Neon Mirage

Stan Ridgway (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 31, 2010)
• Original Release Date: 2010
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: A440
• ASIN: B003YP7NH6
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #74,586 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dark, Brooding, Personal, September 6, 2010

By 

Timothy P. Young (Rawlins, WY, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Neon Mirage (Audio CD)

Stan Ridgway, forever burdened by the sobriquet "former Wall of Voodoo frontman" returns for his first solo album since 2004. "Neon Mirage" is lonely, mournful, and, for Ridgway, incredibly personal. He eschews the character-driven songs of past albums to focus on meditations on identity ('Behind the Mask'), aging ('Day Up in the Sun'), and spiritual wandering ('Flag Up On a Pole,''Desert of Dreams').

The sounds range from the dust-covered folk-rock sound that Stan has perfected over the past decade or so to the curious 'bossa nova-esque' sounds of 'Desert of Dreams'. In terms of sound, there's nothing new here on this album. What is new is the personal nature of the lyrics, largely inspired by the death of his father. Also of note is a reworking of 'A Town Called Fate' that, if anything, surpasses the original in its feeling of desolation.

However, "Neon Mirage" is never depressing. It's more of an exploration of Stan's psyche, and while dark and brooding, still has a warmth at its core that makes the listener feel like they're in a room with a good friend. Which, in a way, I suppose Stan is, after all these years. ('Halfway There', in particular, has a warm sincerity that particularly moves me.)

Very, very good.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars latest tales from a master storyteller, October 18, 2010

By 

R. Hutchinson "autonomeus" (a world ruled by fossil fuels and fossil minds) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Neon Mirage (Audio CD)

NEON MIRAGE will always mark for me the first time I finally saw Stan live, with Pietra Wexstun and Rick King. I even got to say hi after the show. It was great -- Stan, as you can imagine, is really funny between songs. Don't miss seeing him if you get the chance!

Stan lost his father, a beloved uncle and violinist Amy Farris during the making of this album. It is a subdued set, featuring a new version of the great "Big Green Tree" produced by Dave Alvin, which originally appeared on the excellent Black Diamond in 1996. Another notable feature is a cover of Bob Dylan's song "Lenny Bruce." (Did you know Dylan had a song called "Lenny Bruce"? I sure didn't. It turns out it's from Shot of Love, one of the born-again albums that came out in 1981. I never heard the album, the only thing I heard from it was the great rollicking single "The Groom's Still Waiting at the Altar," so I wasn't aware of the song.)

Of the other songs, I think about half of them are quite good: "This Town Called Fate" and "Scavenger Hunt," which are both noirish, in the vein of many previous Ridgway songs, the great instrumental title track, and especially "Turn a Blind Eye" (which is obliquely about climate change) and "Flag Up On a Pole," an anti-war song, both good examples of Stan's social critique, one of the things that I have always found most impressive in his music. "Desert of Dreams" is also a critique of empty consumeristic America, but it's not a strong song. "Halfway There," "Wandering Star," "Behind the Mask," and "Day Up In the Sun" are more personal and reflective, and while I'm all in favor of personal reflection I just don't find them compelling.

I'm about the same age as Stan, and I identify with his music, his writing, and his persona (his mask?). While I don't think this is his strongest album, I certainly look forward to hearing more from him in the future. After all, we're only halfway there...

The three essential Stan Ridway albums are SONGS THAT MADE THIS COUNTRY GREAT, a compilation of the best of the '80s, BLACK DIAMOND, his best of the '90s, and SNAKEBITE, his best of the Aughts.

See my STAN RIDGWAY'S AMERICA list for more reviews and recommendations.

(verified purchase from CD Baby)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fine Effort, March 10, 2011

By 

Beans-N-Toast (MD USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Neon Mirage (MP3 Download)

Neon Mirage combines the best of Stan Ridgway's song and storytelling skills. The mood and atmosphere are reminiscent of past works without feeling derivative and the songs feel more like welcome friends with just the first listen. Further, it's an album that you can definitely listen to more than once, and for me, becomes more enjoyable with each playing. I've been a fan of Stan since the Wall of Voodoo days and while some of his previous albums had enjoyable songs, but had some hits and misses, this album is cohesive and likable start to finish. A fantastic album for fans of his prior works and a great album to introduce those new to Stan.