Person To Person

Foreign Born | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 23, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Secretly Canadian
• ASIN: B002736YJ4
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #200,278 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

An album of dense pop that justifies the band's place among top songsmithing contemporaries like Cass McCombs and James Mercer, as well as Bowie. But the band is able to bypass the songwriter label by delivering a much more collective sound. African high-life guitars are countered with new wave wash; the sound of a band daring to keep its palette open to most any influence, from U2 to The Feelies. Foreign Born deliver the soundtrack for the backyard BBQ of the ages.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 4.5 stars... smashing second album, November 3, 2009

By 

Paul Allaer (Cincinnati) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Person To Person (Audio CD)

LA-based indie-band Foreign Born came onto the scene in 2005 with an intriguing self-released EP "In the Remote Woods", and in 2007 the band released its debut album "On the Wing Now", which regretfully remained pretty much under the radar screen for too many people. Now comes the second album of the band.

"Person to Person" (10 tracks; 40 min.) is divided up in two cycles of 5 songs, pretty much like the old vinyl albums (and that's how the songs are listed on the back on the CD). "Side A" starts off with a joyous "Blood Oranges" and never lets up from there. Song after song, each one better than the next, it brings a non-stop dance party of upbeat songs that you just can't help but hum along to. Best of them is "Winter Games", sheer exuberance which will brings ever the most shy of wallflowers out. "Early Warnings" ends the impeccable Side A, which I rate 4 stars. Side B kicks off with "Can't Keep Time", another irresitable stomper, and you think that it will go on like that, but instead things settle down and the band brings more pensive, mid-tempo songs for the rest of the album. Not that they are not good, but they are not as entertaining as the previous set. I rate Side B accordingly 4 stars.

I can't say enough how impressed I am by this album. No, it's perhaps not a "grand statement of art", but this is a great listen from start to finish. I haven't had a chance yet to see these guys in concert, and I cannot wait for that opportunity. Finally, if you wonder where you can hear Foreign Born, check out WOXY (BAM! The Future of Rock and Roll), the internet-only station that brings the best indie-music in the country bar, period. Meanwhile, "Person to Person" is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Super Band!, September 29, 2009

By 

c dog reviews "c dog reviews" (san francisco, ca) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Person To Person (Audio CD)

These guys are pretty cool, ya know? I heard some people complaining that it's just another band biting on the old west african guitar steezy, but honestly, there's a lot more to this album than that. The first song, "Blood Oranges" makes me feel similar to how I feel after drinking a fresh Strawberry-Banana smoothie on a hot summer afternoon. YEP, it's that good. The 2nd song is more like a hot, just out of the oven, chocolate cookie, but that's cool too. The third song, "Vacationing People" really takes it up a notch. I thought the album couldn't get any better!!!! Listen to those call and response backing vocals, woooweeee! The 4th song has got that squeeky clean guitar line that yall are gonna be hating on, but i gotta say, this doesn't sound like vampire weekend, or even paul simon!! This is something new and fresh. The rest of the album is really good too. Over and out!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars every song's a groover, September 29, 2009

By 

Jay James (the bay, ca) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Person To Person (Audio CD)

man i've had this album on repeat all summer! but even though summer is over, the music lives on.

really love these guys. they got tribal rhythms, ripping guitar lines, and the lead singer's vocals are amazing. particularly notable tracks are "vacationing people" and "early warnings". "winter games" also gets me going. also, check out lewis pesacov and other foreign born member's side project, Fools Gold. Got some more jammers on that one!

Enjoy!