Customer Reviews

Oh Holy Fools

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

 

 

I'd never heard Son, Ambulance prior to picking this album up a few days ago, but I'd become very fond of Bright Eyes. This CD showcases two bands who have got an extreme talent for taking raw, unfiltered emotion and slapping you in the face with it. Being more partial to Bright Eyes, I have to give judos to Conner Oberst for being able actually chill my spine everytime I listen to No Lies, Just Love. That song hits me like a brick wall every time I hear it. If you are unfamiliar w/ either band when you get this CD, you need to continue exploring their respective catalogues... Music like this gives me some hope that my generation won't be known as the one to kill music.

I purchased this cd as a Bright Eyes fan, having only heard one or two songs by Son, Ambulance. I loved Bright Eyes, and from what I heard of Son, Ambulance, they were alright. But Bright Eyes didn't steal the show here. The Son, Ambulance tracks were just as wonderful. I remember the first time I listened to "Brown Park", I was so shocked that I had to listen to it again. It was that good, probably my favorite track off the disc. This stayed in my car cd player for weeks. For me, the other Son, Ambulance stand out is "Kaite Come True". The Bright Eyes tracks are all of impecable quality, standing out in my mind are "Kathy With a K's Song" and "Oh, you are the roots that sleep beneath my feet and hold the earth in place", but the others are about just as good. The price couldn't really be beat either. I could have downloaded the album for only a dollar less, but the cd does come with lyrics, which is where this music really shines. Great songwriting, probably one of my top ten albums.

i have just bought "Oh Holy Fools" and think its great, maybe if i didnt have "Lifted" or "Fevers" i would have rated this 5 stars, nontheless "SOn Ambulance" was a surprise, with very solid songwriting, after the 2nd time listening to this cd i was hooked, both bands represent themselves well on this album and i would reccomend this to any bright eyes fans cause its definately worth buying

Connor (Bright Eyes) has returned with 4 new songs that lend themselves to earlier recordings such as the ones found on "Everyday and Every night". This time however he is not alone. Every other track is traded with himself and the next best thing out of Omaha Joe Knapp's Son, Ambulance. What we get are 8 songs that form a fairly solid album and not a compilation of two different artists.

The songs of Bright Eyes and Son, Ambulance compliment and work off one another very well. The songs of Bright Eyes are relatively stripped down when held against his previous album "Fevers and Mirrors". The songs are just as good if not better though. Connor returns to his folkish, storytelling roots. Tracks like 'Going for the Gold' and 'Kathy's Song with a K' are reasons alone to get this release. Son, Ambulance is the biggest surprise on the record, especially with the opening track. His sound mixes 70's shaky piano and guitar that could be compared to early Billy Joel or Elton John. Regardless these are two very gifted songwriters and is a great introduction to Bright Eyes and Son, Ambulance. It is rare to find albums this good these days, especially split releases. One should also check out Bright Eye's `Fevers and Mirrors".

This is one of the best split records I've ever listened to. The Bright Eyes melodies sound like they're directly from the Lifted sessions, meaning they're quite raw and moving. The real gems here are the Son, Ambulance tracks. Brown Park is one of the best songs I've heard in a while. The Invention of Beauty proves that their soft tunes rival even Mr. "Bright Eyes" Oberst. I'm still quite amazed that Saddle Creek still is under most people's radar, but with amazing artists like Bright Eyes, Son, Ambulance, Rilo Kiley, Cursive, an Azure Ray, it's almost certain they won't be for long.

This is one of my favorite recent purchases. It definitely hangs together as a single album-- it's coherent but it's still apparent that it's the work of two different artists. Conor Oberst, aka Bright Eyes, is one of the few contemporary songwriters who consistently blow me away. There's a lot of angst in his lyrics, but more in a Leonard Cohen way than a Joy Division way. Son, Ambulance, aka Joe Knapp, reminds me of a (slightly) less fey Belle & Sebastian, especially the first track on this CD, "Brown Park." The lyrics are sort of bittersweet, and the music is poppier than Bright Eyes'. If you are a fan of the angsty and the poppy and the indie, you should buy this CD. (You may want to check out the website for Saddle Creek Records; there are some other good bands on this label.)

I'm not sure how these 2 bands managed to make an album together. You would think that they don't really mix, but somehow it works. They are very different, of course.
My favorite song on the album is "going for the gold." It's so earth-shakingly raw.
I am more partial to bright eyes, but this album gives son, ambulance much needed exposure. I'd also recommened bright eye's album fevers and mirrors.

This litle record is a perfect hand in glove with two minimalistic, but so strong musical expressions.What more to say? Saddle Creek have got something innovative. Oberst is oveiously only one of the diamonds! Very good! I would give 4,5....

what an excellent split!
if you have a special place in your heart for conor oberst, as i do, this is a sure thing. i wouldn't recommend this for someone who isn't previously aquainted with saddle creek and the kind of stuff they put out, but for a fan of bright eyes, this is a great addition to your collection. before i bought this cd i hadn't heard "son, ambulance" and was pleasantly suprised. their songs are a good balance to the sometimes gratuitous despair and helplessness exhibited in the bright eyes even tracks. track 4 is quickly becoming one of my favorites for bright eyes and "no lies, just love" is just incredible song writing.
this is a great buy. you won't be disappointed!
my hat's off to you saddle creek! rock on

Before you mark this as an unhelpful review please read it. I'm a fan of both of these bands. Hell I'm from Omaha it's almost required. But originally I didnt expect much out of this joining of self obsessed frontmen. It's honestly a wonder that it got off the ground. Props go to Presto studios in Lincoln Nebraska and more specifically Mogis for keeping these two egos in check.