Customer Reviews

Fool's Parade

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I heard about this album on NPR's "Fresh Air" and tried it out. The first listening was good. The next, very good. The next, outstanding. Peter Wolf has poured his professional soul into "Fool's Parade," and produced a work of art as well as great pop music -- in sequencing, in songwriting, and in performing. He is battered, scarred, but still here and still glad of it. His voice sounds like Bob Dylan with training; his fellow musicians are all pros. I'd like to focus on the drummer only because most drumming is so abysmal -- either uninspired, grating cymbal-tapping or pedantic crash-booming. Wolf's drummer fills up the space in just the right way with highly creative, supportive,interesting sound. This record needs to be listened to repeatedly, and studied, to fully reveal itself. What a great bittersweet feeling it provides!

Okay, so if you think of Peter Wolf at all, you remember him from way back with J. Geils. Put your preconceptions aside because this is one of the most overlooked CD's of all time. The songs are instantly memorable; you find yourself singing along the first time. And they just get better. Honest, understated, passionate. Wolf proves himself again and again. Like Dylan? Dig Peter Himmelman? Then you'll love this. The style conjures up 60's soul with the 90's sensibilities of a mature artist working on all cylinders. "Waiting on the Moon," "A Roomful of Angels" -- all the tracks shine, actually. You will play this and play it and play it some more.

If you went to a house kegger in the late '70s or early '80s ($3 to get in, $5 for freshman), chances were at some point in the evening someone would toss on some J. Geils Band. And everyone would sing along.

While "Fool's Parade," by the former Geils frontman Peter Wolf, has nothing on it that will compel you to guzzle a Bud and crush the can on your forehead, it has the tendency to get the feet moving and fingers snapping nonetheless. Only in a more intimate and subtle way.

The heavily R&B flavored album has its up-tempo songs("Turnin' Pages," "Roomful of Angels," and the ultimate 'dis title "I'd Rather Be Blind, Crippled and Crazy,") that could make you and your significant other sponateously burst into dance while you are doing dishes.

Wolf also offers up the slow numbers, like "Pleasing to Me," and "All Torn Up" that will make you hold your baby close.

And all the while "Long Way Back Again," and "If You Wanna Be With Somebody" can just flat out make you groove.

For those of us that grew up and older (notice I didn't say old) with the J. Geils Band, "Fool's Parade" is the logical next step.

On "Turnin' Pages," Wolf sings "I can't go back to all the old places."

True, but where Wolf is at right now isn't so bad.

Peter Wolf should finally get his due as a songrwriter. Although best known as the J.Geils frontman, he has always been a great music evaluater and songwriter. His versatility of R&B, Soul, Blues and Rock are felt on virtually every song. As the liner notes state, Wolf's famous saying is "99 1/2 won't due". By listening to this cd, you can tell that he is true to his word and has given 100% or more. Let's just hope he tours to promote this disk and that the radio stations wisen up and start playing more Peter Wolf.

I'm not a big J. Geils fan and am basically lukewarm on other solo Wolf recordings. But this one - it's one of the best records I've ever heard. The harmonica work is subtle and masterful, and the songs themselves are so well crafted that Wolf's sledgehammer vocals--which could easily get in the way--don't. For the most part, he sings soulfully, and he effortlessly plays the part of the veteran bluesman. This is worth $25. Buy it now.

I've never been a big fan of Peter Wolf or of the J. Geils Band, so I didn't expect to like this CD. But this CD is great. I put it in the same "singular effort" category as I'd put Dylan's "Time Out of Mind" or (believe it or not) Madonna's "Ray of Light." What I mean by that is you listen to it and you know the artist really focused and poured an authentic effort into it. I feel like Peter Wolf really tried to produce something really good.

Fool's Paradise has some great gooves and it grows on you. It's bluesy, which I love. But it pops with moments that remind you of specific music greats. For instance, in some places it's Al Greenish and in others even Bruce Springsteenish (old stuff--pre Born In USA.) It's totally grown on me. Great tracks include "Anything at All," "If You Wanna Be With Somebody," "Pleasing to Me". My favorite is "I'd Rather Be Blind, Crippled and Crazy". But that's today. Tomorrow I'll probably have a new favorite.

What a pity the J. Geils Band split? Oh yes. But Peter Wolf's solo albums provide lots of wonderful music.

Can't stop playing this CD!!. A Longtime Fan of Peter Wolf/Geils will find a pleasant surprise as this CD is less Pop and more Soulful -- Compares well to "Monkey Island" from Geils or "Wavelength" from Van Morrison Outstanding cuts include a great Duet "Pleasing to Me", "The Cold Heart of the Stone", "Roomful of Angels" It's unfortunate that Commercial Airplay will be hard to come by since they won't know where to slot this, but all in all a terrific Listen

I had counted myself as one of those many fans who grew out of the J. Giles Band and Wolf in particular. Peter has done a John Travolta and shown us an artist we never knew existed within. This CD is extrodinary and, as the liner notes suggest, repeated listenings only endear it more to you. This is one of those rare works that you can put in the player and listen to for hours on end. Kudos and welcome back wooba gooba with the green teeth!

Peter released the best CD of his solo career in "Long Line" of 1996. This is a must for any true fan of the "woofa-goofa." Johnny A. who played and produced the "Long Line" CD brought out the best in Peter that had not been done since Seth Justman when Pete was in J Geils. If I were Peter, I'd work all the time with Johnny A as he understands Peter's music in a way only Seth had.

"Fools Parade" is Peter indulging his r&b side but not doing it in an interesting way. It seems to plod along without a focus and aside from a few songs is dull. If you own it or want to own it, I say great because Peter is to be respected but, in the final analysis, "Fools Parade" is not his best effort by a long shot.

Buy "Long Line" to get Pete's finest solo moment and, perhaps, a release that holds up to much of his J Geils work as well.