Customer Reviews

Cornerstone

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This album is a wonderful collection of pop songs. Heyman's voice reminds one of several people at once (Elvis Costello, Joe Jackson, Eric Carmen in his more "manly" moments). Heyman, who has been shelved and labeled as a power-popper and placed in a jar along side such well-received popsters as Marshall Crenshaw and Chris von Sneidern, is actually better than the both of them added up and squared. There are many great elements to notice about these songs, but the thing that stands out most is Heyman's multitracked harmonies, not so much for their perfection (although they are quite enjoyable) as for their passion. He belts out every line of the album, which conveys desperation and longing in a way that is difficult to achieve when a solo artist multitracks his or her own voice in songs (I can only think of Bob Mould and Nick Salamon who pull this off as well). The melodies are great, too, the stuff pop nerds kill for. The music, which basically consists of your standard guitar-bass-drums arrangements (with touches of strings, organs, and mandolins, among other instruments) is very alive and crisp. Heyman records his music so that you can, gasp, hear each instrument (why doesn't everyone do this? down with wall-of-sound production!). The melodies on a guitar pattern run counterpoint to perhaps a string's melody, or his own harmonies. It's all just very much perfectly lovely pop. Here's a question: why isn't Heyman on heavy rotation on VH-1 and adult contemporary music radio? It seems that people who enjoy watered-down doodoo like Billy Joel, Elton John, and Melissa Etheridge would go crazy for Heyman, who plays "safe" music with tons of melody and passion. I mean that as a compliment. There's absolutely no reason why a guy like Heyman does not chart constant hits other than programmer prejudice and/or stupidity. So let's just give Don Henley a break as Artist of the Month on VH-1 (he wins this more than Waylon Smithers wins Employee of the Month at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant) and hand it to Heyman, so maybe he can sell some records like any inspired, accessible talent deserves. Don Henley? Artist of the Month? I really want to cut that station a break, but they make it very difficult sometimes. Does anyone buy Henley's Walden schtick? Any time I see him do one of those Walden spots on TV in an impeccably tailored suit (and wavy gravy hair), I picture him frowning when the cameras are off and whining "this freaking mud is mucking up my Bruno Maglias. Oh the humanity! How many units of Hotel California moved this week?"

Very few musicians live up to the claim that they are "undiscovered geniuses". I think RXH comes pretty darn close. There are at least five or six songs on this album that I will probably listen to for the rest of my life: Cornerstone, All I Have, If We Should Ever Meet Again, From This Day Forever, Ask Anyone Who's Tried, and When It Was Our Time. It takes a real "greatness of soul" to write songs like these--few artists can touch this place very often, if ever. The rest of the album is pretty great, too.

When was the last time you played a record over and over again? When was the last time you kept a cd in your player for more then a week? This is an awesome album of pure pop songs. The songs are intelligent and the music arrangements are beautiful and interesting. Heyman is a true American treasure. This is one of those albums that will hold up to the best pop music. Fans of the Small Faces, Beatles, Byrds, Costello, the Who, the Jam and otehrs must own this record!!

The Permanent Press Label has brought us some great pop/rock over the last several years, and this CD stands out as the best of a fine catalogue. As you may have read elsewhere, Richard X. (yo, Richard, what's with that "X," anyway??) Heyman is a singer/songwriter/instrumentalist who now has several CD's to his credit. He has an uncanny knack for beginning a song with a simple riff or chord progression and then building it into a thing of power and beauty. His voice is more reminiscent of Dylan or Knopfler than the usual "powerpop" icons, and I'm not sure powerpop is really the best description of what he does, but the guy is very talented no matter what label you put on his music. "Cornerstone" ups the ante from the also-excellent "Hey Man" by uniting the tracks in a sort of "song cycle" about returning to his boyhood home town and reflecting on those formative years and their impact on his adult life. Any thoughtful listener can relate. There's no need to single out tracks, because they're all excellent. Easily my CD Of The Year for 1998.

What more can be said about a contemporary musician who is quite aptly able to synthesize a fresh and exciting album from all the power pop greats? There is no good reason why this stuff shouldn't be blaring from stereos around the country..instead of the pap we are being force- fed as 'good music' these days. Please don't think of it as retro...call it simply GOOD! ...now if Richard, you can get together a band and take off from there......we're waiting!

What a great follow-up to Heyman's last recording "Hey Man! This CD is put together piece by piece by a perfectionist, Richard X. Heyman. But beware: after you listen to it three or four times you may become addicted and search for a way to get his other recordings.

This disk was recommended by a friend who urged "run, do not walk, to pick up Heyman, you'll love it"! Called it a Beatles/Byrds hubrid. Well, right he was and is. Heyman's tunes are graced with sparkling jangly guitars, heartbreaking harmonies, strong drums and bass and more hooks than a fly fisherman. A 60s feel with modern recording and production values. Reminds me of McGuinn and his son Tom Petty, the late 70s Searchers, with strings a la 60s Baroque-meisters the Left Banke. My only complaint - it's extremely difficult to play all the guitars and drums, sing all the parts, and produce a record without running out of new ideas from time to time. I'd like to hear Heyman with a band and a producer, capitalizing on all their experience and ideas to add to his wonderful stuff.

This disc is definitely in my top 10 of all time. What can be said that the other reviewers and editorial comments have not said already? This man is a pop genius, and this is his most realized work. I picked up this disc at a time when I was going through 'relationship hassles.' The melodies are so catchy, the harmonies, the drums, guitars, and keys so perfect. Even the song cycle, revolving around the startup, troubles, and eventual triumph of the relationship, is fully realized. This guy must be a perfectionist! There is not a flaw in any way, shape or form on this disc! I here there is new music sometime in Y2K for Mr. Heyman. And I'm sure it will be unbelievably fantastic!

I wrote one of those lists for 90's pop and this guy is one I forgot. That seems to have been his fate with most of his releases--the terrific "Hey Man!" album is in most used stores for a dollar. But he's pretty much a one-man band who writes songs that stay with you. His singing may be a bit nasal, but his overdubbed harmonies work for me. He does take too long between albums though.

ok so theres people out there that listen to this stuff? although under the far too giddy music i believe is some hooks, but the production sounds like it was recorded under water, and thatd even be cool if this was a good album by anyone other than this guy. this is truly annoying music by all means. the lryics are about god knows and the music is just really unorginal. reminds me of 60s folk recorded by some dude that was tripping on shrooms. this is not a good thing by the way. i dont like this album and i will try my best to stay away from music like this.