Customer Reviews

Out of the Valley

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

 

 

This is a brilliant singer/songwriter. It's amazing that the general public hasn't discovered him. Honesty and love exude from this man. He is also wonderful in concert...saw him in Oshkosh, Wisconsin at the Grand Theatre in 2001.

Without a doubt, one of the best songwriters out there and this release does not dissappoint. Gorka weaves between acoustic folk and soulful rock with ease on this disc. Among the standouts are "Good Noise", "Flying Red Horses", "Carnival Knowledge" and "Up Until Then". Backup vocals provided by such notables as Mary Chapin Carpenter and Kathy Mattea. Buy this disc....you won't be disappointed.

No matter what music you listen to, you should pick up ANY of this man's CD's. What a great tallent. This is not my favorite disc by John...but it is still a great disk. Check out the full of spirit 'good noise'...one of the best cuts in recorded history!

Gorka remains one of the finest lyric writers in the game, equalled only by Lyle Lovett. This CD was a little disappointing, however, in that the songs begin to all sound alike after a while. I much preferred Jack's Crows over Out of the Valley.

On first listen, I thought this CD might be a bit too "country" for my taste. I now accept it as folk. Gorka has a way with words that makes me wish I could write. Because if I could, this is what it would probably be like.

Choose any Gorka recording and be ready to be touched. He hits home without disturbing and makes one think and still feel good. Flying Red Horses is my favorite cut off this CD. I just love it!

Ah, what to do if you are a folkie who might not even have been born forty years ago or so when folk music hit its peak. Well, I think you'd better have a new twist, some great arrangements, or be one heckuva writer. Otherwise, you risk the same old-same old syndrome. And, for me, that's precisely where John Gorka lands. There's nothing striking about his music and his lyrics are tired, even if he means them as irony ("I went off like a gun in a loaded room" "Like the old saying goes, all roads lead to Rome" "I sowed my seed like a farm boy"). I bought the CD on the promise of Good Noise. None of the rest comes close to matching up.