Customer Reviews

Land of the Bottom Line

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

 

 

After seeing John Gorka on "Austin City Limits" in 1993, I began following each release. I now believe that "Land of the Bottom Line" is his finest work. The release contains his greatest love songs, often times in somber themes. While his recent productions still weave musical genius throughout, they are distracted at times by an overuse of percussion and background instruments. Gorka is at his best as a pure acoustic performer, which is the dominant presentation in "Land of the Bottom Line". In songs such as "Armed with a broken heart", "I saw a stranger with your hair", and "Love is our cross to bear", John combines his haunting baritone voice with amazing guitar playing.

In their early careers, some artists stack many of their great songs into one release. In "Land of the Bottom Line", Gorka provides a consistent template of his incredible skills with at least half of his greatest songs ever. In fact, many of the requests he accepts at concerts come from this CD. This is a must buy for all acoustic afficionados and for anyone who is not aquainted with John Gorka.

This are songs of late adolescence, full of power and anger. Like an old Rimbaud, Gorka here delivers the main course. He never did it again in his later cd's. This is his best one. Better than anything he's done since, and probably better than anything he'll do.

One of the best folk cd's ever!

The trouble with the title track is that it's so good, you may never get past it. Do yourself a favor and go the distance with this one.......then listen to that title track as many times as you want!

Title track, "Raven in Storm" and "Full of Life" are the top tracks in my opinion. The whole thing is good! There is not one BAD John Gorka album! The only one I don't have in my collection is the first one, "I Know." I agree with Amazon's assessment, "Gorka's songs are studded with dry wordplay, precise imagery, and sudden glimpses of deep feeling." This hits it on the head. He is a witty musician who very creatively and artistically talks and sings about everyday life. Like a good writer like John Updike does, Gorka, through his song, makes everyday experience come to life.

If you are new to John Gorka's great music, buy this CD, you will not be disappointed. His music is about feelings (deeply felt) and he communicates them with a rich simplicity and honesty which are compelling and addictive. His voice is beautiful, yet not showy and he offers the depth of his soul on this collection. Experience it and enjoy it. This is a rare treat to be cherished and savored!!!!!

I know I tend to gravitate to the somber side of life, and this album caters to that tendancy very nicely. I especially enjoy "Armed with a Broken Heart" (a jilted lover basking in unashamed self-pity), "Full of Life" (jilted lover redux) and "The One Who Got Away" (a little self-conscious self-delusion in the interest of emotional survival). Even the "silly" songs, "Italian Girls" and "Prom Night in Pig Town" tug at some half-forgotten adolescent emotions with amazing accuracy and poignancy. My son (age 7) especially likes "Stranger in My Driver's Seat" for the cool tune and gripping images. While not quite as good, in my opinion, as "Between Five & Seven" this album is well worth the purchase price.

An amazing find if you enjoy a clever play of words, intriguing characterizations, and well-played, thoughful acoustic music! John Gorka comes through this recording as a true original artist.

Poignantly painful songs like Love Is Our Cross to Bear and Full of Life are followed by the playful Promnight in Pigtown. Gorka addresses the spectrum of human emotion on this release. Gorka's musicianship is flawless. His prowess as a guitarist shine through in this setting of mostly acoustic guitar, bass, and drums. Excellent arrangements.

Gorka's ability as a songwriter is a closely-held secret in my corner of the world. Go seek him out.

I am a songwriter and not easily impressed by most songwriting. However, when I first heard John Gorka I was amazed. His voice, his lyrics, his beautiful melodies. He is both deeply moving, funny and witty, sometimes in the same song. He is definately at the top of my best songwriter and singer list. This was my first John Gorka album, and when I first got this CD, it didn't come off the turntable for several weeks. I have since bought several others of his. He is great in concert too. I even bought his songbook.

Gorka pours his heart out with this release. For anyone who has ever felt the infinite pain of a broken relationship,"Armed with a Broken Heart" is truly heart wrenching. "Full of Life", "I saw a stranger with your hair" and several others are written in the same vain and also astonishingly wonderful cuts.

This is the second CD I bought of John Gorka's music, and I really am enjoying it a lot. He has a nice, pleasant voice, and his songs are worth listening to. Being a fan of acoustic music, this one really is "right up my alley". I highly recommend it to those who love acoustic music, and appreciate lovely melodies and sensitive lyrics.