Customer Reviews

The Lost Album

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I can't say enough about how great this guy is. He writes, performs on and produces his own cds. He plays in different styles (he's an awesome singer and instrumentalist) and is clearly influenced by many great artists, yet is distinctively himself. Check out "Let's Hope Nobody Finds Us" - the best song Brian Wilson never wrote, complete with a breathtaking wash of background harmonies, all Lewis. Even though the music is melodic and accessible, Lewis experiments often, frequently re-recording his own songs with different arrangements. This particular album was intended to show another side of Lewis apart from his soul stuff, and is simply another tour de force. His albums are so richly layered, emotionally nourishing and satisfying that any one might qualify as a "desert island" disc. It's astounding how he hasn't had success with major labels and hasn't penetrated the US market! Without a doubt the finest artist I've heard in any number of years.

A friend of mine STILL employed in the music industry turned me on to this masterpiece. It is with no exaggeration that I unashamedly shout to the world that this is one of the best pop/rock recordings I have heard in 30 years. The influences, while borrowing from the Beach Boys, Todd Rundgren and 60's and 70's pop in general, are too many to list. There is so much to praise here that I won't bother to try. The same friend sent me an article in which Taylor is said to have retired and walked away in disgust from recording completely. I hope that's not true but it would not suprise me. Over the last 15 years the music industry has been devouring itself from the inside out and there aren't many A & R people left who really know what to do with an artist like Lewis Taylor.

I normally can't stand too large a dose of falsetto but this album hooked me with the first song. Aside from the latest Swing Out Sister and Wolfmother it's the first time I have hit replay immediately after the first listen in many a year. While we have heard much of what is here before, Taylor serves up a collection of songs that have a freshness and vitality that transcend genre and time. It's that good. Buy it now.

PS...NO, SERIOUSLY. BUY IT NOW!

to the rest of Mr. Taylor's work. If you loved "Stoned", you will certainly have just as much to rave about-

This collection has a slightly different overall vibe though- sunnier in its disposition, you can hear the same influences as before but the overall production gives the final product a less refined glow ( which is, in this case, just as valid and attractive.)

Perhaps its just my subjective viewpoint, but growing of age in the seventies, there is a decidedly sweet and innocent feel for most of the material. I simply love the way he creates his collage of vocal and instrumental textures- this man just KNOWS how to seduce you with the sheer SOUND of his voice and instrumentation.

Its groovy, warm, seductive, comforting, and will make you glad to be alive. Highly recommended.

I would venture a guess that not one in a thousand music lovers has ever heard of Lewis Taylor, let alone heard a song sung by him. This is a tragedy, not in the sense that the US invasion of Iraq is a tragedy, but in artistic terms. It is inexplicable that this genius has not reached a larger audience. By this I do not mean an earth-shatteringly huge audience - just one marginally larger than the 23 of us in North America who are aware of this man's existence! I have a good friend who is nuts about Joe Henry. I like him too, in small doses. However, I can understand why Mr. Henry isn't a household name appreciated by hoards of adoring fans. His music is unusual. Eclectic is an apt description. Lewis Taylor is a world apart. His music, whether it be the 1970's style pop of The Lost Album or the more soulful style of his other recordings, is very accessible. Reviewers have mentioned Todd Rundgren, Love, Prince, The Beatles and The Beach Boys for this cd and Marvin Gaye for the others, as influences - these are hardly obscure artists who made music that required any effort for enjoyment.

Lewis Taylor plays a mean guitar as well as all of the other instruments. He wrote and sings all of the songs. He is an unbelievably talented musician who has created a cd that any music lover would enjoy. I know, I know. People are always imploring others to buy this or that essential and brilliant recording. More often than not the cd is very appealing - but only for fans of the artist or the genre. The Lost Album is for those myriad persons who just plain love good music. If you enjoy any of the artists listed above as influences then I am confident that you will love this release. Then pick up Stoned and Lewis Taylor 11.

I admit that the only song I've heard so far is "The Leader of the Band."

If what I heard from this song ALONE is any concurrence with the two positive comments above mine, I hope you will buy this as quickly as I will.

I'm STUNNED by EVERYTHING about it--melody, harmony, depth, vocal passion, lyrics, hook, rhythmically uplifting feel without being corny or trite. In other words, gents, you'll retain your macho integrity liking this pop-ish but very intelligent stuff!

I COMPLETELY agree with the above positive comments.

Please help this guy! Think about it--the reason these smarter artists who USED to rule the radio waves are now suffering, and we along with them, is because record companies caught on to the sad truth that the mindless masses, in this industry as in every other, will mindlessly spend their ever-depreciating money whether they're offered caviar and champagne or cesspool soup (think mad cow disease). Which is cheaper to produce?

Companies' incomes are less certain if they are always at the mercy of demands of intelligent artists. By contrast, companies control everything if they just keep churning out fluff--American Idol, for example. You can't tell me that there isn't some element of "cutesiness" that wins them points. Is this a reflection of a public refined enough to focus only on the competitor's talent? Of course not. It's a joke.

If we rely on the unrefined public to determine the winners of talent based such laughable measures of competence, should it not worry us that they might also do this in most other aspects of their lives, say, voting for President?

Bit I digress!

Other recommendations of music along these lines that I've also recently discovered are:

Phantom Limb from the Shins;

Landed from Ben Folds, featured in a current commercial from Hilton Hotels;

The Otherside from Breaks Co-op;

Lil Star from Kelis and the background vocals of the guys from Outkast (please trust me);

The Story from Brandi Carlile;

Other Side of the World from KT Tunstall.

Go ahead. Take a risk and buy this CD by someone you've never heard of, Lewis Taylor. The guy is brilliant and you will love THE LOST ALBUM....

TO ANYONE WHO GREW UP IN THE 70's:

Did you have one of those cool older cousins who you worshiped? Your family would go visit their family for the day, and sometimes the cool cousin would let you hang out in their rooms with them- as long as you didn't ask them what those rolling papers were for, and you didn't touch their record collection. Lewis Taylor's "The Lost Album" is an album that would have been playing on the record player. It's so familiar yet new- it reminds me of summer days, youth and "Don't Tread On Me" posters

Lewis Taylor is amazing...

Amidst all the pop bull, c-Rap and music that doesn't mean anything a GEM has gotten lost. I have read on the internet that this musician who is channeling some of the greatest music in years. People... listen to some good MUSIC!

7s

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