Customer Reviews

Fez

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This album is to Trashcan Sinatra fans what Nirvana's live, acoustic album was for their fans. For the few of us out there that have heard of and like this group, this is a great find. I stumbled upon it on itunes and bought it immediately.

Arguing is futile: the Trashcans are the best band out there. Melodic, heart-grabbing songs, swooningly smart lyrics, and Frank Reader's unforgettable voice mark all the band's endeavors and this live release is a particular pleasure. The band's live gigs tend to come in two varieties, either mellow and introverted (don't expect lots of banter from these fellows), or else full of energy, the delivery straining to burst the confines of the songs. Perhaps because the songs on "Fez" were culled from acoustic shows, expect the former kind of performance, which highlights the yearning beauty of songs like "Wild Mountainside," "In Capitals," or "Trouble Sleeping." And check out in particular the rare "Drunken Chorus" in case you're wondering what a perfect pop song should sound like.

This live set, recorded during a trip through New York, spans material from the Trashcan Sinatras' first four studio albums (Cake, I've Seen Everything, A Happy Pocket, and Weightlifting). For a variety of reasons, their full catalog of material is unavailable; and until some kind exec takes the plunge, this is the best career survey you're likely to find. It's got practically all the songs their fans want to hear, plus more, and it's recorded in an intimate setting, with small forces. (There's an electric guitar in here, but no full drum kit, for instance.)

The songs themselves have nice structures, very good lyrics, and are melodic without being sing-songy.

If you are a TS fan, you will love this cd. They are such awesome artists, and this live recording does justice to their mad skills. Just got it and listened to it in the car on a couple of days. During the 7 hour commute, I found myself putting my Keane CD away, putting this CD in, listening it through twice, then changing to another CD. Found myself always going back to it. Track two...Horses, just elevated my heart rate from the opening. Great with coffee, needing to sing along alone in the car, awesome CD. Just bought it for my best friend who used to listen to them in the late 90s. He will love it. Cheers!

A great live album from a band that should be wildly successful, but inexplicably are not... I almost like some of the live, acoustic versions better than the originals... almost...

The Trashcan Sinatras (Scotland's finest), hit New York City with a stripped-down set of their favourite songs and give us 'Fez', in all it's undubbed splendour. I am a big Eddi Reader fan and as her brother Francis and her partner John Douglas are members of this band, I thought that I would check them out. Whilst their music certainly favours the Acoustic approach, some of the songs I find average. The album is recorded straight from the mixing desk so in fairness, they have produced a totally 'live' album with no overdubs which is a testimony to their musical abilities. The danger with this is that you hear the flaws and some of the harmonies are a little off and distract me somewhat. There are gems in here with 'Wild Mountainside' being as good a song as any out there and deserving of a wider audience. All in all not a bad effort, but will not appeal to everyone. Will favour those who like Eddi Reader, Crowded House and acoustic/folk.