Customer Reviews

Crooked Fingers

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

 

 

As a long-time Archers fan, I was very excited to pick this CD up when it came out. I suppose you never know what you'll get with Eric Bachman, but I downloaded two tracks from the Crooked Fingers web site so I knew going in that it was going to be different. Doesn't matter -- this is a fine CD. It took a few listens, but when I caught the groove it really came alive for me, especially 'Crowned in Chrome,' 'Broken Man,' and 'Pigeon Kicker.' These are sad, quiet songs, delivered in Eric's Neil Diamond / quiet man voice (think 'Chumming the Ocean') and backed up by pleasing acousitic guitar and some pretty intricate strings -- a nice combination. It's a down album, but Eric seems capable of making just about any style work when he wants to. Definitely worth listening to if you're sick of radio crap and other mainstream stuff. Eric's still the king of the underground, and his lyrics are unsurpassed in my opinion.

Oh, and if you get the chance, see Crooked Fingers live. One of the best shows I've ever seen.

Eric Bachman never ceases to impress me. His new incarnation is Crooked Fingers, a more personal view inside of his mind. This record is more guitar and lyrically driven then his Barry Black project, but not as 'hard rock' as the Archers of Loaf. It's nice to see that Eric didn't stay out of the game for too long, and even better of him to make up for the Archers disappointing final album "White Trash Heroes". Erics songs are a darker look into life at the end of the bar; sitting, swilling, and writing ear-friendly guitar pieces that place you right there beside him. His time spent in the Southern US comes out in his music, lending itself to folk, country, soul, and backwater roots. "New Drink for the Old Drunk" is one of the best songs he has ever written and is only one of many highlites on this album. This is a great album to add to you catalogue, as long as you're willing to listen to something new and different. Archers fans may recognize certain aspects of the music; however, look elsewhere if you are looking for the loud "noise rock" you are used to.

This is a fantastic album, by a fantastic singer. Much more melodic than Archers of Loaf, the Crooked Fingers album takes you to emotional depths that are rarely round in any music. If you have even the faintest curiousity of what the former lead singer of Archers is doing now, or enjoy fine music, don't hesitate to get this album.

...Will Oldham's Bonnie Prince Billie, Chocolate Genuius' Black Music, and Joe Henry's Fuse, this is the most satisfying platter I've tasted in some time. If you are a fan of mature, intimate, storytelling, than this is the album for you. It's a gift for engaged music fans because artists who make music this good are not in it for the money. They do it because they must. And in turn, the only way to give them the time to create more is to consume it.

Came across this album the other night and realized I never said a thing about it here. Ambitious multi-instrumental music that it is only rock by default. I guess it could be party music depending on the people you party with. Not happy goodtime music, though a song or two does have a jaunty feel. A friend who heard this stuff said it sounded like someone just punched Neil Diamond in the face. I would add the caveat that only if Neil was possessed alternatively by a coherent Malkmus and a less quirky Tom Waits. Or perhaps Leonard Cohen jamming with a folky Death Cab for Cutie, though this may be stretching it. Not something in the daily rotation but, very fine.It is good to hear sharp lyrics over expansive arrangements. Not an easy trick. Just listen to a majority of music that calls itself adult contemporary alternative. This stuff kills that crap dead.

A stunning debut. It stepped up to a profound pedastal in my collection at the time, and then I was thrilled when more albums starting coming out, but this one remains unique.

"New Drink for the Old Drunk" is the boisterous crowd-pleaser of this record, though "Man Who Died of Nothing at All" more perfectly encapsulates Bachmann's strengths and sensibilities as a singer, guitar player, and composer. Overall, this is the "late lonely night" record of Crooked Fingers' releases, swelling with sympathy for the human condition in all its weakness and fragility. ("She Spread Her Legs & Flew Away" completely justifies its audacious premise.) If you've got your issues or vices, this album will make you feel understood - "Under Sad Stars" is a wistful gift of heavenly catharsis for all of us.

The magical opener "Crowned in Chrome" is among my favorite songs of all time, wonderfully liquid with loss. Crank up, listen up, and swim in it...

Bachmann never fails to delight. While he has explored a lot of emotional material over his career, he has never delved in to abject depression like he does here. Bar room chants, fuzzy loops, strings, and his fractured guitar combine with personal lyrics of losers, hopeless drunks, and beaten souls. Any fan of Bachmanns work can appreciate this album-although expanding his range, it is still obviously his work. This is especially obvious on the faster, driving songs like "New Drink for the Old Drunk." Happily, he also proves to be just as good at writing slower, sadder material. All hail Bachmann.

After the ascerbic wit and cacophony of Archers of Loaf and the lush yet bizarre arrangements of Barry Black, Eric Bachmann's new band Crooked Fingers proves that he's a brilliant musician with a firm sense of controlled ecclecticism - no matter what direction he goes, you know it's him.

Crooked Fingers is melancholy yet inspirational. Twangy. Passionate. If you're only an Archers fan, you may not like this, as it's very different; just as catchy and melodic but not quite the rock-in-a-blender of AOL. But give it a chance. Please. You won't regret it.

(It loses one star because some of the songs have a slight Pogues feel, and I hate the Pogues.)

Someone stole this album from me recently, and I am looking to replace it. This is music for people who sometimes feel sad, and aren't afraid to admit it. Not that it's terribly depressing. More like melancholy. Or sober. Sober is a good word to describe it. Sober and beautiful.

ex-Archer's of Loaf strike gold with this their second release. The brilliant lyrics mixed with the banjo/guitar harmony is enough to melt you in your chair. This record will make you reflect upon your life that you once have, are living, and want to live. When I saw these guys live in 2001, and they played most of this record, I found myself dripping a tear and embracing a friend. Quite an amazing record!