Customer Reviews

Fear of Success

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

'She Likes The Attention'is the strongest song on the album,I heard it at the end of a movie and really liked the drumming style, which is consistent throughout the album. Caleb has an interesting vocal style and is a very versatile instrumentalist. I can hear Sting, Ben Lee and also a hint of Michael Franks in his melodic style.The production is pretty slick, this gives it that eighties vibe, lots of percussion loops and retro synth sounds, but with a lot of real musos in the compositions, it's never static...a sit & listen album.

Caleb is an amazing arranger. He plays and uses a variety of instruments on Fear of Success. Although his melodic sense is monotonous and his lyrics cram more words than the meager melodies can accommodate, because of his brilliance in arrangement it still comes as a quite interesting mix, worthy of repeated listening. "Welcome" opens the CD with a peppy beat and a thin lyric line, "Wecome to the world of entertainment ... cause they're going to knock you down." The next track highlights percussionist Bashiri Johnson who helped make the tracks "Gardenia Talk," "Sweet Dream Fade," and the title track of Laura Nyro's posthumous CD "Angel in the Dark" so amazing. On "Blue" he makes the track percolate; and Caleb throws in a sitar to give a different texture. There are nice harmony vocals on "I Fall to Pieces" as Caleb sings, "Here comes the lines of fiction, the contradictions." Josh Neretin's tabla starts "Pick Yourself Up" where Caleb lists, "What we want, we can't get; What we need, we've never had." My least favorite track on the CD is "Sally Doesn't Call Me Anymore." I see other reviewers have enjoyed this one, but for me there is not much suggestion in the lyrics. When Caleb sings, "I'd rather see her dead than alive," to me it seems like Sally made a wise choice not to see him. Caleb is trapped on "These Four Walls," "Come and get me out of these four walls, conjure up a life that's pleasing, when will I get these?" "In Motion" is more chant than song, but the instrumental variety makes the material interesting. "Throw Down Your Weapons" has a unique guitar part. It made me think that Caleb might be reaching for a sound like David Gray achieved on "White Ladder." For me the most successful and best cut comes near the end with "She Likes the Attention." The lyrics rise above the mundane with, "Does she not make my heart beat a little faster, and doesn't she move me like a natural disaster?" The chorus is infectious, "She can't stop turning it on and on and on." Radio programmer should start with this one! This is a promising start for Caleb. He's got a lot going for him. He's worth a listen!

This new record by Caleb is a breath of fresh air in the all but dead pop market. His songs are upbeat and musical, with a four on the floor drum groove and a bassline that makes your heart quiver. Truly I have not heard such originality on a pop record since Peter Gabriel's "So." From the haunting "Sally Doesn't Call Me Any More" to the sitar tinged "Blue," Caleb is a new force to be reconed with. Now only if the public will get behind him.

This album is adult contemporary sounds that often mid-tempo to slow and very smooth. His voice reminds me of the singer from the band Asia, but smoother musically. It's a solid album from beginning to end. The style is not modern, for sure, and that's refreshing. My favorite track is "These Four Walls." I just can't say much more about this album because it makes me speechless how relaxed it makes me feel. I hope that he doensn't just disappear because this album wasn't commercially successful.

Caleb is truly going to be great. He and Angie Aparo are my two favorite artists. True, "I Fall To Pieces" is a great song, but "Blue" is my absolute favorite.

What makes people like Caleb and Angie stand out is that they don't just sing the normal oh-baby pop songs about young love that you see all over the place. The topics of their songs can range anywhere from drug abuse ("Blue") to murder ("Sally Doesn't Call Me Anymore").

What I am afraid of, however, is that Caleb may have disappeared. The website listed on his cd, [website], is nonexistent. I know it was there before, but I'm afraid Caleb's record label may have cut him off. If so, that really [is too bad]. And I shall spend the rest of my days comparing other artists to this one beautiful singer, Caleb.

If anyone hears anything, post it. And buy the cd if you haven't already. It becomes a healthy addiction.

Caleb, a young New York City singer-songwriter, is going to have to deal with his fear when this disc gets heard. It crackles with thoughtful pop. Caleb brings a fresh hiphop feel to influences as varied as Police-era Sting(Pick Yourself Up), and Seal (These Four Walls) without being overwhelmed by them. And while the music can be quite lyrical, the lyrics speak to a dark wit (particularly, Welcome the opening track about the underbelly of celebrity). The production was handled by studio veteran, Kevin Killen(Peter Gabriel, Elvis Costello, and too many others to list) and Caleb. The musicianship on the disc is very good but Tony Levin's big-bottomed bass on I Fall to Pieces deserves special mention.

This is on my Top5 of the best albums ever. It's absolutely underrated and deserves a place among the finest adult pop records, according to me. But it's been 10 years and no sign of a sequel. CALEB where are you? How can one make such an incredible album and then disappear into nowhere. If you ever see this, Caleb, post a letter on amazon. I so wonder where it's all gone.

I bought this album after hearing one of the songs in a movie. Usually when I do this I am disappointed by the majority of the album but not in this case. Every song is strong, great singing and great lyrics. If this album was not successful it ceratinly is not because of the music and the talent. Beyond the movie I suspect it got no promotion then he got dropped. I hope he is okay and has the determination to get more music out there.

I can't get enough of this music. The lyrics are great, the music hints of a cross between the best of the Police and the best of Peter Gabriel. If you ever loved these bands you'll love this. It's the most compelling music of its kind I've heard in a long time. Listen to "I Fall To Pieces" and you'll agree.

Even though I love the first song - Welcome - and I enjoyed several of the other songs because of their very different and mellow feel, I wouldn't recommend this CD. I love all types, all genres of music but this CD was well.....very forgettable.