Customer Reviews

Islands

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

 

 

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...

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

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.

Hey , ..i've waited a long, long, LONG time for this 70's meisterwork to be finally released , on cd, ..hallelujah!!!!Cyrus Farryar, ..first saw his name on a Buffalo Springfield cover, i think, ...anyway , found a vinyl copy , in London, ooh 79, and quickly realised his absolute genius!!!..What a voice , ..what really great lyrics , what a fabulous all-round musician this guy was!!Comparable to the voice technique of , ooh , Tim Buckley, but really more Dino Valente or a Sal Valentino, or even L. Cohen , Farryar had a real genius in the lyrics department, grrreat, grreat words, and a totally unique way with his voice..mystical, pseudo-religious , neo-christian themes, at times, but always that eerie mystical voice that so captures the true listeners ears!!His 1st. album, eponymously self-titled , is also now released , on cd, a great album , too, it is, but his classic 2nd. release .."islands" to me remains a stone-cold classic amongst singer-sogwriters!!The thematic approach of this album , is beautitiful, "Ghosts", is a true, true delight, & the title track , "ISLANDS" , is really a gem song , of all time , so , so relaxing!!!This cd is an absolute MUST!!!!..TONY/ENGLAND

If you want to show your girlfriend your a sensitive guy, play this CD. Hey, I was young in the early 70s but remember it well. Terms like "groovy" were still being used, though dying a slow death from the 60s. Same applies to this style of music.

Super mellow, put you to sleep. Opening medley isn't bad. Best song is clearly "Ghosts" which I'm fairly sure features Cyrus' (then) wife Renais on lead vocals. It's actually a very good song, different and achieves the haunting effect it's aiming for.

Cyrus is the lead vocalist on the rest and really, he's an OK singer (doesn't miss a note) but the range is limited, beat slow, strumming slow, all songs drag along in mediocrity. Back then the term "chicks" was in vogue and if I'd been old enough I woulda played this for the chicks. Maybe compared to Sinatra or Engelbert Humperdinck this was a welcome, even quasi-revolutionary style...now it's like an old pooka shell necklace. Fun to look at (the cover, at least), then grab what you were looking for and close the drawer. Again, the tune to grab is "Ghosts" -- the rest of this CD is eminently forgettable.