Customer Reviews

Jeremiah Freed

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Fans all around the metropolitan area of Portland, Maine will hail Jeremiah Freed as the coming of the Messiah. I tend to lean slightly in the other direction. While often times people will go on and on about the band's greatness, it comes after a couple listens to the band's first radio-friendly single, "Again." Upon listening deeper into the band's major-label debut, they seem to have dug into a rut of slow-moving songs.

"How They All Got Here" has also become a hit on Maine radio. Chorus be catchy as it may, the song has no flow to it at all. The lyrics' meaning are questionable, the bridge is nothing but ascending chords that don't flow with the tune. The only thing, in my mind, that saved the song from being a complete disaster is Nick Goodale's close-to-perfection guitar work.

Certain tracks do strike a chord, however, with critics and musicians alike. The 8+ minute epic, "Eyes. Life. Change." could easily be renamed "The Nick Goodale Show." His sheer intensity and emotion on the six-string are delivered at full throttle in the first 52 seconds of the song, and he never misses a beat. In a closing solo, goosebumps are brought on as Goodale incredibly scales the fretboard, shredding a storm.

"Ginger" is another tune to showcase not only Goodale's great guitar playing, but the passion and talent of frontman Joe Smith's voice. The lyrics are beautiful, and the music is incredible in its simplicity.

However, the rest of the album seems to fall into a rut. Songs like 'Out of Trust,' an homage to Smith's deceased father, lose flow at the chorus. For the first 2+ minutes of the album, there is nothing but Joe Smith backed by simple rhythm guitar. It seems to me a weak start to a weak album.

Jeremiah Freed has extreme potential for success, but the songs need to maintain flow, and not a lot of this is found on their debut.

Sometimes when you buy an album based on hearing only one song, you get [a disappointment]. Well, that didn't happen to me this time. I heard "again" about two weeks ago, and wanted to find more out about the band... Basically, every song on this cd is very good, whether you like alternative music or hard-rock; there is something here for everybody. I would call this "guitar-alternative rock".

The lead guitar work on the album really is fantastic. Almost every song has a 30 or 40 second guitar solo, and more importantly, each one fits the song well. This guy has influences in 70's and 80's classic rock, and that is a very good thing. You can hear 70's southern influences, some Slash, just a little Eddie Van Halen, and others on various songs, and yet none of this is a [take] off of anything that has been done.

So if you miss good guitar and musicianship in new music, or like alternative music but do not want to support a band that [needs help] and plays the same three chords all the time, get this album, ASAP. I was also able to check them out live last thursday night, in a small club, and met the band afterward. These guys put on a good live show, and they will only get better with time. Don't bother with downloading songs, because this entire album is amazing.

I just wanted to say that his band has been on the billboard and doesnt have just one incredible single ("Again"), but everyone song is soooo good. This is one of those CD's you have to buy becuase every song is so good. If you are looking for someone to compare them with, it's kidn of hard, but they sound like modern Rock, like Incubus put together with Nickelback. Their CD has been spreading across the country and I expect them to make it big. Probably one of my favorite overall rock CD's I have

These guys are awesome, from York, ME, they are MAJOR here in New England, getting air time on WBCN, WAAF, & WFNX in Boston, and Rock 101 in Manchester, among other stations. Their title track AGAIN is amazing, I listen to it "again" and "again." Its great to hear of a local band who has hit it big, and hopefully within time the whole country will know them- i wont be surprised if AGAIN will be playing all the way in Seattle within a few months. These guys are awesome......check out their debut album, the music is great!

Jeremiah Freed - (2002) 12 Tracks ***** (52:14)

I can easily recommend this band's debut album to anyone who enjoys good, basic, guitar-driven rock music, similar to early Black Crowes, Brother Cane, Double Drive, Cry of Love, etc. Jeremiah Freed's musical style is definitely a "throw-back" to the `70's with a little more modern feel to it. I would have to guess that this factor ended up hurting the band's success in the long run as it would seem they no longer exist. Their story seems similar to how the band Cry of Love (Audley Freed's band) came out in 1993 near the peak of Seattle's "Grunge" movement or how Stevie Ray Vaughan's rockin' blues style didn't really fit in the early 80's either, but he kept on playing until his music was accepted by the mainstream music crowd (and FM radio). By everything I've read it seems Jeremiah Freed were mostly popular on the upper east coast of the US as a good live "regional band". Too Bad, as these guys were really talented and should have taken off with as much success as Creed had just a few years earlier in the late 90's.

All of the old reviews for this band are from 2002 and 2003, and most are by people from the northeast area that had either heard the band Live or caught their first single "Again" on local Rock Radio. I was lucky enough to discover Jeremiah Freed by the Amazon web site recommending it based on my other purchases. I read the reviews and put the album on my "wish list" where it remained for about a year until I finally decided to purchase a used copy (cheap). Let me tell you...it was worth every penny! In fact, all of the used copies currently available through Amazon should be sold to all the people out there in cyber space that also like Rock music with great vocals, good vocal harmonies, nice guitar work and cool solos.

I've listened to this CD more in the last few weeks since I bought it than any other music that I have recently purchased. It is really, really good. As I've said before, Jeremiah Freed is pretty much straight forward Rock, but it doesn't sound "formulated". It has a bit of variety to it. It is mostly electric with a small amount of acoustic guitar sections.

I'm not going to try and provide a song-by-song description or talk about the various members of this band since the other top reviewers have that covered (Sam Peisner and D.H.). All I'm trying to accomplish is to spread the good word - This Band Is Awesome! Do yourself a favor and buy this CD. You will not be disappointed. Highly Recommended.

These guys are totally amazing! I bought the CD from the band the last time they played at Bones Gate Fraternity at Dartmouth College. Haven't been able to put it down since. Every song has great vocals and solid guitar riffs. I'd say that Again is probably the best. If you like regular good old rock and roll this is the band for you. On a side note, having seen Jeremiah Freed perform live and having met the band, these are just all around great, friendly guys. Give them a try, you'll be wonderfully surprised.

In this time of the same pop rock always on the radio, it is always good to hear something different. I received the single in my local record store for free, and listened to "again." It sounded great, so I checked out the album, and they are definitely a great band. Jeremiah Freed is like good feeling rock and roll.

I have watched over the past 4 years as Jeremiah Freed has emerged from a small-town garage band to now-well-known. Who would have thought that the state of Maine would produce a great group like this?

If you're into music that has great guitar sounds and fantastic vocals, pick up this album. "Again" is a masterpiece of it's own and probably my favorite song on this CD, but all of them get thumbs-up.

Keep up the great work, Jeremiah Freed, and here's to another great record.

Unbelieveable debut for a great up and coming band. Their first single, "Again" is one of the best songs in years. National radio will soon know the greatness of other tracks on this album including "How They All Got Here", "Stranded" and "Rain". Overall, a high quality debut with a great mix of classic and modern rock. Their sound alone is worth checking out.

This is a phenominal album.. I wish this thing had gotten around the world last year during it's release. Meanwhile, it's got a BEAUTIFUL opening cut, that starts with the hypnotic clear words of lead singer Joe Smith. Then after 2 minutes of trance, with lead Guitarist Nick "borne in the wrong decade" Goodale setting the background kick, the song sends in an outstanding drum beat, brought on by drummer Kerry Ryan. The other 12 tracks have each their own fabulous sound and lyrics, and especially a sentimental track 8, Out Of Trust, which deals with the loss of a loved one, and a inner personal feeling from Smith, whom Joe dedicated this album to. Backing up to track 7 will blow your mind.. With a near 9 minute musical masterpiece which will have your jaw to the floor in the wake of it's destinct musical stylings of Goodale. Nick takes center stage for this track and feeds off of the rest of the band, setting a guitar fired melody you wont want to end....