Customer Reviews

Excuses for Travellers

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This CD has long been a darling in my collection. I mention it a lot, reccomend it to friends, play it when I'm feeling down. Something about this album evokes a very strong emotion in me and gives me a very self-fulfilled feeling. I don't know how they've done it, but Mojave 3 have created a great album.

Neil Halstead sings on all but one song, and his wispy vocals are a highlight. He tells stories of love lost and gone wrong, of trying to make it in a big world that owes you nothing, of heartache, but of the glory that comes out of that sadness. The remaining track ("Bringin' Me Home") has vocal duties handed over to Rachel Goswell, which is one of the album's most delightful moments: a somewhat more chipper (in mood at least) song in the vein of Belle & Sebastian.

Musically, the album evoke a solid image. Some songs especially ("My Life in Art," "In Love With a View," "Prayer for the Paranoid," "She Broke You So Softly") recall images of sunsets, cowboys and dusty trails. Slide guitars, mellow strumming and lighter percussion paints the pictures in lots of warm colours. Of course it's not a country album, precisely, but the songs mix a strong country influence with some folk and pleasant soft rock to create that kind of mood. This is a largely acoustic album, but electric lead parts create some of the most gorgeous moods. It also has a full band sound to it, with the bass and drums sometimes more prevalent than others, but always providing the perfect backing.

One big criticism I've heard of this album is the fairly even level of the songs keep througout (ie: no variety). It's true that Mojave 3 really only do one thing here, but they do it very well, in my humble opinion. Check 'em out.

I first owned this on record. This is the perfect album for:
Roadtrips alone.
Roadtrips with a good friend.
A broken heart.
Anytime.

Neil Halstead reminds me of Nick Drake. Prayer for the Paranoid is a great song. I like that so far all of Mojave 3's albums have sounded somewhat different. This album has more of an "Out of Tune" feel to it than "Ask Me Tomorrow". It isn't Slowdive, but that's fine because it's nice to hear more than one type of music from a good band.

As a die hard "Slowdive" fan, the transition to "Mojave 3" (I thought) would be hard to stomach. While I really enjoyed "Out of Tune" I couldnt help shake that "Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young" throwback vibe. "Excuses for Travelers" shows a maturity and self-identity that the last album seemed to lack. I really, really dig this album. I was recently vacationing on the "Isle of Skye" in Scotland. Driving around that beautifull place while listening to this CD (especially the track "My life in Art") was almost a relegious experience. This is truly a great CD and should not be missed. The ironic thing is that Mr. Halstead paints (to me at least) more of an "American" picture on some songs that our own countrymen only wish they could.

On this, their third release, Mojave 3 leans more towards the ground covered on "Out of Tune". Neil Halstead takes the majority of the lead vocals on this record, but for those of you that were digging on "Ask Me Tomorrow" more than "Out of Tune," you'll find that Rachel Goswell also takes the lead. This album is decidedly mellow, reminiscent of the sorrowful Dylan. The upbeat numbers (which are few) are Beatlesque. This record is a perfect accompaniment to heartache, a sad sunset, or the realization that this is it. Mojave 3 continue to entrance their listeners while breaking their hearts. The sound has matured since "Out of Tune," which was a brilliant record to begin with. Look forward to seeing this on many critics top ten lists for 2000. A gem.

In the spirit of Neil Young's "country" albums but with a softer focus, Mojave 3's latest is a very fine collection of delicate, pleasant tunes that benefit from Neil Halstead's hushed vocals and his ability to writing haunting and memorable tunes. Neil's songs also remind me slightly of the Wilco guys' output, although obviously the two bands take a somewhat different approach in the recording studio. Excuses is an initially unassuming album that really grew on me. By the third listen, I had songs like "Anyday Will Be Fine" and "Return To Sender" firmly stuck in my head, and was growing to appreciate the arrangements more and more. The pedal steel on "In Love With A View" is deliciously lonesome, I love the horns on "Anyday" and the banjo on "She Broke You Softly," and the steady guitars and double-tracked lead vocals on "Prayer For The Paranoid" are just perfect, and so on. This is my first 5-star review, because Excuses is the CD I will be coming back to more than anything else I've reviewed so far.

Mojave 3 are an amazing group, combining folk/shoegazing/and tads and pieces of country to make great ablums. Excuses for Travelers is a great album full of beautiful music that I would recomend to anyone. This album also has the distinct fact of being the only album that I've found that can use a banjo and make me love it. (I usually have a strong fear/dislike of the banjo) So, in other words, pick-up the damn album.

I first heard a track from this band on a public radio station. I was mesmerized by the haunting tones, sappy harmonies, and inexorable rythm. This is America, I thought: wide open, windswept, alone...to my surprise, after tracking down the CD, this is not even an American band! Maybe it takes outsiders to truly appreciate the majesty that we take for granted.

Released in 2000, EXCUSES FOR TRAVELLERS was the third album by Mojave 3. It continues Neil Halstead's firm creative control and consuming interest in 1960s singer-songwriters. This time, Mojave 3 has adopted American country and bluegrass elements, with prominent use of banjo and harmonica.

If you enjoy Nick Drake or Neil Young, then what Mojave 3 has now become may appeal to you. But those hoping for a return to the ethereal atmosphere of Mojave 3's first album -- or the spacy music that Neil Halstead and Rachel Goswell had earlier recorded as Slowdive -- will be very disappointed here. While I felt the previous album was far beneath the considerable talents of these musicians, OUT OF TUNE was at least fairly engaging and memorable. EXCUSES FOR TRAVELLERS, on the other hand, proved forgettable -- well, I do remember my chagrin at Halstead's repetitive lyrics and goofy posturing.

At least Rachel Goswell performs main vocals here on "Bringin' Me Home" and backing vowels on "She Broke You So Softly", after she went completely unheard on OUT OF TUNE. Unfortunately, her voice is not at its best in the former, so it's little consolation.

This is a remarkable CD. I love every song and I can't help but listen to this cd almost every day. Its perfect for any time of day. The songs that stick out for me are "In Love with a View," "My life in Art," "Return to Sender," and "When You're Drifting" though every song is beautiful and worth your time. It is one of cd's that I listen to the most even though I haven't listen to much of the other works by Halstead. But I assure you that even if you're not a fan of slowdive or even Rock and Roll, this CD will make you feel good and it will be one of your favorites. It is one of those CDs that you make sure your friends and family listen to intently to make sure they hear all the amazing sounds that Mojave 3 make on this album. Do yourself a favor and buy the album. It's worth whatever you have in your wallet.

Its not "ask me tomarrow" but this album is still worth its weight. Track one opens with a somewhat epic sounding love song and the album really never does quite hit the peak that this track does but it does showcase some well crafted songwriting and Niel Halstead voice seem to take on a new Nick Drake sound. I would say that this album is very pop ready and its somewhat of a suprise that it did not break into the charts.