Customer Reviews

Love Songs: For & Against

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

 

 

I was first introduced to Guy Forsyth perhaps one year ago by a good friend of mine whose jaw literally dropped when she'd heard I'd never listened to his music. She loaned me all of his CDs and I've never looked back.

Guy Forsyth represents the very heart and soul of the entire Austin, TX music scene. It's no secret that one of Austin's many mottos is "Live Music Capitol of the World." What they don't say is that it isn't necessarily *good* music. Thankfully, for every 10 bad musicians there's at least one good one, and Guy Forsyth is perhaps the best. He is the epitome of what Austin music SHOULD be and CAN be when in the hands of a visionary.

Don't try and pin Guy down into one genre. One might be inclined to say "country" if they've heard some of his other albums ("Voices Inside" comes to mind, probably his best), but that's just not suitable. This album also presents us with an experimental ragtime number ("Shake it in a Circular Motion"), a heart-wrenching ballad ("Patient's Blues"), salsa, blues, and good ol' rock 'n roll. There's something for everyone on this album.

Each and every person will find their own "favorite song" on this album, and you're guaranteed to find at least one or two that you can't get out of your head.

As a previous reviewer noted, Guy is best seen live. While this album is spectacular, he truly shines on the stage and the songs lose something in translation. That's not to say they're not great - they are - it's just that, heard live, there's more soul behind them.

Buy this album. I said buy it! And then buy Voices Inside! You will NOT be disappointed.

It's a beautiful thing to witness the culmination of this man's career in such a wonderful tasting of his talents which this CD presents. Guy definitely has his own sound, his unique voice, and his thoughtful message that he carefully weaves from the myriad musical (and other) influences that have helped form and shape him into who he has become. There's no doubt that he loves the blues, but don't try to pin him down to one musical tradition, cuz he's got em all! You just HAVE to go to a live show to witness all that Guy has to offer. He'll be touring extensively for "Love Songs" in the coming year, but you can always catch him in Austin, Texas where (he's based) at venues like The Saxon Pub or Antone's. This CD is really wonderful. Everyone I know who has heard "Beautiful Mistake" is captured by it and keeps humming it for days afterwards. "Long, Long Time" is a favorite amongst the old to the very, very young due to the danceable and impossibly easy to remember chorus. Listen to his lyrics in all of his songs, but especially "Mama's Favorite" and "105". And "Patient's Blues" is so powerful and heartbreaking....I can't say enough about this WHOLE CD. Run, don't walk, to buy it.

I'll try and get right to the point. I had a business trip I had to take to Phoenix and I wanted to see some live music. I always wanted to go to the Rythem Room in Phoenix, AZ. So I checked the schedule in August. Well long story short, this guy "Guy Forsyth" had some great songs, so I even changed my appointment so I could be in Phoenix that Tuesday night, August 22nd. I had driven 4+ hours to come into town, made my appointment and headed back to the hotel. It was a little late and I wanted to get a good seat, so I sucked down a couple of beers at the hotel and then got to the venue at 7:45 as the show started at 8pm. (Yes I did cab it back and forth, as I do enjoy my libations) They did not open the doors till 8 so I was one of the first there. It was also one of the employees 10 year anniversaries they would be celebrating that night. (Hello Mona Lisa!). Well no dinner, straight to the show, and what a show. Guy came out, hat on, guitar in hand and he was a one man rocking machine. He lit the place up. I paid $5 at the door and they should have been charging $50. I sat next to a Dr. and his new wife who had their first dance to one of his songs. (Sorry, but at this point I can't remember their names). All I do remember is jumping to my feet after just about every song and giving him a standing ovation. Go see Guy. His lyrics are some of the best I have heard and his energy and music are incredible. Just do it. Get up, turn off the T.V. and go out and see some live music. Guy, I hope I didn't talk your ear off that night, but you impressed me immensely and I hope to be paying $50 to see you very soon. Take Care, Kevin

P.S. - Oh yeah buy this CD. You will Love it.

I used to go see Guy play every Sunday at Antone's here in Austin. For a few years I was a regular and could hardly be dragged away from a show. Even during that time Guy was playing a couple of the songs that appear on this recent album... First let me say that Guy is one of the best songwriters I've ever encountered. He has true versatility, writing in a variIety of styles with ease and grace. It is hard enough to find a singer who can write, never mind write well, never mind write in a variety of genres.

Yes, in Austin there is a lot of music. Most of it is bad, some of it is good. Very, very little of it is great. Guy ranks among the very top of the pile for Austin, surpassed by only a few luminaries like Patty Griffin & Shawn Colvin. However, it is true what some other reviewer's have said: Guy is best experienced live and this album is indeed over-produced.

This album really represents a new direction for Guy, he explores the pop arena to some extent, mostly through the production aesthetic but partially through song style ("So Hard" has a particularly bubble-gum feel). Historically, Guy does mix it up quite a bit, throwing blues, folk, rock, and even ragtime and calypso into the pot and stirring well - but you will notice a lot of shared writing credits on this album, which is clearly where the shift in sound originates.

Having heard several of these songs in their original live incarnations, I will make the comment that - in my opinion - the producer, Mark Addison, really has actually taken something away from Guy's unique voice. "Patient's Blues", originally a clear, plaintive rock-blues wail, has become a muddy mess that makes rather unfortunate use of background vocals. Same goes for "Heart-Shaped Hole", a song which could easily rank in quality with the similar "Dead or Alive" (Bon Jovi) were it not for the odd filters and arrangement. Here's a hint to Mark Addison: if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Had the production been less obtrusive, this album would've been a much greater success. Not that it's not successful - it has been Guy's most successful album to date. But there's a difference between making a nice solid hit deep into the outfield and hitting it right out of the park. That is why I give this album 4 stars.

To my mind, the best track on this album is the hopeful "Brand New Day". It is one of the few tracks that makes really good use of background and guest vocals - it features the ridiculously talented Carolyn Wonderland (who also co-wrote "Patient's Blues") who is sort of like Janis Joplin without all the staggering. This track exemplifies the way Guy, who can sometimes be a bit preachy and heavy-handed, can take simple words and a simple tune and still make something great. I just now consulted the liner notes and it comes as no surprise to me to find that this track has no co-writer. Pure Guy. As it should be.

I've been following Guy Forsyth's music since I was a Soph at UT-Austin back in '94, or so. We used to go listen to him in the middle of the day when he'd play out on 6th. I can't remember if it was 311 or Joe's Generic; all I know: I was hooked! I've had the opportunity to listen to him live...every show, every year, every song is different. He lives his music! This album encompasses most of his styles. A must have for any Guy fan. I now live in Colorado; I'm sad to say the nearest he's come to playing in my town is Lawrence, KANSAS!!!

Guy Forsyth has something to say and he says it well. I first heard him on my Ipod (Long Long Time was included). That was such a great song, I had to find out more about him. I hope he tours the midwest where I live.

The only complaint I have is that some of his words are hard for me to make out. Some of the songs come through really well like 105 and Long Long Time and others like Mama's Favorite Son are still murky even after listening several times.

Quite a difference from someone like 50 Cent where I'd rather not make out the words most of the time! Maybe Guy should consider rap or hip-hop to deliver his message.

Guy Forsyth's "Needle Gun" joined my collection eons ago back in the vinyl days. It's been a long time since I pulled it out. I was on a search for Mark Addison whose band Borrowers did a stunning CD that was stunningly obscure. So I decided to check out this 2005 CD, Guy's latest as far as I know, "Love Songs: For & Against." Wendy Colonna who at times sounds like she's channeling Bonnie Raitt on her own CD Right Where I Belong helps on background vocals on "Brand New Day." It is an excellent song about a fantasized breakup, "I'll be on my way, some day you will hear me say." "Rise Up" is an incredible blast of energy with Guy's spoken opening that breaks out into a blistering guitar attack and Forsyth's vocals passionate and moving, "Seize the sign, voice of the people, you are mine, rise up." "Take Advantage," written with Darden Smith is a slow bluesy smoker about a woman who gives too much. Fred Eaglesmith sings a song "105" about the speed he likes to drive. This isn't that song. Forsyth's "105" is about a day so hot that the guitar wails and boogies like a summer maelstorm where even the gates to heaven are locked, "This land is spoken for, this land don't belong to you no more." "When I say 'red,' I think of roses; When you say 'red,' it's bloody noses," Guy sings on a catchy track written with Mark Addison. The CD concludes with the silly washboard track "Shake It in a Circular Motion." This is an excellent set from one of Austin's brightest lights. Enjoy!

Guy is Guy. This album is producer heavy, but he shines through.
A real person, Forsyth is a singer songwriter in the best sense of the phrase.

This is definitely Guy Forsyth's best album to date. Guy shows off his writing, singing and playing ability. All his years performing in the Austin bars and clubs have paid off. Congrats, Guy!