Man Alive

Eugene Kelly | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 13, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sympathy 4 the R.I.
• ASIN: B000AC7P3I
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #497,302 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Man Alive, Eugene Kelly's first solo album since the demise of his group Eugenius, is a charming, low-key effort full of his trademark wit, humor, and songcraft. The bulk of the album is made up of chiming guitar pop tunes with sweet vocal harmonies that wouldn't sound out of place on a Teenage Fanclub record -- just add Kelly's laconic vocals and world view. Indeed Kelly has learned much about the jangle from his fellow Scots. There is none of the grungy heaviness that often turned Eugenius songs into muddy filler. Now Kelly's songs are either light and tender ("I'll Be Yours," "Older, Faster") or rich and expansive ("Noise and Smoky Breath," "The Healing Power of Firewalking"). Either way they are refreshing and quite lovely. Equally as nice are the songs with a folky, acoustic feel like "Sinking Ship," "She Wears My Rings," and "Dear John" that betray a newfound maturity and the rocked-out tunes like "Ride the Dream Comet," "You're Having My Sex," and the cute, should-be-a-hit "I'm Done with Drugs." Taken together you have a fully rounded-out album that ought to make fans of Kelly -- and of intelligent and fun guitar rock -- glad the man has dragged himself back out on the tiles. ~ Tim Sendra, Rovi

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great record from a music deity, May 13, 2007

By 

JohnELaw "johnelaw" (Indianapolis) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Man Alive (Audio CD)

It was 1992, when Eugenius released Oomallama, that I was first introduced to Eugene Kelly. I'd known of Eugene's first band, the Vaselines, from friends who worked with me at the radio station (WBOR in Maine) and SubPop's "The Way of the Vaselines" gave me a decent taste of that early stuff. And then all the hoopla of Cobain calling the Vaselines his favorite band, the Vaseline's reunion to open for Nirvana, etc. But it was "Breakfast" on Oomallama that caught my attention and sucked me into that record - which remains one of my favorites now 15 years later.

The second Eugenius full length, Mary Queen of Scots, was a decent effort but it fell well short of the strengths of Oomallama. I saw Eugenius as they supported that record - in Atlanta, opening for, of all bands, Urge Overkill (I think I was the only one there to see Eugnius, and they were head and shoulders better than Urge). But then Eugene disappeared. That was 1994.

I'd heard rumors that Eugene would be releasing a solo record, but I am well outside "the scene" these days and just learned of the release recently. After getting the run around from teenagers at the local indie record shops, I decided to hit Amazon and thank goodness they got it to me.

Man Alive is a really charming record. Straight ahead guitar pop of the Scottish variety (think Teenage Fanclub, not Belle & Sebastian) with hints of the Byrds. The records is largely without the fuzz of his Eugenius records, but it's still clearly Mr. Kelly making wonderful pop music with a dash of cynicism. And while it is largely a lower-key affair, he still knows how and when to give it a kick. 'Stop the Press' and 'Older Faster' stick out every time I listen, and I unexpectedly find myself humming 'Dear John' or 'You're Having My Sex' at work or on the drive home. But top to bottom, this record has no duds, and my neighbors at work are starting to inquire about this pleasant albeit cynical music they hear sneaking from my office. Given their tastes in music, that says a lot about Eugene's latest...

It's 2007 and I've just discovered my favorite record of 2005. The Scots consistently make the best indie pop you'll find - and Eugene Kelly re-established himself as a deity of the genre-

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not His Best Work, July 28, 2008

By 

Brian J. Greene "djbrian" (Durham, NC) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Man Alive (Audio CD)

Fans of the Vaselines and Eugenius must have been excited to see this come out a few years back. But the mood might have dampened a bit when they started hearing the record. This is not BAD music by any stretch, but it's just not prime Eugene Kelly. He still shows a great wit here, and once in a while hits a nice melody line, but overall the material falls flat. Not enough hooks, not enough memorable lyrics, not much of a sense of a gifted songwriter and performer on a roll. No, better stick with The Way of the Vaselines and Oomalama and hope for a return to form at some other time.

0 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Eugene Continues!!, February 17, 2008

By 

J. Crossland (Lake Okeechobee) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Man Alive (Audio CD)

I must admit its not as good as his works from the 70s, but those 6 star albums. If truly enjoy Eugene Kelly you will not be disappointed in this album!