Customer Reviews

Quick

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've had the indescribable joy of hearing Eddie From Ohio perform songs from this album live no less than four times this year, and I'd go another four before the new year if I could. They're a stunningly talented band, with amazing presence, insight, and sound. They're charming and funny, touching and moving, witty and intelligent, insightful and soulful. They're also lovely people who take the time to meet and talk with their fans. They answer their email personally. They're incredibly talented instrumentalists, and fantastic singers. Julie Murphy Wells, the female lead, may have the most beautiful female voice in any band today. Eddie Hartness, the drummer, creates such a storm of percussion you'd imagine there are five of him, and exhibits the sort of brilliant ability that makes you revise your estimation of what humans are capable of.

If you haven't heard their music, it's like nothing else you've ever heard, combining elements of a vast range of music styles.

The title track of this album comes off on the surface as a pop song, but it's also folk and rock and a bit of country and has a melodic lyracism that is almost classical. You wouldn't imagine a folk song about the theory of relativity and weight loss would make you almost cry from the sheer beauty of it, but it does.

"Hey Little Man" is a movingly loving song written by the lead singer for her baby son, sung in beautiful acapella by the band. Yes, not only are they a great band, they also sing in superb four part harmony.

Among many other gems, the album also has an irish drinking song about the civil war, and a cheerful spiritual.

Check out all their other albums, they're all worth it, although each one seems better than the previous. Pardon me, I have to go put this album on now...

EFO's many talents are showcased in this fabulous CD. If you like variety, this one's got it. Beside their usual high-energy gems, they offer a jazzy lullaby, an a capella song, an instrumental, a celtic tune and a rousing gospel number
to finish it off. If you appreciate witty, creative lyrics, strong voices (Julie Wells' voice is one of a kind) with flawless harmony and feeling that you've really discovered something special, then you'll love "Quick". You will not be disappointed. And if you have a chance to see them in person, don't miss it.

this is definitely as good as, if not better than, the last album, Looking Through the Fishbowl, which i absolutely love. the great thing about EFO is that their music is completely original. i can't think of how to describe them, other than folk, but that doesn't quite cut it. they're hilarious and bold with their lyrics and musical styles. Quick is full of songs that make me laugh, cry and sing at the top of my lungs. i especially like "lets get mesolithic" and "little man." i'm so glad they finally included "great day" on an album. i've heard it live so many times, it's nice to have it in my cd player. go buy this album - you'll fall in love with this awesome band.

You can't compare an EFO album to their live show, (yes, every reviewer says this); but Quick is the closest they've come so far: the excitement and energy of a live concert comes through on tracks like "Let's Get Mesolithic" and "Tom Burleigh's Dead" (backed by a chorus of EFO's friends & relatives) in a way that previous efforts, even "Portable EFO show," haven't quite gotten right. Add in great, quirky, lyrics ("Best of Me", "Monotony"), incredible singing ("Great Day"), and a whole collection of musical styles, and you've got a CD that hasn't left my player in the 24 hours since I first put it in.

I can't wait to see them again.

This is another excellent offering from this unique band. Since I first heard EFO in May 2001 at the Ram's Head Tavern (Annapolis MD) I've purchased four major CDs (and borrowed two others from a neighbor) plus their 9/11 benefit disc and have yet to hear one song I don't like. The mix of musical styles is incredible, and the creative music and amazing, sometimes bizarre, lyrics always leave me wanting more. "Tommy the Canexican" is hilarious, "Tom Burleigh's Dead" is lightheartedly dark, and I'm sure EVERYONE at one time or another has been able to relate to the bared-claw senitiment of "The Best of Me".

Finally, "Great Day" - an acapella gospel offering that is the last track on the disc - most perfectly points out this group's truly fantastic vocal ability. EFO's music is incredible, but the harmonies these four voices create are nothing short of fantastic .

Way to go, EFO!

EFO's new release "Quick" continues their tradition of quirky but meaningful songwriting, plenty of lyrical and melodical hooks, and harmony tighter than a bad pair of leather pants. This record is a great follow up to the amazing "Looking out the Fishbowl." Robbie Schaefer's title track is perhaps the strongest tune on the album. Very catchy, but full of EFO's signature sound. His "Number Six Driver" and "1,000 Sarah's" are also great additions to his cataloge. Mike Clem continues his tremendous songwriting. Seemingly very witty and clever superficially, songs like "Monotony" and "Tommy the Canexican" (which is about the man who has lifestyles of both a Canadian and Mexican!), really show the depth of these themes, humorous or not. It's hard to make a song "funny" without being cheesy, and he does it wonderfully. "Quick" also features the first two Julie Murphy-Wells written tunes on an EFO record. Both acapella, these tracks will make the hair on the back of your neck stand up. Brilliant, brilliant harmony. If you like EFO at all, please buy "Quick" immediately.

This genre-crossing opus is the tightest CD yet from the Virginia quartet. Whether being humorous or serious, no group has the technical expertise or vocal stylings of Eddie From Ohio. This CD incorporates elements from almost every style of music. No matter what mood you find yourself in this CD will have a song to match it. From the poppy, catchy title track to the gospel-tinged "Great Day" this CD is a masterpiece. If you are already familiar with Eddie From Ohio you need this to complete your collection; if you haven't heard them yet, get started with this CD! My wish for 2002 is that they will tour more widely so that I can see them perform live. Rated the "2001 Album of the Year" on "Messages" on WFCF 88.5 FM.

Here they come again! The most likeable folk-pop-whatever band ever to hail from Virginia. EFO simply write great songs. This album features the uplifting, the hysterical, the beautiful, and the downright unusual. What other band could conceive of a character like "Tommy the Canexican", (who is half Canadian, half Mexican) and come up with seemingly endless clever verse to describe the problems such a fellow might face. With three members contributing lead vocals and all four combining on the luscious harmonies, the sound is varied and never grows stale. Amazingly inventive and always entertaining, Eddie From Ohio is a true unkown treasure that does not deserve to be quite so unknown.

As a long time ed-head, I never thought that EFO would disappoint. I can't tell you how much it pains me to report that I feel "Quick" missed the mark. Don't get me wrong, as always, EFO has come up with some incredible material, some of it deeply moving (Abraham) and some of it just silly (1,000 Sarahs, Mesolithic). I just wish all of the cuts were that strong.

Part of the genius which is EFO is that they compose and perform so many musical styles. With "Quick", however, this talent for diversity doesn't translate well. Its as if they rushed to produce another CD before they had enough (good) material for one. The instrumental interlude Cantering on Fool is evidence of this. Were they looking for filler?

EFO is a "live" band and the CDs can never capture the energy of these four incredibly talented individuals. "Quick",however, was particularly "flat" - some of the tunes just sounded dead. Perhaps EFO should give consideration to a new, fresh producer for their next effort.

There are some real gems on this CD, but it is painful listening to the clinkers to get to them. My recommendation is that you quickly burn the hits onto a "best of" disc and skip the rest.

After being a long-time fan, attending many concerts, and owning a good majority of their albums - you realize that EFO has something great going on. This album does not represent the EFO that I know.

The downfall of this album is too much reliance on goofball comedic songs. I am glad EFO has fun - and most of these songs come off good at a live show. However, the goofball songs do not translate well on the album. Humor in songwriting has always been dangerous territory. You can mix witty lines with meaningful lyrics and it can come off as a Lyle Lovett or Paul Westerburg. However, if it is done overboard it can easily come off as a Weird Al Yancovic. Unfortunately, this album points to the latter. I have tried to listen to songs like 'Mesolithic' and 'Canexican' but I cannot even get through the song to find any redeeming value.

After coming off of a great album like 'Looking Out the Fishbowl' - this album is a HUGE disappointment.