Customer Reviews

Notes From the Lost Civilization

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

 

 

It's a shame that Tonio K. was never recognised for this songwriting skills until he gave up recording. He produced several smart, snappy songs that all died lonely deaths in the back bins. He once said that he made more cash off that Grammy-winning song for Vanessa Williams (in the early 1990s) than he did off his entire recording career.

Sonically interesting (but you can hear T-Bone Burnett all over the place, even when he isn't there) but it's the lyrics that work best. It's dated now, but definitely still worth the money.

Despite being pigeonholed as a Christian artist, Tonio uses a bigger palette than most artists of the genre. This is a great album, loaded with smart pop songs (I still don't know why "What Women Want" never got airplay). If this were anybody else, the album would rate five stars -- but since Tonio's earlier 'Life in the Foodchain' and 'Amerika' get that honor...

Quite toned down from Life in the Foodchain, this CD expands on Tonio K's talents. The harmony was beauiful and there were several (Without Love) that had me singing along. I have always admired this performer; he takes chances with the music he writes, and it's not quite mainstream, which is probably why I like it so much. I once owned this LP but my turntable isn't reliable anymore so I'm slowly replacing my Tonio K LPs with CDs. Everything he does is good, a lot of wry humor and definite anti-establishment attitude! This is one of the best in my opinion. A must buy if you're looking for something new!

Tonio K is a good musician. This is one of his better works of art. Without love, Stay and You Were There are tremendous songs. The music is good, the voice rocks, and the lyrics are insightful. MAD

Track listing
1. Without Love
2. Children's Crusade
3. Stay
4. City Life
5. You Were There
6. Executioner's Song, The
7. I Can't Stand It
8. What Women Want
9. I Can't Stop
10. Where Is That Place?

As my title says, this is my least favorite Tonio K. album. Why? Maybe it is because of Romeo Unchained. I thought that was a great album with great lyrics. It was my introduction to Tonio K. back in 1986 or 1987. Then with Notes, to me he had changed. He was standing in front of a bunch of dinosaurs singing stuff that sounded to me almost like INXS or was it Bruce Springsteen?

Without Love is a good song. It says a lot of right things and I appreciated the sentiments, but it took me a long time to get over the change. When I found out about his earlier music, Life in the Foodchain, I understood better who he was as an artist. Years later, this is a CD I keep in the car and listen to often.

There are some really memorable songs on this CD including the one I already mentioned. Stay is one of my favorites, as is The Executioner's Song and Where is That Place?

Tonio K. is one of those artists that seems like he put his heart into it whether it made him popular or not, and he was good at it. I am glad his CD's are still available.