Customer Reviews

Pinwheel Galaxy

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

 

 

Even though it was released in December 2002, The Pinwheel Galaxy gets my vote for best CD of 2003. This is probably the most consistent release from John & Mary, though I love their previous CDs too. The Pinwheel Galaxy is produced by Armand Petri, and is sonically very similar to the last 10000 Maniacs CD, The Earth Pressed Flat, except for the loss of guitarist Rob Buck.

This CD is full of wonderful songs, melodies, and beautiful acoustic instruments. Mary's voice is silky smooth, and there are numerous violin and viola parts. Beyond Love and Gaze could easily be REM songs, Halo of Stars recalls some of the finest Maniacs songs from the past. If you like 10000 Maniacs, Cowboy Junkies, REM, the Sundays, etc., then this is a CD in that tradition. I cannot recommend it highly enough. In a world of fake, processed music, this is the real McCoy, err, Ramsey.

I liked the first two John and Mary cds, thought they were cool in a low-key way, but didn't really appreciate the way they tried to beef up their sound when they joined 10,000 Maniacs following Natalie's departure. I think this cd may actually have some of the Maniacs playing on it, but it has the same low-key folky sound of the first two John & Mary cds-- They're not trying to write pop singles here, just doing what they do best-- interesting folk music.

Since the early days of 10,000 Maniacs, John Lombardo was writing catchy tunes that somehow stayed in your head. Nothing's changed. With his longtime duo partner Mary Ramsey beautifully handling the vocals, Lombardo wrote much of the music on this album with the same flair which his fans love.

Mary Ramsey's vocals always shine; some of her best work is found right here on this album.

Thank God John & Mary have finally decided to release another album as a duo. Hopefully there won't be a ten year wait between this and the next!

John & Mary are among the very best of the "New Folk" groups. Their songs are thoughtful and intelligent, but always pleasant to listen to. I don't know why they haven't acheived more of a following, but I believe they will. This is their best effort to date. " My shattered Illusions" alone is worth the cost of the CD. Get It!

The third album by John & Mary (and fifth together overall, couting thw two Maniacs releases they were a part of together) is yet another glimpse at the wonderful music this duo produces. The biggest disappointment here is that John only handles harmony vocals on one song. However, the album is great nevertheless.

If you're a hardcore 10,000 Maniacs' fan, you probably know their early CD "The Wishing Chair", and possibly the work they did prior to that (collected on the CD "Hope Chest"). The guitarist (John Lombardo) who wrote the music for the majority of the band's songs at that time early in the group's history left the group after the recording of "The Wishing Chair", before the band started having mainstream radio hits. He then started the group "John and Mary".

If you enjoy the kind of experimental folk of the Wishing-Chair Era Maniacs, you'll find a lot to like in the John and Mary CDs.

(See my "So you'd like to know..." list devoted to John Lombardo)

The third CD from John & Mary (and their 5th counting the two with 10,000 Maniacs), this is a folk-rock masterpiece and one of my all time favorites. Well-crafted, as are all John & Mary CDs, their releases are too few and far between. These guys don't record nearly enough material! If you are a fan of John & Mary or 10,000 Maniacs you need to get this CD.