New Pagan Love Song

Paul Brill | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 19, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Scarlet Shame Record
• ASIN: B00049QL96
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #286,717 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Critic’s Choice – Top 10 CD of 2004 - Rolling Stone

"Melancholic anthems for the weary and down-and-out...Brill’s defining moment..."

Product Description

Promptly on the heels of his critically acclaimed 2003 release, Sisters, Paul Brill returns with an arresting new record. After quartering himself in his home studio for the cold season, Paul struck upon what he calls "Electricana," an unlikely mating of traditional acoustic elements and electronic experiments.

NYC native Paul Brill first chipped his musical teeth on the icy landscape of North-Central Vermont. After a few light-deprived winters, Paul hitched his wagon to the California Gold Rush, where he dabbled in brief stints as an herbal smokes salesman, valet, corporate errand boy, and marine biology instructor, among other glamorous endeavors. It was during this time that Paul began pursuing music in earnest, performing extensively across the U.S. Upon his return to NY, Paul worked at a small school in East Harlem, where he continues to volunteer when in town.

New Pagan Love Song is at once a look back and a lurch forward. Its twelve songs tell tales of weary souls, days wasted, and the dusty road home. Recorded during the longest winter in recent memory, New Pagan Love Song features Brill’s longing voice and celebrated lyric. His songs are carried upon the driving rhythms of percussionist Joe Bonadio and fuse Brill’s distinctive instrumentation with found sounds, samples, and bent beats. NPLS bridges fans of the new and old by honing in on what is essential in American music and forging an idiosyncratic yet welcoming sound.

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Favorite CD of 2004, January 2, 2005

By 

B. Bryan - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: New Pagan Love Song (Audio CD)

Context: I own 2000+ CDs. I have never written an Amazon review.

This is quite simply my favorite release of 2004. It's a beautiful left of center pop opera. Aspects of it remind me of the Eels' Electro-Shock Blues (major compliment). Throw in a bit of Neil Finn, a few ethnic flavors, a bit of electronica. After 2000 CD's, I have become a bit jaded towards music. NPLS takes me back to the innocence I remember when I first listened to Pink Floyd's The Wall. And the snob in me loves the fact that I had never heard of Paul Brill before seeing a review in allmusic.com. My hope is that this review will get a few more people familiar with his name and music. Wonderful album...

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Unpopular sounding pop, October 22, 2004

By 

D. R Smyers (dallas, tx United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: New Pagan Love Song (Audio CD)

Great, moody, depressive pop with cool instrumentation and honest feelings. This is by far his best record. The opening cut is a classic and the rest falls in line. Finally a pop record that I can stomach. Music this rich in texture and emotion should be more widely heard.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great! Elliot Smith meets Wilco, April 17, 2005

By 

Manny Hernandez "@askmanny" (Bay Area, CA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: New Pagan Love Song (Audio CD)

In spite of the occasional somber nature of his music, Paul Brill is one of those artists one can be happy to find out about. He balances lyrics that fly way beyond the superficiality of most of today's pop with a seductive sound that sticks with you, sounding like something of a blend between Wilco and Elliot Smith.

From the opening "Weekday Bender" you know you're listening to an album that will live a very long life, an album larger than life, and yet so deeply rooted into what we're all about. When I first got to "Everything I Believe In" I thought I was listening to Radiohead's Tom Yorke. Then you listen to the powerful "Comeback Kid" and you realize that Paul Brill defies almost all comparisons, since he flies by a host of moods and brings an assortment of different sounds into his mix. The one common thread throughout the album is a solid production and sound, and the thought-provoking lyrics.

Bottom line, if you haven't checked out "New Pagan Love Song", do yourself a favor, and pick it up. It may be the best thing to happen to you in a while.