. I never cease to be amazed at his use of the English language and combinations of clever wording. The songs on this CD range from new ballads his fans will enjoy to some really upbeat songs that surprisingly got me dancing. And I don't dance! From the hauntingly beautiful "Let Them In" to the honky tonk sound of "Joint of No Return", this CD is a tour de force for Mr. Gorka. He reveals to his audience a clear insight into his views of himself and the world around him in the true folk tradition. His growth as an artist and as a person come through in every song. As he says in the song "When I Lost My Faith", the boy became a man. He is joined on this CD by the voices of Mary Chapin Carpenter, Ani DiFranco, Lucy Kaplansky, Kathleen Johnson and Jennifer Kimball. Musicians that participated include Patty Larkin, Andy Stochansky, Michael Manring, Rich Dworksy and John Jennings among many others. The company he keeps says a lot about the man. One of my favorite songs on the CD is "Over There", a song about his family, the company he keeps. If you buy no other CD this year, make sure you buy this one!

"The Company You Keep" signals a return to the style which brought John Gorka to the forefront of the current singer/songwriter movement. His music touches the listener in ways that most of the current crop of musicians can't dream of. With a leaner sound than some of the slick Nashville productions which tended to overshadow his striking voice,heartfelt delivery and subtle guitar touches, "The Company You Keep" hearkens back to the feel of "I Know" and "Jack's Crows". An especially moving track from this new collection of songs is "Over There". Whether you are a long-time fan of Gorka's, or someone who's learning of his quirky genius for the first time, "The Company You Keep' is a stirring and welcome addition to your music collection.

In a just world, manufactured fluff bands like nsynch would toil away in backrooms and obsucrity while true artists and musicians like John Gorka would dominate the airwaves of local radio. OK, it's not a just world, but you can do your part by buying this CD. After a couple of good, but not outstanding, releases John has once again put together a fantastic piece of work. The lyrics, vocals and instrumentation on this CD rank up there among his best. He's touching, funny, and becoming quite the good guitar player as well. The guest musicians don't dominate (as they do one som many other musicians albums), but are good solid choices that fit in well with the pieces they are featured on.

Maybe one day he will actually get the airplay he deserves, until then we'll just keep buying his music and seeing his shows, happy that he keeps making such wonderful things like "The Company You Keep" for us to enjoy.

This is one of my favorite CDs for so many reasons.

Great tunes, amazing voice, well-produced. While I could say that about a few other CDs or albums, John Gorka's writing takes this to higher highs. Sometimes funny, sometimes self-deprecating, always on-target and thought-provoking. This is his best CD in years, and I still listen to it at least once a week after 8 months of playing. Oddly, one of the songs--Let Them In--has new meaning after the tragic events last September. Similarly, the song Morningside provides words to live by.

After you're convinced with this CD, go back and buy I KNOW and BETWEEN FIVE AND SEVEN, then fill in around them.

I love this CD, and I am thrilled at the inclusion of "Let Them In," one of my favorite John Gorka songs! There is not a throwaway track to be found here. Also, "When You Walk In" is fabulous and I relate completely to the random quality of "Joint of No Return." Entirely worth the wait for loyal Gorka fans and newcomers alike!

This was the first John Gorka CD I bought, purchased after hearing at a book store. His voice is a soothing mellow baritone that is comforting. I find that listening to the CD is so relaxing after a stressful day at work, even if I don't listen to the words and just chill out to the great guitar playing.

I am convinced that music like this would get much greater airplay if is was promoted differently, but apparently the recording industry is only interested in flash-in - the -pan artists, rather than those who can stand the test of time.

Gorka continues to produce interesting and compelling music with a distinctive sound. His last CD ("After Yesterday") found the veteran of urban folk reflecting on the reponsibilities and rewards of parenthood. In this new CD Gorka is giving more thought to aging. I've been a John Gorka fan for years, and it is a pleasure to follow his growth as a career and as a human being.

"When You Walk With Me", "Oh Abraham," "When I Lost My Faith" and "People My Age" are the best tracks. "Let Them In" is also very well done. Gorka again succeeds on the honesty and compassion scale. If Christ comes back, he would look and act a lot like John. There is a very special magic to this man's music.

I am a folk music addict and this is by far one of the best modern folk CD's I've ever bought. John Gorka is truly a talented singer-songwriter who is able to mix sage advice with whimsical word plays. In "Shape of the World," he opens the song with "Sometimes I'm an idiot/Many of you know that by now..." and then goes on to find a way to fit the Isthmus of Panama into the chorus. "There's random bad and random good/Work brings more good luck" is both poetic and practical as the chorus of "Morningside." Gorka has a clear and soothing voice that is an excellent vehichle for both the serious as well as the quirkier tracks. This is a CD that I can play repeatedly over and over and over again and not get sick of it.

I considered this a truly wonderful CD. As a middle-aged adult, I don't often find a record that I enjoy like those from college days where I'd damn near wear the grooves out. For me this CD falls in that select category. I keep it in the car to be used for medicinal purposes after a particularly ugly workday.