Customer Reviews

Here's Tom With the Weather

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A friend clued me in to Shack a couple of years ago and I'll be eternally grateful. If you like great songwriting and timeless music that hovers somewhere between jangling classic Britpop and mystical, shimmering folk in the tradition of Nick Drake, you will love these guys.

One gets the feeling that these two supremely talented songwriting brothers, Mick and John Head, are writing songs not to please record company execs or even fans, but themselves. They are overt in their references to bands that they love, like Love and the Byrds. But they've managed to carve out their own unique sound.

If not for the flawless production, a song like the album opener, As long As I've Got You could've just as easily been recorded in 1967. Byrds Turn To Stone is a sweet and tender childhood memory that recounts the brothers' learning to play guitar and watching mom freak out on pot brownies. It's that mixture of unselfconscious storytelling that's so disarming (and these days, so original).

Meant To Be is one of the most perfect pop moments in recent memory replete with hypnotic, interweaving guitars, soaring vocals and mariachi horns and it's bookended by two other gems, Miles Apart and Carousel. But there's not really a weak moment on the entire CD and it bears - even demands repeat listens.

I have CDs by Travis and Coldplay and Doves and Elbow and Gomez. And although I like a lot of what's been coming out of England lately, in my mind nothing comes close to the subtley and sophistication of Shack. Too bad I'm one of the only ones who knows it.

Brothers John and Michael Head come up with a gorgeous set of folk-tinged songs on Here's Tom with the Weather, their second release since reforming Shack after a short hiatus. Shack is a far cry from Michael Head's former cult band The Pale Fountains -although that band's delicate dreaminess informs the soft structures of these 12 tracks. With his sibling handling vocal harmonies, Shack are a chill out Everly Brothers, reminiscent of Turin Brakes and Aveo. And though the songs are filled with concrete narrative details, they seem most interested in dissecting elusive moments - the times when doing nothing at all leads to small epiphanies ("On the Terrace"), when distance and unreliable memory bathes a bad affair in its romantic glow ("Miles Apart").

It's a crime artists such as this don't get great appreciation. Oh well that's too bad for the masses as it leaves something so fine on the purest of days to be appreciated by the true music lovers. I'm not a huge fan of Coldplay & their music scene but England does hold this Shack cd true to the nation & this genus of CD should be outselling Coldplay any day.

We find this album rather dissimilar to that of the H.M.S. Fable. There is nothing wrong with difference. On a cold day, a spin of this disc will make you feel warm & help you find yourself on a busy day in a calm state of presence. This is powerful & well worth your hard earned cash without doubt.

It's better than their previous splendid effort. At first it may take time to grow on you but once it does you'll find it next to impossible to grow out of it. This is music that can enjoyed upon repeated listens where the most wonderful of memories may be associated with upon each listen without fail.

Cheers lads.

One question: How on earth will you follow up a masterpiece such as this on your next effort?

John Head's three songs from "Here's Tom with the Weather..." are a crown jewel of British folk rock. Delicate, lyrically poignant, marvelous orchestration, and drenched in beauty. I can't think of another English songwriter who has achieved such heights of artistry and received so little recognition. At least Michael got a magazine cover! This is classic songwriting on par with its forebears. "Carousel," "Miles Apart," and "Kilburn High Road" will stand the test of time.

In a perfect world, Shack would be a household name. Or at least, I would have the time to dedicate to this cause. But I hear Noel Gallagher is picking up the slack in his off-hours from Oasis. The sound here is soft, but substantial. Perhaps a reflection of Michael Head's opiated universe. The good parts of it anyway. These songs are the sounds of being in love.

if you enjoy love "forever changes" and classic folk rock, then you GOT to have this cd! manna from heaven!!!