Customer Reviews

Demogogue & The Sun Songs

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

 

 

I picked up this CD a few months ago at their show in downtown NYC, and when I found them here at amazon, I figured I'd put in my two cents. I know that the words 'fresh' and 'classic' don't often get paired up in descriptions, but they are always the first two that come to mind when I think about GN&SNS (Greg Naughton & the Stark Naked Sole for the uninitiated). Greg--who is the lead singer and songwriter--seems to channel some of my favorite pop and rock artists (Jeff Buckley, Stevie Wonder, the Counting Crows) with each song while still putting out an original sound. The result, both live and on the CD, is songs that are new and engaging, yet familiar. I give the CD 5 stars, and I mean it. Check out the free tracks; I don't think you'll be disappointed. And if you're out in the Big Apple, see if you can't find him live.

When I first got this CD, it didn't leave my player for the next two weeks. My favorite song is "The Ballad of Valley Forge Road", mostly because I am a [soft touch] for sweet ballads. But every time I listen to the album, another song catches my attention. "Janie Come" is a great toe-tapping jaunt with major hit potential. "Plastic Vagabond" has one of the catchiest choruses I've ever heard, and "Damascus" really showcases Greg Naughton's flexible voice. The three Sun Songs have a common theme that threads them together, creating a beautiful tapestry of soulful lyrics; all the songs are written by Greg Naughton, a master lyricist. And be sure to listen all the way through the final track for a surprise.

Greg Naughton is a fantastic singer/songwriter. He has a beautiful voice, his lyrics are both insightful and catchy, and the record as a body is just amazing. I saw Greg Naughton with Rich Price in Philadelphia, opening for the Ben Taylor Band (also wildly awesome), and I was so impressed that when I saw that they were opening for somebody else this month I bought tickets without having ever heard of the headliner (Stephen Kellogg, who turned out to be--you guessed it--excellent!). I look forward to seeing Greg again and I tell all my friends to buy his record.