Customer Reviews

Mavericks

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

 

 

I can't possibly describe the hours of pleasure that "Mavericks" and other Holsapple/Stamey efforts have brought me. I listen to this album, along with all my "dB's" albums, frequently. Time never diminishes the dead-on lyrics, the amazing hooks, the wit, and the feeling that you'd love to hang out with Peter Holsapple because he's a really talented, normal, grounded individual. I realize this is more of a general review of these artists, but they make the world a much better place in which to live. Truly, I'm not exaggerating. For the unenlightened, do yourselves a big favor and LISTEN TO THESE GUYS!

This has been a favorite of mine for years, along with other albums by Chris Stamey, "It's Alright" and "Fireworks." Both Holsapple and Stamey are amazing songwriters: each combines intellectual substance, deep emotion, and impeccable artistic taste better than almost anyone I know. Put them together, and you have an instant classic. Their voices are unconventional, and probably described best as an acquired taste, but they can be acquired pretty readily. If you like REM, Marshall Crenshaw, Peter Case, or other creators of literate, slightly offbeat pop songs, you'll likely enjoy them.

The first six tracks of this album are nothing short of fabulous original songwriting. Stamey and Holsapple definitely compliment one another, with Holsapple's melancholy, tuneful pieces balanced by Stamey's driving pop/rock sensibility. The duo harmonizes seamlessly, and the album seems produced and assembled with great, introspective vision. It's a shame their collaboration seems to have ended here. Holsapple's solo work tries but mostly misses, while Stamey went on to put out a fantastic somewhat Beatlesque album "Fireworks" which contains one of pop's greatest songs "Something Came Over Me." We just haven't heard from him in a while. Mavericks is an unsung and in many ways solitary classic.

This album is simply priceless if you enjoy lyrics with soul and guitars with passion. With this acoustic masterpiece, these singers bare their passions of both love, relationships, and the stark reality of both. You will never forget these songs.

This albumn will always be my #2 favorite, second only to the Jayhawks Hollywood Town Hall...Stamey and Holsapple are both very dynamic and dead on with their harmonies and songwriting....so if you love good songwriting and seamlessly brilliant vocal harmonies this is definately the albumn for you. I could rant and rave for hours - this is one of the few I will never tire of listening to.

PS: The dB's are actively touring a little these days...

Perhaps one of the best ways I can personally judge an album is if I like it even more a year or so later. If that's any kind of litmus test of musical greatness this album is "freak on" superbad. Perhaps I am predisposed to like this stuff as I am a fan of Holsapple and Stamey's band, the dBs. This is better and that says alot. It is so much more mature in songwriting that it touches me deeper than anything the dB's recorded. I love the arrangements too as the acoustic guitars ring out authoritatively playing "Beatle-Quality" great melodies. For me it's the promise of Southern Folk Rock (called alternative in the early 80's with R.E.M.'s rise)fulfilled in the early 90's.

Here's a quirk of mine. When I am emotionally into music I try to see if the album has a centerpiece. Sure enough I find this one does and it's the seventh cut "She Was The One". It's the crescendo of missed or lost love that serves as both the emotional as well as physical center of the album. This is great programming because by the time tracks 6,7, and 8 hit me I'm really into some kind of zone. I love this stuff. I wish more music did this to me. I think this recording qualifies as a pop masterpiece. Perhaps I'm not as "touched" as I feared because instead of just passing into the great, but unavailable category...Collector's Choice issued a deluxe reissue in 2007. Somebody somewhere agrees with me! Highly Recommended

This album is simply awesome. First listen to, I Wanna Break Your Heart, and if that doesn't get your attention, well... nevermind.