Customer Reviews

Montage

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Mike Brown--the intensely talented songwriter for the Left Banke who penned most of their songs--DID have a post-Banke career, but with the odd exception of Stories (who had their one hit, Brother Louie, after Brown had left the band), none of those bands ever made much impact, or were availible on CD. This disc, released almost 30 years after the fact, is now a welcome exception to that rule.

Montage was the eponymous album issues by the New Jersey group, who wisely decided to partner with the otherwise-not-actually-in-the-group Mike Brown and cohorts for songs and production; although Brown writes most of the songs, plays keyboards, and does a whole host of other things, he was apparently not technically in the band. Odd. Yet he and his other LB cohorts (Bert Sommer cowrites some of the material, as does Tom Feher; both contributed to various LB projects in some way) obviously hadn't lost any of their talent, and it is my firm opinion that Montage blows even the Banke's heralded debut out of the water. The songs are *that good*. The performances are understated and emphasize "feel" more than rocking out. That's *just the way these songs should be*. Both of Montage's singers have wonderful, expressive, yet vulnerable voices. Exactly suited to the material.

It's really that good, folks. Highlights include The Grand Pianist (which later shows up on a Bert Sommer album in a sparser arrangement...heck, he wrote the lyrics, so...), an earthier take on the Banke's Desiree, the stunning opener I Shall Call Her Mary...in fact, my only complaint about this set is that they didn't include MORE. I mean, c'mon, there must be more where The Mirror (one of the excellent bonus tracks) came from!

Buy it. Now. If you're a fan of the Banke, Zombies, the Beach Boys in their "Today!/Pet Sounds" mode, The Association, or 60s music in general, you are almost guarenteed to love this.

I Loved the album when it was being made... I was there. I was lead singer Vance Chapman's girlfriend and I am now his wife. I was with Vance when he sang the lead on 7 of the 10 vocals and the off-key song is not his, although one thing I need to explain is that Mike Brown's intention in the song "Men are Building Sand" was to have that NOTE painfully out of tune since it was the writer's intent to demonstrate his displeasure of urban sprawl. But Vance and I agree, it does sound bad and the reason for doing it that way was never known by listeners. However, Mike Brown never let the band use the simple technology of echo on the vocals, which is why the vocals sound drier than those of the richly styled Left Banke. The talent and voices were always there and still are. Vance went on successfully making music with the VANCE CHAPMAN BAND for years after the Montage went their separate ways. He still sings and is still capable of producing the same dulcit tones with more fullness and maturity. I may seem prejudiced and of course, I am. Vance and I hope you all will continue to enjoy this labor of love.

Felt I needed to provide balance in regard to the other review. I blindly purchased this cd because of my love for the Left Banke. This is a very good album and certainly should be purchased if you are a Left Banke devotee. I strongly disagree with it being better than Left Banke's debut however. But there are several very good songs on this album, I particularly like Tinsel and Ivy.

If you have a chance to listen to this album check out Men Are Building Sand. It contains the most painful recorded note I have ever heard- completely off-key. What's the deal? No other complaints aside from this.

Replacing my two scratched Left Banke albums with "There's Gonna be A Storm" was one of the wisest moves I've ever made. Great band. Great sound. Timeless, but not enough. The band dissolved too soon.

Recently, Montage caught my eye while surfing the web. That was how I came upon this lost gem. Montage? Who are these guys? Let me tell you. They are Michael Brown's post-Banke pet project, but that shouldn't dissuade anyone from listening. There are some wonderful tunes here and even a couple raided from Banke's own catalog to flesh it out. The sound is pure Left Banke. Or perhaps, pure Brown would be a better way to put it. So why the three star rating. No offense, but these Jersey boys don't match up to the stellar vocals of Steve Martin and crew. "Tinsel and Ivory" is a great tune, slightly marred by some off key vocals. The aforementioned off note in "Men Are Building Sand," not only happens once, but twice more and not only is it off, it is actually painful to listen to. It will make you wince! It's that bad. "Wake Up Jimmy" has, perhaps, the worst ending of any song recorded. It appears a free ride in artistic control to Mike Brown is, perhap, not too good an idea. Don't get me wrong, this is not a bad buy, but I suggest you get it used and save some cash. Get the extended version because the three instrumentals will leave you wondering why there are no lyrics. Very catchy melodies.

As a whole, Montage delivers. Sadly, it just makes me think what this album could have been if Left Banke had recorded these songs.

I bought this record about two months ago and it seems to never leave my CD player. Although I had listened to some Left Banke numbers prior to the Montage disc, I certainly wasn't prepared to experience such a shock :"I Shall Call Her Mary", "She's Alone" (those violins !), "Grand Pianist", "Men Are Building Sand"(from Left Banke days) and "My Love" are instant classics, pop gems of the superior kind. But "Tinsel and Ivy" to me is the stand-out track : a rare blend of delicate instrumentation (just listen to the discreet playing of the oboe) and vocal harmonies. The 4 bonus tracks are not really essential, although "Thor and Or" is a good example of late sixties organ-ized gentle frenzy. In all, a must for any Left Banke fan who thinks "Pretty Ballerina" and "I've Got Something On My Mind" are forgotten pop cameos. A record that deserves the same cult following as Love's "Forever Changes". Yes, it's that good !

Despite having been masterminded by the same person who breathed so much life into the Left Banke's debut LP (and their two radio hits "Walk Away Renee" and "Pretty Ballerina"), I've never found this album nearly as inviting. To be fair, neither do I particularly love the Left Banke's second album, "Too," either.

Having departed the Left Banke, Michael Brown applied his considerable talents to this New Jersey band, writing all of the tracks, playing keyboards and producing. The result is similar in construction to the Left Banke's baroque pop, perhaps even a measure more deft. But what's missing is the underlying pop and rock influences that made the Left Banke's debut at once innovative, yet hugely accessible and memorable.

Perhaps it's Brown losing his commercial sensibilities, perhaps it's the band simply not having the magical combination of voices of The Left Banke. Whatever it is, the result is rich, with interesting melodies and arrangements, but ultimately unsatisfying. This is a good follow-on for anyone who's purchased the Left Banke two-fer, but don't expect it to send you to the place as the former band's debut.

3-1/2 stars, if allowed fractional ratings.

I've been Listening to this Album for over 30 years. What an awesome contribution to the 'Story Telling 60's' that has come to be the greatest music of all. I remember asking my grandmother who Priscilla Gray was. She said, 'ask your Uncle, he sang it! Thanks for the CD!

Very good album post Left Bank,underestimated, but in the same vein with already leading Bob Stereur of this Band.Just one thing,the packaging and présentation of this Cd is HORRIBLE in a very cheap jewel case...Pinckle.

I can't help but laugh at how most of the complaints about this album seem to revolve around the "painful" off-note in "Men are building sand". It's a deliberate dissonance which in my opinion perfectly complements the otherwise pitch-perfect harmonies and gives the song a slightly ominous, atmospheric edge. It's a minor experimental flourish, and whilst it is obviously not to everyone's taste, the kind of musical conservatives who are genuinely upset by it probably should get back to something more soothing, ie Coldplay.

To the album itself: it is an absolute joy from start to finish. Stylistically it is very similar to the Left Banke, but I would go as far as to suggest that this is even better. The sound is more coherent, the production is crisper, the lyrics are slightly more off-beat and interesting. Any fan of The Zombies' "Odessey and Oracle" or The Association's "Birthday" is going to love this. In terms of that whole 60s-pop-with-strings-and harmonies sound frequently termed "baroque pop", this is up there with the best of them.

Montage was made at a time when Left Banke keyboardist and songwriter Brown had left the group. He teamed up with the Montage group as the principal songwriter and played keyboard as well. It has sparks of genius and manages to recapture bright moments of that early Left Banke baroque rock, including its sensitive outlook to romantic entanglements. Along with parts of the second album of the mother group--"Left Banke Too"--it's as close as you'll get to the original sound. Brown had moments of greatness and he almost gets there on Montage. A worthy recording for fans of Brown.