Customer Reviews

Looking for the Moon

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

 

 

The first time I heard this CD was while driving and listening to the local folk music show. One moment I was a middle-aged man in a Volvo running errands, and the next I was a longhaired hippy type sailing down the highway in my VW bus, looking for dragons. By the time I got control back I had driven by my home and was on my way to California. I believe that is called spontaneous regression.

Tom Paxton was about as much a part of my post-adolescent years as was the psychedelic music of the sixties. Back in those days it was important to be stirred up by the music to the point where you all sang along and did strange things like group hugs. And nobody does that with the same evocative flair as Tom Paxton. Nowadays many would consider much of this music as a bit too hokey, but back then it brought a tear to one's eye and woke a bit of revolution in your heart.

It still does. From 'Looking for the Moon' to 'Come Away with Me' these are all touchstone songs - melodic, mostly tender, and easy to sing along with. Don't expect deep anguish or heavy sarcasm. Do expect a lot of wistful tenderness and a surprising musical complexity that underlies was initially seems to be simple tune making. I hope this album touches more people than just those liable to sudden nostalgia attacks. It seems to me that the world would be at least a little improved if more people stopped to listen.

A great mix of songs. His "The Bravest", a tribute to the fallen firefighters of the 9/11 tragedy is the best that one could ever hope to hear. As a retired firefighter I can tell you that he "nailed" it.

This is my personal review of Tom Paxton's concert at McCabe's in Santa Monica on Valentine's night 02/14/2004. This was the first concert at McCabe's for my new girlfriend Julie, who had never seen a folk concert before. I was shocked at how much fun she had, as well as myself, as Tom entertained the audience with catchy small numbers and spotlighting his incredible sense of humor and incorporating fun into his music. Tom performed several of his classic songs, along with new songs from this fine album. My favorites would include the title track, "Homebound Train", "Me and A Couple of Angels" and a fine tribute to the NYC Firefighters who died on 9-11-01 in "The Bravest". Tom also did a couple of numbers for us lovers that night, including a new song "Come Away With Me". Along with Tom, special guests Carolyn Haster and her husband David Bloom joined in to perform a song or two from her incredible music library. Overall, A fine concert from one of folk's best performers. Tom honored a special guest in the audience - a man who helped get Tom (and many other folkies) started at Elektra Records 40 years ago, Mr. Jac Holzman. It was an honor to shake his hand after the show just to say 'thank you' - as well as meeting Tom and introducing him to Julie, who seemed to like very much =) He signed my CD "To Joe, Tom Paxton" - Thanks Tom Paxton for a special night. Peace - JG "Bear"

It is an enjoyable album. However, the witty pointedness present in Tom Paxton's 60's and 70's albums, is gone. Instead there are relevant social comments, a tribute to the fire fighting crews attending the September eleven catastrophe and the odd love song, often performed in a country and western style not present in Paxton's earlier albums.

An album of lovely, contemplative songs. There are songs of loss, such as "Homebound Train". "Marry Me Again" is a wonderful tribute to lasting love.

Tom Paxton, arguably, has become THE icon of contemporary singer/songwriters everywhere, and I am inclined to agree wholeheartedly. Tom's music has stretched from the pre-Vietnam, JFK presidency, and the "great folk scare" era of the '60's right up to today, and he has managed, better than anyone, to adapt the subject matter to wonderful songs that will last for generations to come.

This, his first album of original material that appeals primarily to the older folks in several years (he does lots of great childrens' albums, too) is right on target, and seems to wax nostalgic, for the most part. "My Pony Knows The Way" and "Come Away With Me" are wistful ballads of times past, "Me And A Couple Of Angels" and "Marry Me Again" are tributes to his lovely wife, Midge, and the title song rates as one of the best songs Tom's ever put together. The highlight of the set is his already classic "The Bravest", perhaps the most humbling of all the songs that came out of the September 11, 2001 events.

The energy and wit of Tom Paxton have not dimmed at all over the last 40 years or so. I hope we all have access to it for a good while longer.