Customer Reviews

Confessions of St Ace

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

 

 

With "The Confessions of St.Ace", John Wesley Harding marks his return with a power-pop record that brings back us back to his days with Sire Records.

Wes' last release, "Trad Arr Jones" was ambitious and a noble tribute to the traditional folk of Nic Jones, the longtime Wes fan missed the full arrangements and adventurous songwriting of his past albums.

"Humble Bee" kicks off the record with a piano intro and works into a full band sound. Fans of the film "High Fidelity" will remember "I'm Wrong About Everything". It fits well with this collection of songs. "Goth Girl" is a personal favorite that features a great guitar riff and an even better lyric: "One day, I'm gonna kiss the lipstick off your mouth".

Wes performs a duet with Steve Earle on "Our Lady of the Highways". Jimmie Dale Gilmore provides a haunting backup vocal on "Bad Dream Baby". Both songs are fantastic and add to the overall feel of the record.

Overall this is an excellent release from one of the most under-rated songwriters in music. Wes is one of the hardest working touring acts often performing two shows a night. Hopefully Mammoth Records can provide the support to make Wes a star, because he's done his part by making an outstanding record.

Tom

This is a great album and I was only moved to review it by the stupid review below by 'Robin Dillon' (Bob Dylan? get it? get it?). To call the melodies simple is totally wrong. The lyrics are also moving and hilarious in turns - he might have quoted a nursery rhyme snippet below but how about 'There are habits that we cast aside/ And ones we can't unlearn/ Some crap we do not deserve/ But most of it we earn...' or 'She's up and down, she's round the wheel/ she's governed absolutely by the way she feels/ That's a lethal combination in a small house when it rains....' Fans of great lyrics and smart melodies will love this record.I wasn't a big fan before but I am totally sold now because this is a great album and has been getting the excellent press it absolutely deserves. Reviews like the below do this record no service whatsoever. Check this record out. For me, it's the album of the yea thus far.

It's funny how Harding and Elvis Costello are easily compared yet this cd is better than any Costello has done (of this form) since Blood and Chocolate. Surprisingly good throughout.

As if "Well, I see you got your brand new, leopard-skin, pillbox hat" had some greater meaning? Plenty of "serious" lyricists -- Dylan, Guthrie, etc. -- have their share of beautiful nonsense. That said, I fail to see how HUMBLE BEE's perfectly constructed choruses don't deliver the goods. And, his collaboration with Steve Earle on "Our Lady of the Highways" is gonna sound even sweeter when I'm driving to Philly for the holidays, this year. If you ever find yourself driving north on I-95, just a few miles south of the Maryland/Delaware border toll booth, look to your right and you'll see her.

There's not a track on this one I don't like. A catchy pop album with wit to spare.

After a couple of decent but not great albums, John Wesley Harding has rebounded with a welcome comeback. Take catchy hooks (the chorus to "People Love To Watch You Die" is, well, to die for) and the sardonic wordplay Wes is known for -- the album title itself is a brilliant pun on the man's real name -- and stir in a more produced, layered, rock sound than the sparse folk arrangements of "Awake" and you've got what may be the best JWH yet. It's definitely the most diverse, combining the pure, clever pop of "Goth Girl" with the countryish "Our Lady of the Highways" and the indescribably edgy "Bad Dream Baby," which is unlike anything Wes has ever recorded before. Good stuff. Check it out.

I have long been a pilgram to Wes and this may not be Mecca but it's a worthy journey to take. This album is full of the intelligent lyrics and just good tunes which are hallmarks of all Wes records. I'M WRONG ABOUT EVERYTHING, SHE'S A PIECE OF WORK, EVERYBODY LOVES TO SEE YOU DIE, OLD GIRLFRIENDS. All of these are great songs which deserve to be listened to. The last bit of the album does not immediately grab on, but may over time. Wes, who has often avoided a lot of production on his cds, makes good use of the studio. Catchy tunes, snappy lyrics. Ahhh, St Ace has made this devotee happy

I liked some of the previous JWH albums but The Confessions Of St.Ace is absolutely fantastic. A must. It should ensure John Wesley Harding's place amongst the very top rank of modern songwriters. Check out any of the first six songs. I totally recommend this record. I'd also like to thank my friend Dougie who insisted that I buy it.

Well worth the price. You will be amazed by this man's insight into life.

I've been a fan of John Wesley Harding's music since his first CD - once again, he scores with thoughtful, literate lyrics and a beautifully simple vocal style. If you're looking for inane pop, don't buy this CD. But...if you like music with more poetry than "radio hook," I highly recommend this CD.