Customer Reviews

For the People

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

My over all impression of Marks new CD "For The People-Mark Farner-The Rock Patriot" is that it is a good CD. There are Nice songs, with Nice music-ship, Good singing, and excellent lead Guitar work. The Album reminds me mostly of Mark's Christian Contemporary Music albums of the late 80's and early 90's (CCM), and is Marks first full length album release since the early 90's. It is a good effort and if I were to complain it would be the album is a bit on the short side with 11 songs. For old time Grand Funk railroad fans this might be a bit lite, but his solo fans will love it.

Hear is a song by song review

For The People - has a good heavy start, is a good rocker have nice guitar work and riffs. It is a political message song harkening back to a time when our politicians cared about out people. I really don't know if that time ever existed. We have a great founding document, but lets face it we have never lived up to it. Over all this is the best song on the CD.

Cry baby - had a cool start, its a slow tempo rocker with good singing and great guitar work. It has a gospel feel because of the keyboard. Avery good song.

Nadean - mark goes for an off key vocal effect hear in singing this one, I would rather him sing out big. This one sounds a bit like MID 70'S GFR but GFR lite. A so so song saved by good guitar work.

Girl- This is a slow melodic love song which is very good, Probably the second best on the album. I Love The Guitar intro and the guitar solo plays along very well with the keys.

You Know WHO I AM- This is a Christian song but in the vain of marks CCM days but more hidden. I Am is the english equivalent of YAWAY, the LORD GOD'S holly name. The song reminds me of his Wake Up Album. Nice Guitar work, good lead riff.

Same Old Fellin- A nice message song, with Good music and great lead guitar work.

Your My Girl- An Old Style Rock N Roll Love Song. This is the weakest song on the album. It reminds me of Y.O.U. from the early 80's GFR semi reunion.

This Time- A Moderate paced song with nice harmony's. Also has a very nice Guitar solo. Reminds me of Mark's late 70's solo work.

Waiting Hear For You- is a message song with many connotations. The key Board effects are a little Goofy but it is a very good song nevertheless. This song is a bit heavy, Melodic, Haunting, and Brooding. I would say the 3 ed best on the Album. It reminds me of GFR's semi reunion in the early 80's.

Symptoms- This song is in the vain of Marks CCM Work, its a message song, about overcoming the systems of our flesh (sin nature) and living by the Spirit. The Song has a nice Melodic Feel. A lot of Sax work in the son and a little Guitar, I would prefer it the other way around.

Where Do We Go From hear- Has a nice Keyboard/Guitar Intro, with Good Guitar riffs all the way through. Good Harmonies too. This is a song about Freedoms in America, Mark has done many songs in this vain over the years. And I think he is singing to deaf ears; People don't want freedom they want free medical care, security, safety nets, ear marks, Govt projects in there areas, etc., BUT; This is a very good song. Also very good lyrically as well. Maybe tied for 2 ed.

Overall a good album, a nice effort, and a must have for Mark Farner fans.

IT'S THE NEW CLASSIC ROCK!

As strong as is stated in the cover picture...MarkFarner,(Solo-Engine of the Grand Funk Railroad) isn't afraid to serve his fellow man. And here he's servin' us Passion and Patriotism...on the Parker-Fly! Guitar grindin' Rock n' Roll to cause a Revolution and a Revelation! It really doesn't get any better than this!

This is Rock music done with finesse...Electric Emotion, (ala Heartbreaker) the beautiful song "Girl" will put you in Awe of the songwriter. Remember that old Grand Funk music you and I used to RUN TO for comfort? THIS IS THAT and so much more.

The tune "Cry Baby" has a FUN chorus to hook ya...sing along! Another of the stand-out tunes is "Waiting Here For You" It stikes a chord in my spirit and widens my eyes! The sounds Paul OJibway produces from the Native American Cedar Flute will encompass you, Marks Tom-Toms rule your heartbeat...the lyrics are intriguing and transcendental. This song hits every note that peaks my passion.

The title tune should be played loud and proud because it is the Rock Patriot asking a ROCK SOLID question; "What ever happened to....America...we LET it slip away?"

I can tell you that these tunes will ROCK your Spirit and Roll your Soul and you just might dance like you did when you first heard "Are You Ready" In fact, you just might feel like your a teenager again, only more "together" and with voting priviledges!!!

I Vote YES for Mark's best effort;"For The People"

Sincerly,

L.M. Anderon-Thull

Mark Farner's career has seen alot of changes since he got his start doing the sock hops in Genesee county Michigan back in the mid 60's......Grow your hair out to the waist, play an odd looking guitar and turn it up to 10.....This was the philosophy of the then Grand Funk Railroad in 1969 and boy did it work.....Play 3 chords, write a few words that make some since and get down to your noise on stage and people bought it, hook, line and sinker...But in reflection, it was cool...It was fun, and Grand Funk was the biggest thing in the world in 2 short years...The early albums were sparse in production, but were innocent in it's approach and worked as performance vehicles for their live show; the very reason for the band's popularity in the 1st place. Mark, Don & Mel's simple but sledgehammer stylings stole alot of limelight from from the rock establishment at the time of the pop festival era, and the elitist groups along with stuck up journalists just couldn't believe what was happening....

Farner's approach matured as he became more intuned with his songwriting and less with being a rock star...this is greatly evident the day the 3 piece band kicked Terry Knight's sorry butt out of the management fold and things really started happening....Songs were better constructed, more in depth thought into lyrics, and hooks for better radio airplay...And even though the band helped as a whole in development of the songs, the idea guy was always Mark Farner. "We're An American Band" might be Don Brewer's original idea, but it had Farner's stamp all over it and you can hear it....

When GFR could not reconcile it's differences in 1976, Mark went his own way and produce 2 albums that could have very well been Grand Funk albums: MARK FARNER & NO FRILLS. This told you everything here..Mark Farner was the soul behind Grand Funk Railroad...and nothing has changed.

His Christian era catalog was more in depth with the man's stuggling and searching heart and there was some great forceful rock tunes with the same hooky lyrics that draw you in and make you look closer.

Now with FOR THE PEOPLE, full circle might be a reasonable phrase to use for Mark and his band, but with a little more subtle style, but still powerful in its approach. His band "NrG" is more akind to the early 3 piece GFR and really connects live. The songs are well written, some a bit profain toward Mark's personal and political views (which might take the Christian era fans to task). But the guitar work is up to task showing a maturity that might have lacked in 1969, but creative and rousing.

It's been awhile since the last officially sanctioned Mark Farner studio album, but if this is considered a "come back" album, then keep it coming, Mark!

In this time of bad imported products, confused immigration legislation and an unpopular war, who can we call on to tell us some of his truths? Mark Farner. Isn't it weird how things go around and keep coming around again? I could easily do without the politics of the day but it is a welcome sight to see this music legend drop us some current tunes!!! Whether or not you agree with all the statements on this rocking disc you can be assured it's delivered with great performances throughout.

One of the highlights of this CD has to be "Nadean". It's got some wonderful guitar and the production is outstanding!!! Heck, the production on all the songs is fantastic. Very fresh if you're used to the old stuff yet keeping everything you always loved about Farner's sensibilities. "Same Ol' Feelin'" delivers the wonderful funkiness that marked a lot of Grand Funk Railroads music. I could be wrong, but it sounds like Mark even does some open-string finger pull-off runs during the outro solo on "Girl" giving his playing a kick into the 21st cenury. Good going man!!! Don't get all metal shredder on us but I like it!!! "Symptoms", has some awesome sax and is just one example where the whole band should be applauded for their efforts on this album. Are there religious undercurrents? Is there a preaching attitude to some of the tunes? (The aforementioned I usually dislike with a passion by the way.) Hey, I don't know and I don't really care if there are. The bottom line is, "For the People", is just crammed full of good rockin' music!!!

This groove band collides with a tent revival!!! We all can raise our hands in the air to celebrate Mark bringing the music back to the people. I much prefer this than today's formula of corporations bringing their pre-fab fodder to the masses. Mark Farner is, was-and apparently will always be-the engine that powered Grand Funk Railroad. Thank you for giving music lovers new music and when will GFR turn away from becoming an oldies act? We're talking almost 25 years since those boys have put any new material out!!! Mark don't let us down and keep talking to your people with new material. We're eagerly waiting for more good tunes.

PEOPLE!!! Help support this Rock Patriot, and save yourself some money too. Purchase this CD from Mark's site, www. markfarner.com.

A must for all Mark Farner fans, Mark shows that he is still

as great as he ever was, high ratings, can't go wrong with this purchase.

A fantastic blend of hard rockers,mellow groovers,and good message music from the top entertainer in rock Mark Farner. Mark's voice is like fine wine,better than ever,and he rocks just as hard today as he did in 1969 in Grand Funk Railroad;s heyday.Get this cd and tune in,listen,take to heart his messages that ALL people need to heed and most of all ENJOY the music.LIVE,EAT,LOVE,LAUGH, and ROCK ON!

The heart and soul and guts of Grand Funk Railroad, Mark hasn't lost a thing over the years. His voice is in fine form, and his instantly recognizable guitar work is spot-on.

The average fan might even mistake this for a somewhat toned-down Grand Funk album if they didn't see the cover art. Mark hasn't jumped on the latest musical trends, he sticks with what he does so well, namely "classic" style rock. It's just a shame that more people don't know Mark is still around and making great music.

My fave track is "Nadean". Mark does love songs so well, and "Nadean" has a haunting guitar hook that just kinds grabs you.

This one is definitely a keeper.

Listen to the samples, and be wowed by how Mark SOUNDS! Every bit as great as the old days - excellent voice

GREAT HOOKS!! Super writing - no BS!!!!!

He is the John Fogerty of Grand Funk!!!

And a good man too! Thanks Mark - a great album at HALF 6 tracks, great at 11!!! Tell the nay sayers to come up with more hooks than this!

[...]

A great effort by Rock's most recognizable voice....2 or 3 real hard rockers..The rest mid-tempo, but deliteful....GIRL is a stand-out here with a little heart-felt blues...And the title-track really works with some great guitar...

Just a tad on the short side, but a self-produced album can get pretty costly....No matter...Mark's fans will buy it up!