Ends of the Earth (Dig)

The Peter Bruntnell Combination | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 27, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Back Porch
• ASIN: B00006EXIO
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #346,417 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Following "Normal", December 13, 2002

By 

Brian D. Rubendall (Oakton, VA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ends of the Earth (Dig) (Audio CD)

British roots rocker Peter Bruntnell has followed up his excellent "Normal for Bridgewater" with another solid album full of his signature quirky songwriting and solid vocals and guitar work. Bruntnell has the Americana rock sound down so well that it is hard to believe he grew up in Great Britain. Only when you move beyond the sound and listen to his odd lyrics do you realize he's not just an average guy from rural America.

As for the songs themselves, there's nothing on "The Ends of the Earth" quite as memorable as "Bridgewater's" "By the Time My Head Gets to Phoenix," but overall the songwriting is more consistent. Songs like "Here Come the Swells" and "Downtown" are typical of the gentle rolling Son Volt-like rockers that dominate. "Murder in the Afternoon," is pleasant sounding but chilling in its implications, while "Tabloid Reporter" contains the memorable refrain, "I wish you a long and miserable life." Among the dozen tracks there is not a clunker in the mix.

Overall, a solid sophomore album from one of "alt-country" music's more unusuual practishoners.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spot On, December 6, 2002

By 

Patrick F Clifford - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ends of the Earth (Dig) (Audio CD)

If you liked "Normal For Bridgewater" or any of Peter Bruntnell's previous work, this one'll knock you over. It is well written and executed as that record, but much more confident (re: the mad guitar solos on "Tabloid Reporter") and, if it's possible, relaxed. He really seems to have settled into his voice and it's really sounding increasingly distinctive.

For those who haven't heard his previous work (and hopefully new fans will be finding out about him from somewhere), Peter Bruntnell's music is reminicient of cross between Son Volt and, maybe, Teenage Fanclub. The new record is a mixture of slow (almost American Music Club sounding (pedal steel) and upbeat songs, each distinctive in their own way, but still falling back to an English-Americana sound. "City Star" and "Black Aces" really do sound like a successful comination of Son Volt and Teenage Fanclub (Only Peter sounds like he's trying to sing in an American accent - and turning it into something original and distinctive.). It's too country for the powerpoppers and too powerpoppy for the O'Brother crowd. Perfect. Right?

It's a beautiful record: compelling, utterly tuneful, and still reflective (even with the upbeat songs). I wish this would've come out in June so I could've listened to it all summer with the new Tommy Keene record.

Recommeded for fans of Son Volt, Teenage Fanclub, early Wilco, rustic powerpop, peppy American Music Club, early Whiskytown/late RA. You get the picture.

3 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Gem!, September 6, 2002

By 

Michael Dennison (Vancouver, BC Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ends of the Earth (Dig) (Audio CD)

Like Normal for Bridgewater, this is an album you can sit down with in the CD Player and listen to over and over again. Melodic and hauntingly beautiful. A true talent!