Islands [Import]

Cyrus Faryar | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• ASIN: B0000563MI
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,550,693 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of a Kind, May 23, 2006

By 

Daniel Dropko (Vermilion, OH United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Islands (Audio CD)

There are some albums, by some artists, that are so unique and compelling that they achieve a singular status. Faryar's first album is decent, and his work with the Modern Folk Quartet is also quite musical and satisfying. But "Islands" is like a mountaintop among low hills. Every cut is a gem. The styles drift from folk, to pop, to jazz, with incredible fluidity. Faryar's voice has an almost spiritual quality, and the lyrics are both literate and inspired. For me, the favorite is his cover of Fred Neil's "The Dolphins", but at one time or another every cut on this album has been a favorite. A lot of folks who love good songwriting and musicianship are going to love this disc. Unfortunately, for right now, the vagaries of the marketplace have the price fluctuating from 24 dollars (used) to 60 dollars and above, with a middle ground of around 30, if you can get it at all. That's a lot to risk on an unknown quantity, no matter how good I think it is. But take heart. Amazon is advertising it for 12.98 with an August, 2006 release date. If you can wait that long...

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars one of a kind, September 5, 2008

By 

Inky Toon (Miami, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Islands (Audio CD)

i can't remember how this LP appeared in my collection way back when - I think someone recommended it to me because I was a Tim Buckley / Shawn Phillips fan - anyway, I played it - and played it - and played it - to this day, Islands remains one of the top 10 in my collection. In fact, it has grown more powerful over time - a wonderfully perfect musical experience that always takes me somewhere

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Where do I start with this one?, January 24, 2008

By 

greyhoundude (Corvallis, OR) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Islands (Audio CD)

First of all, I guess I'd have to say that it's nice to see this one finally available domestically at a reasonable price. Elektra originally issued this in 1973 and it sold about 1,000 copies (including the one I bought), so its CD release comes as a bit of a surprise. When I first saw the album cover in 1973, I was ready to dismiss it as the new Tiny Tim album...long-haired Cyrus flashing a toothy smile and holding a ukelele. Glad I took a closer look at the *back* cover....

The early 1970s featured a slew of albums treading in what was then experimental folk-rock-jazz territory. Some of these names you may recognize: Tim Buckley, Nick Drake, John Martyn, Tim Hardin, Fred Neil. If you're familiar with any of these artists, you're in the ballpark with Cyrus Faryar's ISLANDS. Though he is less jazz-influenced than most of those artists, Faryar nevertheless attempts a fusion of....well....folk and jazz. This is really a tough one to categorize. In the only review I ever read about this album (in 1973), the reviewer concluded by stating that he wished he could bring the record over to your house and play it for you. Yeah, that's about right. And chances are you won't "get it" on the first spin. This is one that grows on you....35 years after its release it sounds better than ever.

Vague comparisons: Nick Drake's "Saturday Sun", "Thoughts of Mary Jane," "River Man"...Nick's orchestrated stuff (Faryar's "So We Sailed" can be favorably compared to Drake's "Three Hours"), mellow John Martyn (ONE WORLD's slower tunes come to mind and maybe a couple of the jazzier tracks from "Road To Ruin), and, of course, Fred Neil's "Dolphins." But here's the thing: ISLANDS doesn't sound like *any* of the above artists. Like I said, tough to catagorize...

Women will dig his voice (he has one of the strongest voices I've ever heard), obscure-music collectors will remember Cyrus from the Modern Folk Quartet, recognize Fred Neil ("Dolphins") and Bill Martin (writer of the opening track "Bright Islands" and past collaborator with Harry Nilsson, the Monkees and Michael Nesmith, to name a few), and musicians will recognize Colin Walcott, Don Preston (from various Zappa bands) and guitarist Richard Rosmini, who guest.

And it really does give you the feeling of an afternoon lying on a tropical beach....relaxing and most enjoyable...

4 ½ stars. Recommended.