Customer Reviews

Presents Author Unknown

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I got this album a few years ago and it's probably the single most played CD I have had in the past 10 years. My I-River MP3 player has given me many hours of pleasure with this CD. So first of all let's get this straight, all the instruments, voices, noises & Lyrics (as per CD's booklet) are by Jason Falkner himself which is almost hard to believe. I would be happy to pay good money to see a band that played as well as this. Above and beyond the musicianship on display here are the wonderful lyrics present on each and every song. Fabulous Pop/Rock riffs with hooks a plenty. To my ears it's a perfect mix of American/British Pop influence's both old and new. I can hear ("XTC" - Check `Don't show me heaven', "Beatles" - Check `She Goes to Bed' with it's background orchestration "Blur" - Check `I Go Astray' as well as people like "Cheap Trick", "Beachboys", "Kinks" & even "Robyn Hitchcock" on other tracks. As many influences as this guy may have he has certainly made this Album uniquely his own through his humorous & often thought provoking lyrics and natural pop-sensibilities. Thankfully his voice is a perfect accompaniment to the songs on the album. There is a good mix of styles on display here from fast pop-induced songs which share space with slow introspective songs without either seeming out of place. Everything compliments the album as a whole and this is to date probably his best effort I feel. Released 1996 it still sounds very current, especially amongst the British Indie Scene. If you're looking for great songwriting, catchy pop riffs & a range of styles then please pick up this CD, you won't regret it. Just ignore the lame Cover.

Like many people, I heard of "Jason Falkner" after many years of listening to "Jellyfish". Though this album isn't the caliber of those from his former band, it is similar, and still very good. It's smart alt-pop, well constructed and easy to like. I tend to enjoy the first half of this disc more than the other, but it's all good at the very least. There's also a 12th track on the album called "Untitled", which is actually one of my favorites, and a great ending to a great record. As with most albums, this too gets better with each playing.

You've all had it happen; you've disliked an artist or a CD and then given it another chance a little bit later and it blows your mind.
Being a former guitar snob (in college), I couldn't stand Jason's uncomfortable work on Jellyfish's "Bellybutton" and my 2nd impression of him was "Can You Still Feel" which never did reel me in despite giving it multiple chances (I think Falkner should always produce himself). This basically self-produced and singlehandedly-played debut album has a unique vibe that for some listeners may require more than one listen. For those who "get" Jason Falkner immediately, this record is a classic. For those like me who took some convincing, this album has grown from "I like a few songs" to "gosh, this is really good" to finally being the benchmark by which other self-made "pop" albums are judged. The opening track, "I Live" is indeed a classic and admirers of Jason's guitar work on this CD (besides myself) include the intimidating Dave Gregory of XTC. His lyrics, while rarely profound are pleasantly free of pretention and seem to give insight into Jason's candid nature. I'd rather hear a good writer speak plainly and Jason does just that. Jason's impressive bass work floods "Author Unknown" with an attention to detail rarely felt on most records nowadays and his drumming is neither simplistic nor flashy; they serve all of the songs perfectly.

Fans of The Zombies, Kinks and early solo Rundgren will find "Author Unknown" to be familiar ground without being derivative. For those who love "Author Unknown", I reccommend either of Jason's 4-track CDs (Necessity / Everyone says it's on) and the new "Bliss Descending" EP, as they all present a similar aesthetic. Fans of Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich should check the highly-lauded (except by me... for now) "Can You Still Feel" instead of these more home-grown-sounding efforts.

After listening to this album nonstop for the better part of a week, I came away angry that in an era where bands such as Hootie and Vertical Horizon can sell millions, Jason Falkner is treated like a leper. As much as I love Jellyfish, how Andy Sturmer and Roger Manning wouldn't allow any Falkner compositions on "Bellybutton" can only be described as mind-boggling.

While labeled a power-popster, Jason Falkner's appeal goes way beyond that. As he first demonstrated on Ro Sham Bo, the guy is a phenomenal songwriter. And his singing is every bit as good as his composing. "She Goes To Bed" is a nearly perfect pop song that never grows old, and "I Go Astray" has got just about the most irresistible, sing-a-long chorus this side of Lennon/McCartney. While influences such as The Beatles, XTC, etc., are pervasive, Jason Falkner's quirky song structures definitely have a signature sound. If you don't believe me, just check out Brendan Benson's "One Mississippi" and see if you can't spot the tracks that Falkner co-wrote.

But the biggest tribute I can give to this album is that it gets better and better after every listen, the test of a true classic. Maybe that's why JF hasn't reached strasopheric superstardom, because his likeability doesn't depend on some forumulaic, three chord progression that beats you over the head with all the subtleness of a woodpecker and goes bad quicker than an open jar of mayonnaise on a summer afternoon.

For those of you who don't own everything this guy has done, you don't know what you're missing.

At work, we have a CD player that 7 of us - of varying ages and intersts - listen to all day. There are plenty of disagreements about likes and dislikes, but no one complains about playing Jason Falkner too much. It's instantly lovable like the best pop, but endures repeated listening thanks to great lyrics and innovative sound.

The first time I heard it, I felt it was mildly infectious. I would occasionally put it in my rotation as a change of pace. The more times I played it, the greater my frequency in re-visiting it. Over time, occasional was replaced by often and then it became essential. A great CD that always begs the question "WHO IS THAT" when the uninitiated hears it. The mark of a good CD, it does not fade in the middle ear.

Jason Falkner is one of the torch carriers of the Beatlesian pop ethic crafting clever, sophisticated nuggets in the tradition of Paul Mccartney and Elvis Costello - a far cry from the back-to-basics, amps-up-to-11, trash 'n roll that is in the ascendant. Classically-trained JF left cult combo Jellyfish to go solo. Which he's done with convincing results, not least on Presents: Author Unknown which is a more grown-up, expensive-sounding affair than previous hi-octane workouts Bliss Descending EP, for instance, which has the wonderful They Put Her in the Movies. With his last few records, Jason Falkner is, one senses, trying to bring this kind of pop aesthetic to the mainstream audience (I'd rather listen to him than Bryan Adams, for example). He certainly has all the tools at his disposal to carry it off. Talent seems to ooze from his every pore. His main weak selling point is his self-effacing profile; his records lack the kind of homogeneity that all major-selling albums are expected to have. It's top-of-the-line music but doesn't scream `Choose me!' when you browse through your CDs.
Typically with an artist like JF, you immediately try to spot the influences. His is a slick mid-Atlantic sound, not at all like the jangly but shambly Brit indie bands. Highlights include Miracle Medicine and She Goes to Bed but the whole record is pretty good. The key word here is quality: it gleams with sheer quality - the songwriting, the arranging, the lyrics, the tunes are all quality personified. But trying to find the JF personality or soul in the music is a frustrating endeavour.

I'm not a huge fan of Jason's other albums (though I continually try to get myself to reconsider). But this album is beautiful almost all the way through. Solid, tight, great strings and guitar sounds. Its a mix between Nick Drake, the Beatles, The Allman Brothers, and general modern rock. That said, it isn't a dated 90's album either.

Songs to check out: She Goes to Bed, Nobody Knows and Afraid Himself To Be. Great stuff!

I recently purchased both "Can You Still Feel" as well as "Author Unknown" and have to say that it's been a while since I've heard such great pop! I got onto Jason Falkner after hearing Jellyfish and (no offence, Jellyfish) now much prefer the work of Jason Falkner. Both of these cd's are played by me every single day, I love them. The tunes are very easy to sing-a-long to and I DO! I really admire Jason for doing everything as well, he's very talented and I'm sure we'll be hearing about him for some time to come. Can't wait for Jason to come to Toronto as I'm dying to see and hear him live. I recommend either of these cd's to everyone out there who loves the art of real pop music!!! Thanks, Jason!

This is probably his best album(So far). If you're a fan of guitar pop music, you owe it to yourself to get this disc. Easily one of the best albums of the 90's. JUST BUY IT.