Customer Reviews

Continued Story and Hi, How Are You: The Unfinished Album

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

 

 

I think "Walking the Cow" is one of the most beautiful, saddest songs I've ever heard.
The first songs on this album are more polished, whereas hi how are you is a lot grainier, younger and far-away sounding. It's a mix of slightly crazed humor (Boys are Dogs...and Girls are Cats...)and his mournful, high-pitched vocals. I think this is how all those lo-fi indy guys wish they could sound, but he isn't trying to imitate anyone, and he's the best. He can write a pop song amazingly well, yet he's coming up with all this brilliance in his basement as this point.
Johhnston sounds like he's splicing in bits of old music at times, which has a ghostly effect. Oh, it's such a great album, everybody should have it! (Though most people would probably just be confused.) Go get it used! It's worth every penny!

To a curious and daring music listener, Daniel Johnston is a unique, scathed, honest, and at times frightening figure in rock. Labelling his music is damn near impossible, as well as the ability to entirely understand him.

Hi How Are You?/ Continued Story are two previously seperate tapes placed on one disc. Though he was in his early twenties at the time of their recording, his voice is child-like and pure, that of someone who seems isolated and fearful. This man almost never seems comfortable in his own skin.

Perhaps the most amazing aspect of these recordings is the atmosphere. There's no dishonesty here. No overproduction, unattainable musical notes, and an elaborate band- only true human emotion. For the curious listener, this will be one of the most amazing experiences you will ever discover.

Part of the charm of Daniel Johnston, especially on this CD, is that despite the complete amateur quality of the recordings, there are some truly remarkable musical moments on this CD. I consider Walking The Cow to be one of the most haunting songs I have ever heard. And Running Water features one of the simplist poetic lyrics I have ever heard.
This CD is definately not for the impatient, but if you are tired of the same old stuff you can hardly get any more different than Daniel Johnston.

Continued Story/Hi How Are You? is vintage low-fi Daniel Johnston. I believe Eddy Vedder has called Daniel Johnston the most sincere singer he knows; regardless of your opinions of Eddy Vedder, he's right. The listener hears Daniel skate the extremes of his bipolar disorder. Being invited into his world of child-like candor, one almost feels like a voyeur. As in other Daniel Johnston albums, we see the grace of a simple heart. Just listen.

Tracks 1-14 are from Continued Story, and 15-29 are from Hi, How Are You.

Art details:
The cover is a detail from (presumably) each of the original albums covers, which are reproduced in the CD: The full picture corresponding to Continued Story includes an odd cycle of people emerging from/into people (a bit hindu-esque). The picture corresponding to Hi, How Are You has two more beasties picnicking alongside the frog/alien dude.