To the Races

Eric Bachmann | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 22, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Saddle Creek
• ASIN: B000GH3CSE
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #12,406 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Like Stripped-Down Fingers, August 26, 2006

By 

Loring D. Wirbel (Colorado Springs, CO United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: To the Races (Audio CD)

I couldn't disagree more with Pancake Repairman. Granted, Crooked Fingers had achieved a certain production value with "Dignity and Shame" that was hard to beat. But we knew from the beginning that "To the Races" would be a simple acoustic album, and the quality of writing slams to the mat other acoustic folk albums of the year, from both geezers (Dylan, Springsteen) and young-uns (Mountain Goats). I heard the opener, "Man O' War", in two occasions, in a solo Christmas show in Denver and in an opener for Neko Case in June, but getting the full treatment with piano and backup singers, and reading the lyric sheet, makes me realize Bchmann's comparing the scary jellyfish species to the NSA listening post off Rota, Spain, to the British pirate raids in Cadiz, and to the ancient Phoenecian and Moorish seafarers plying trade between Spain and Morocco. Show me another folk singer who's at that level right now!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars were you surprised?, August 29, 2006

By 

B. Hauck "3rd world dictator" (Cincinnati OH) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: To the Races (Audio CD)

that pancake repairman obviously doesn't know what he is talking about. Bachmann is no fly by night indie poster boy. he has been doing it long enough that anyone with any familiarity of the genre knows who he is [certainly much longer than Iron and Wine...] maybe the pancake repairman would like to first learn some more about what he is reviewing before he embarrasses himself.

if you are not familiar with Eric Bachmann's work, start picking up Crooked Fingers discs. he is a brilliant songwriter, and a well accomplished musician. "To the Races" is an understandably stripped down solo album from the frontman, and is an overall quality experience. personally, i wasn't a fan of Archers of Loaf, so i am glad this is closer to his current sound as opposed to his former. there are some great songs on this album, and anyone who puts any value into songwriting and lyrics should own a copy.

keep up the good work Bachmann.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pleasantly, highly surpassed my expectations!, September 20, 2006

By 

Ryan Bock (Venice, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: To the Races (Audio CD)

I was an early and very enthusiastic Archers of Loaf supporter. Although I wasn't as taken by the direction of their later albums, I was still interested enough to give my attention to Eric Bachman's solo efforts. Crooked Fingers clawed, dug, and moaned it's way through some interesting songwriting and dark melodies enough so to find my ear appreciative. But I've never considered any Crooked Fingers efforts to approach the status of 'epic'.

With 'To the Races', however, Eric Bachman takes an undeniably giant leap towards that assignment. In between the captivating lyric-smithing and carefully crafted minimalist arrangements, we hear a noticeably fuller, richer, more dynamic vocal prowess. Suddenly it becomes easy to want to make comparisons to various legendary vocalists (an indulgence which for your benefit I'll avoid here) as, despite the musical strength of the vast majority of the individual song arrangements, Bachman's voice rises to the forefront, skillfully entreating the listener to closely follow its inviting nuances.

I'd give the album 4.5 stars, but the rating system won't let me so the album has to suffer with 4.