Customer Reviews

Pictures of the Big Vacation

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Fortunately, we Manhattanites have been able to listen to Mike on a semi-regular basis live at great places like the Bitter End. This album is good, very good...but the added instrumentation adds unneeded complexity to such beautiful songs. To see Mike Live is an ephemeral experience, please try to catch him when he comes to your area.

Until then, this album, along with his two self-produced ones will be more than enough to tide you over.

Mike Errico offers us a spectrum of music on "Pictures of the Big Vacation". I caught him live a couple years ago and eagerly awaited his album. Definitely worth the wait. Especially liked "When She Walks By", an ode to seizing the day. Great album, something for everyone--now I'm just waiting for him to come play in my neck of the woods.

"Pictures of the Big Vacation" is definetly one of my best music investments yet! Mike Errico's music is the type that can always bring a smile to your face, and he definetly did that with this CD. Seeing him live will knock you off your feet as it did with me, so if you ever get a chance...

An absolutely incredible cd. Mike Errico mixes soulful music with smart lyrics to produce something that is so unique and stunning.

Mike conveys the passion, humor and sensitivity of his live performances on his major label debut "Pictures of the Big Vacation." His well-crafted songs, many with complex musical and vocal arrangements, stay with you, like the indelible impression of a classic melody. One of the most striking aspects of this record is the extraordinary vocal quality. It's like a charged-up combination of Al Green, Stevie Wonder and Joni Mitchell: all soul performers in my book. There's an emotional intensity to these performances that reaches out to the audience and says, "I want to make a connection with you!" You definitely remember songs like "1000 Miles", "Daylight", "Seven Bottles of Bristol Cream" and "She Was." Their spirited power derives from their origins in real life, conveying experiences each of us can understand and appreciate. It's as if when we hear "Round and Round", with its humorous lyrical opening, we say in unison, "I know exactly what you mean, Mike." Mike Errico connects! He cares enough about songwriting craft and performance to make passionate and beautiful pop music, of the acoustic soul variety.

First things last - Mike Errico is one of the few musicians who, the first time I heard his stuff (about six months ago), I could feel my life changing. His music has an honesty, a vitality, and an energy that is incredibly rare in today's music. My only gripe with "Pictures" is that, with the additional instrumentation, it fails to capture the complexity of his music as well as his live solo performances (that's rare these days too: an act that's actually *better* live). But, it is nonetheless a promising debut, with excellent versions of the songs from his self-produced albums, and a bunch of til-now-unrecorded ones as well. Here's hoping this album is a (much-deserved) career springboard for Mr. E., leading him to the kind of success that will one day produce "Errico Comes Alive," so the world can hear what we New Yorkers have been lucky enough to be privvy to.

Mike Errico was amazing in Poughkeepsie on Friday February 25 1999. My friend and I went to see another band that was playing at The Chance that night,so we did not know who Mike Errico was. We didn't expect to like his music so much, and were intrigued by his awesome funky beat as well as his great personality. He was almost like a one man band. The combination of his amazing strong voice, the harmonica, the acoustic guitar and the other funky instruments were great. I have never gone to a show and liked the music of someone that I have never heard of so much. Both my friend and I bought his CD and LOVE it! I love the off beat rhythms and his lyrics are true to life. He had never been to The Chance in Poughkeepsie and got a better audience response than the band that went on before him who had played at the Chance many, many times before. His individuality kept us in awe the whole time he was performing. He joked around and told some of the stories behind his songs which I feel kept the audiences attention and also kept them at a level of being one on one with him. All of the songs on the CD are outstanding and I recommended the CD to all of my friends. In order to get the full effect of how great a performer he truly is, you MUST go to one of his shows. If you like a different kind of music with a funky beat, I guarantee you wont be disappointed.

Clearly this up and coming talent has arrived. I could not imagine a more entertaining, witty, relaxing musical menagerie to both brighten up a day and use as background for almost any activity. I hope we will soon be able to enjoy another delightful CD from this gifted musician. (I was especially entertained by his operatic interludes from a 1950-ish recording.)

his live one, 'tonight i drink you all' is the best (as any true fan would tell you), but this one has great, band-oriented, lush romance to it. the demo's of some of these songs are even better, . this one's a definite step to check out in his career.

but again, live is the best way to understand him.

I first thought this guy was a cross between paul westerberg and buffalo tom, with vocals that warmed your heart, but lacked in attitude. I was wrong. Mike's strength and spirit rise on every track, and the album holistically satisfies his, and your, melodic cravings, artistic ramblings, and sensual undertones.