Gunman & Other Stories [Import]

Prefab Sprout | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 25, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: EMI Europe Generic
• ASIN: B00005ARSV
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #64,570 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Cowboy Dreams

2. Wild Card In The Park

3. I'm A Troubled Man

4. The Streets Of Laredo/Not Long For This World

5. Love Will Find Someone For You

6. Cornfield Ablaze

7. When You Get To Know Me Better

8. The Gunman

9. Blue Roses

10. Farmyard Cat

Editorial Reviews

Paddy McAloon & company return with their EMI label debut. These are their first new recordings since 1997's 'Andromeda Heights'. Fresh off their Y2K tour, they recorded this disc in New York with legendary producer Tony Visconti (David Bowie, T.Rex). Paddy's trademark hushed vocals soar here along with sweepingly inventive melodies and strong lyrics. Includes their version of 'Cowboy Dreams' which was covered by Jimmy Nail in the early nineties.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars It grows on you, August 19, 2001

By 

"roojo" (rockville, md United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gunman & Other Stories (Audio CD)

I am a longtime Prefab fan and to be honest I was pretty dissapointed when I first listened to their latest offering. But after a couple of spins It was obvious that Paddy has not lost his touch. Cowboy Dreams, Wild Card, Cornfield, When you get to know me and Blue Roses are first rate, and as good as anything from Jordan The Comeback. I have found with most great Prefab songs they take a while to grab you but once they do you'll never forget their beautiful melodies or perfect production.

Unfortunately the good songs on this cd are surrounded by filler and considering this is the first new output since 1997's Andromeda Heights (which I thought was fantastic) that seems pretty lame. Also it appears that Paddy is getting more sentimental as he gets older, some of the stuff here is too syrupy and lacks the sarcasm and wit from his previous work.

I have a feeling that Prefab have passed their prime but even their weakest work is a lot better than the majority of pop music currently on offer.If you are a Prefab fan, buy this it's worth it, if you are a prefab beginner buy Jordan the comeback or Two wheels good first.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars By what standards do we measure genius?, July 4, 2001

By 

"geotune" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gunman & Other Stories (Audio CD)

If you think Swoon, Steve McQueen and Jordan define the way Prefab Sprout albums should sound, and you threw in the towel after their last album, Andromeda Heights, and you probably won't like The Gunman and Other Stories any better. Fortunately, many fans have "survived the blast" and are thoroughly enjoying Paddy McAloon's lastest creations. The production by Tony Visconti is crisp and clean, big when it needs to be, yet quite subtle, with wisps of the old mixed in with the new. Paddy has stripped his songs down to pure emotion. Passion so hot, it sets the dry summer cornfield ablaze. Quite cinematic. McAloon re-interprets the only non-original on the album, The Streets of Laredo into a made-for-21st-century-Prefab spectacular. Later, in Blue Roses, his elegant and simple words, set to one of the prettiest melodies I've ever heard, could wring love out of the coldest heart. Finally, a string sextet gets down with a country hoedown backing for Farmyard Cat. There's no going back. Paddy's music is already classical.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enchanting, August 19, 2001

By 

WrtnWrd "Hankman" (Northridge, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gunman & Other Stories (Audio CD)

Paddy McAloon's Scottish pop combo, Prefab Sprout, have made enchanting records since the 80's. His latest, The Gunman and Other Stories, is a charmer from beginning to end, with "Wild Card in the Pack", a great single, and "I'm a Troubled Man", a wrenching ballad, the highlights. McAloon is a smart writer and singer -- comfortable with both irony, direct emotion, and absolute cheese (the closing cut, "Farmyard Cat", harkens back to The Kinks Village Green days). They've never been "hip", which is a good thing -- Prefab Sprout, instead, are timeless. They could make wonderful records, if we're lucky, forever.