Customer Reviews

Lowedges

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

At last, a disc to stick in between the Nick Lowe "crooner" trilogy (Impossible Bird, Dig My Mood, The Convincer). Like Lowe, Hawley writes strong material and sings it in a warm, trustworthy voice perfect for 3 a.m. Also like Lowe, he has his hard rocking period behind him for the moment (a former member of Pulp) but now sounds like a man who has come to terms with himself. So, you'll find several touching love songs, along with a tribute to the pleasures of riding his motorcycle (see it on the cover). No cool poses, just the truth as he sees it. Nothing fancy in the way of instrumentation either--everything serves a purpose, and the playing is as warm as the vocals (Hawley is also an outstanding guitarist). In these cheesy American Idol days, let's celebrate honesty and real talent where we can find them. Lowedges is a great place to start--one of the 3 best albums I've heard this year.

I suppose the main thing to say about Richard would be that his voice is not for extreme rock and roll fans . It is for those who like solid atmospheric songs with a fair amount of reverb on them . Imagine Roy Orbison slowed down with mostly positive lyrics that can celebrate or lament the simple things in life like appreciation for your loved one or looking back on past times .

The best singers can make you feel that you believe the stories they are telling - I think that is the most difficult thing to do . What is the difference between singing words and singing lyrics - the difference makes a great singer .

Richard certainly gets you into the mood of his records .
It is cinematic music in that it can conjure up pictures in your mind if you are so inclined .
Most of his songs are built on the guitars which play repeated patterns of notes ( arpeggios ) - some are instrumentals .

Listeners will come to this music by accident or through others as it is not promoted at all , relatively on the music business scale of things .

It will not suit all tastes as the tempos are mainly slow .
It is reflective music with reflective lyrics .
Buy it to see what you think .

Richard Hawley is amazing. The best musician that no one has ever heard of. He is one of those very few artists whose songs have an ability to transport you to another time and place. I don't think he'll ever hit the mainstream per se, but that's fine with me. I'll be happy to keep his music to myself and those few lucky people who have been introduced to him.

Is it just me, or would his songs make incredible cinema soundtrack music-- background music for a scene when a heartbroken character is walking down a lonely city street in the rain, for example. His music is haunting, evocative yet full of warmth and romanticism. I don't know exactly who to compare him to-- Chris Issac, perhaps? It's just a shame he waited until so late in his career to pursue solo projects. . .

Going solo was the best thing Hawley could have ever done. Not that his credits are bad (longpigs, pulp), but what other artist has pulled off three albums of ballads, all unique? I was taken in by first listen. One thing on Lowedges which added a twist was the Johnny Cash vocal range, not as apparent on previous albums, if at all. If you liked Late Night Final as much as I did, you will be blown away. Let's hope he tours in the states now.

hard to say which is my favorite richard hawley recording, each one is fantastic. if you haven't yet heard him just start with any one of his cds. this one is wonderful: deeply lush, rich, and filled with gorgeous melodies. and mr hawley has one of the great voices currently going in pop music. a great sunday afternoon recording, or early evening recording, or anytime at all recording to listen to. don't miss this artist.

The second release from the guy from Longpigs/Pulp. On his own he sounds nothing like those guys. He sounds like he has been admiring people like Roy Orbison and Johnny Cash. Last year I gave a rave review for Late Night Final, which seemed like a breakthrough album. Hawley ignores music trends and must be, in a way, admired for that. But now there are about twenty bands performing this mellow acoustic rock about long lost love. This album may be a group of songs that didn't make it on the first album. It doesn't seem like Hawley has brought anything new to the table. Yes, "Oh My Love" is a great song. Others like "On The Ledge" are reworkings of early material. His admiration of Johnny Cash is valid: Cash is one of the coolest people of all time.

(www.freewilliamsburg.com)

Richard Hawley is amazing. The best musician that no one has ever heard of. He is one of those very few artists whose songs have an ability to transport you to another time and place. I don't think he'll ever hit the mainstream per se, but that's fine with me. I'll be happy to keep his music to myself and those few lucky people who have been introduced to him.

Is it just me, or would his songs make incredible cinema soundtrack music-- background music for a scene when a heartbroken character is walking down a lonely city street in the rain, for example. His music is haunting, evocative yet full of warmth and romanticism. I don't know exactly who to compare him to-- Chris Issac, perhaps? It's just a shame he waited until so late in his career to pursue solo projects. . .

I was recommended this CD and have really enjoyed it. It is relaxing, yet thought provoking. The accompanying various guitar arrangements are wonderful and the lyrics fresh.

I was introduced to the music of Richard Hawley only a couple of months ago, but since that time I have acquired several of his CDs and have greatly enjoyed each of them. In fact, everytime I hear him now I get the feeling that I'm listening to something special that relatively few others have been privileged to hear. Lowedges is the earliest of his albums I have acquired and its near perfection shows the listener that Hawley could be destined for greatness.
Here's what I think sounds best: Darlin, with its dreamy instrumentation; the vocal blending on The Only Road; the world-weary melancholy of On The Ledge which evoked immediately Lambchop's Kurt Wagner; the stunning You Don't Miss Your Water (Till Your River Runs Dry); the deep, slow, countryish I'm On Nights; the suave instrumental Danny; and The Nights Are Made For Us, the vocals of which will instantly remind the listener of Eddy Arnold.
If you enjoy quality easy listening vocals that are not happy/sappy but are steeped in a wistful melancholy, the you should love the sound of Richard Hawley. The insert that comes with the CD is light on information and extras, but it at least tells you who does what and what instruments are used. If you don't yet own any Richard Hawley albums, you can't go wrong starting right here with Lowedges!

It is difficult to create songs for "nostalgia" and that always are beautiful. Richard Hawley does it!