Customer Reviews

Dead Dog's Eyeball: Songs of Daniel Johnston

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So, throughout the years I heard about this Daniel Johnston who suppossedly was a genius songwriter but, as things go, I never came across his music until very recently.

Granted, his stuff is usually so shoddily recorded and performed that to most people it's just unlistenable and close to noise, but if you pay attention you can hear the real song underneath, too shy to step into the spotlight.

Well, this record manages to pull out the greatness of Johnston's stuff and put in the front seat. Glad I came across it and bought it.

Sad that Daniel Johnston himself never really got to record a real professional album, but hey, maybe with all the advances in home recording technology he'll surprise us one of these years.

Do yourself a favor and get this. And if you like it, experience real undiluted Daniel Johnston, you just might like it and get your musical paradigm shifted for you.

Why do you need another version of "Walking the Cow", now that Pearl Jam, Mike Watt/fIREHOSE, The Reivers, A Camp, and TV on the Radio have tried their hands at it and come up short? The version here is awesome, is why. Not some cutesy milking-the-indie-cred winking cover, but a dizzying orchestral version that takes things past the original. I *love* the original songs; these versions feel right and are lush, trading a bit of the pathos for good production values and caring, imaginative arrangements.

I am not a Glass Eye fan, and I feel that the EP of additional songs (also Johnston covers by McCarty) is not that strong. But this CD...all the songs are solid, spot on, moving, and beautiful!

I bought this after seeing the documentary "The Devil and Daniel Johnston". In my opinion, if not for the restrictions of his illness, he could be a songwriter of Bob Dylan's caliber. His lyrics and perspective lend an honesty and insight into his soul. Kathy (whom you also meet in the documentary) has a hauntingly beautiful voice that takes Daniel's music and lyrics to a new level. I'm ready for more.

and he painted a purty picture and called it West Virginia.

A friend from europe sent this the year it was released - perhaps because of the name? - regardless, it was my favorite music of the year it and would rate it as one of the best albums ever. While even the best musicians tend to paint themselves back into a schtick corner, the only common denominator for these songs is beautiful lyrics coupled with K. McCarty's clever arrangements.