North American Long Weekend

Tom Freund | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 14, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Found Music
• ASIN: B00007MB8R
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #646,574 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You've Found This, Now Buy Freund's CD, January 5, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: North American Long Weekend (Audio CD)

Regrettably, artists on small labels most often find it difficult to rise from anonymity. The mere presence on an obscure label would seem to denote work not worthy of consideration by the many.

Well, if you're a living, breathing, feeling human being, Freund's art can speak to your soul and its memories.

It's tough to tag his genre, which may be part of the difficulty describing and marketing his music.

Freund's is a canvas splashed with urban folk-blues-jazz-rock, capable of transporting the receptive listener to times, places, feelings that I dare say are near universal and precious in the civilized experience.

His intoning of thoughtful, poetic lyrics coupled with self-accompaniment on the string bass is both soulful and cool.

Spin and LISTEN. You won't be disappointed.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars best male singer-songwriter ever (except dylan), May 25, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: North American Long Weekend (Audio CD)

A fluent,literate consummation of 200 years of American music. Homegrown, but urban, this guy speaks for the new generation.

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic & Underappreciated Songwriter, February 6, 2004

By 

Tito "titofeh" (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: North American Long Weekend (Audio CD)

Well, it appears I'm the 2nd reviewer, and I'm equally amazed that Tom Freund hasn't received more recognition, even if only among those who classify themselves as fans of the 'singer-songwriter' genre. Freund's songs are invariably personal and introspective; you oftentimes get the feeling you're the next door neighbor in a thin-walled duplex, overhearing a conversation meant for someone else's ears, or perhaps that you've read a page from his diary.

His musicianship won't knock anyone's socks off, but then what makes him great isn't his Yngwie Malmsteen impression - it's his songwriting. He is deceptively talented however: he doesn't show off his skills because for him it's about the song (he plays at least 5 instruments). The melodies are superb, falling at various points on the spectrum between straightforward folk-rock and jazzy folk-blues. In particular, "27", "Business of Knowing", "Trondheim", and "Great Authority" are memorable tracks. Most songs have some combination of acoustic guitar, piano, upright bass and drums, though the drums are pretty laid back for the most part. Definitely worth a purchase if you like very early Tom Waits (think "Ol' 55"), or the folkier elements of Tom Petty (though he's much less poppy & sarcastic than the latter). Fans of Mason Jennings or Iron & Wine may also like him

Some interesting guest spots on the album are Rami Jaffee (the organist from the Wallflowers), Jimmy Smith (the legendary Blue Note & Verve jazz organist 50s-present) and Jon Brion (the songwriter/producer).