Customer Reviews

Finest Hour

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You know, when this record first came out, I was so mad it wasn't like "old JP." But after reflecting on their great career (which ended in December of 1997), this album stands on its own with for the most part, quality songs.

Besides having traces of the trademark JP sound ("Six Page Letter," "Say that you Love Me,") it has their greatest hit "Vineyard." Cary Pierce has some nice songs (especially "More than This"), but most of all it's Jack O"Neill's songs which are underrated on this disc. "River" is very much in his old style of writing, and the lyrics in the title track still make you think. The bonus track number 24 "World's Greatest" maybe one of Jack's strongest ever.

No, this isn't like the earlier JP albums ("Bringing on the Weather" and "Women as Salvation" are a MUST), and there are a few songs ("Get it Together," the cheesy instrumental "Ivy") you can skip past.

But give "Finest Hour" a chance. It may grow on you as it did me.

although this cd fell way short of the greatness of their previous cds, it is still very good. this was my first jackopierce cd, and I thought it was the greatest music i'd ever heard... only after hearing the rest of their music on "decade" did I realize how much of a disappointment this, their last cd, was. a good cd, but for your money, get decade, it's a similar price with all the good songs off this cd.

Friends, the title I think describes accurately what happened to one of favorite bands on this, their last studio recording. For reasons that escape me, the talented and creative Dallas duo traded in their sparkling mix of acoustic and electric guitar for a more dry and contained mix. The result was supposed to be that they combined forces with a band and were now legitimate entity in the music business, ready for all that could come their way. But in the end this recording feels like Jackobox (Jackopierce in the box). Like other reviewers, it pains me to say these words, but do yourself a favor and check out Bringing On The Weather. Prouced by Counting Crowes producer T-Bond Burnett, it shimmers with an emotional pull and downright heartfelt drive.

I have to be honest - my only experience with Jackopierce before this album was a show I listened to on the Live Music Archive. I enjoyed it, so when I found this album at a used CD store in their $0.50 bin, I figured I'd give it a shot. While it didn't sound like what I expected, it still stuck with me. No, there's not the nice down to earth folky sound that I love that hooked many a Jackopierce fan, but the strong songwriting is still present. There are catchy harmonies, hooks galore, and a nice variety and flow to the songs in the album. No, it's far from perfect, and I'm sure if I were a big Jackopierce fan I'd be sorely disappointed, but what's here is a fine collection of well-written songs that makes for a good listen. Listen to the songs on their live acoustic albums, and you'll see that all they were doing was trying to make a mainstream radio-friendly album. But the songs are still true to the band even if the style is not.

Notice the lyrics of "Is it the Sun" (we want to know who'll be the next big thing) and "More than This" (it should have been more than...) Lots of irony. After not getting much support for the fantastic "Bringing on the Weather," I think JP was going for the radio friendly attempt at a disc. But even on Cary Pierce's site himself he says the label wasn't too excited about "Finest Hour," so what can you do. There's a few nice songs, but that's about it. Check ou ALL the earlier records to see what tremendous writers both Cary Pierce, but especailly Jack O'Neill were.

Is it any suprise that A&M records dropped JP after this debacle?! I know thast there was alot of turmoil over what sound they were going to have on this album. They kept going back and re-recording and mixing and changing the songs for this album. I blame the record company for this one. They were obviously pressured to play a style that would be easier to market, but it failed. All in all, there are a few really good songs on this album. The hidden track of Trials is the best song. Is It The Sun is not very JP like but still is a good song. Hmmmm....you know I have every JP album and those are the only 2 off of this one I can say I actually ever listen to. Hmmm....I guess this album really does stink. It hurts to say it because I have always been a HUGE JP fan. Oh well, good luck Jack w/ American Horse and Carey.... get over yourself man.

There's probably a reason why no one else has reviewed this album. It doesn't inspire the least bit of enthusiasm in the listener. Jackopierce's other albums are among my favorites, especially Live from the Americas and Bringing on the Weather. However, JP must have decided to plug in the electric guitars in a last-ditch effort for popularity. The result is a sound more like Seattle than Texas. It speaks volumes about the album that a "hidden" track, an acoustic version of "Trials" (performed w/electric earlier on the album) is the best song on the album--and its "hidden". Don't buy this--but don't hesitate to buy all the earlier albums.