Customer Reviews

To the Races

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

 

 

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!

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.

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.

Eric Bachmann is Bob Dylan with a good voice! I loved this album...I want to take Mr. Bachmann camping with me! As you listen to this album, you can't help but think of campfires and starry nights. My favorite kind of music is a man and his guitar...with talent. The talent here is above and beyond my excpectaions. It is a mellow and slightly sad album, but the music is haunting and it will stick with you for years. If you like Bob Dylan, you will fall in love with this artist. Enjoy!

While I can relate to p-cake man, in that most music today is about an image and desperately lacking genuine inspiration or skill, I would certainly not say that about Eric Bachmann. To the contrary, I've always found anything he did (AOL, Barry Black, Crooked Fingers) to be interesting and innovative. Eric Bachmann has a lot of integrity with all his music and this album is a solid set of original well thought out songs.

He's had a beard for some time, even before Iron and Wine. Think this guy's been around at least 10 years longer. You should really give the man some credit. Big jump from Archers, to Crooked, and now this solo record, not to mention the score he composed for the film, 'ball of wax.' This record is amazing. I highly recommend buying this album, or any of Eric B's projects.

I saw Eric play in San Francisco before Richard "the god" Buckner. I immediately bought this CD and a Crooked Fingers CD. This is a great CD! I love all of the songs with Genie, Genie being my favorite.

Eric's a great singer songwriter with a very original sound.

Also, get Richard Buckner's Meadow CD, it's excellent!

hey eric, welcome to saddle creek records. just leave your talent and creativty at the door, we don't have any use for that stuff around here. maybe you could just s**t out some bland basic standard-chord fingerpicking, i think the kids would really eat that up, what with Iron And Wine's success and all. we'll put you in the studio this weekend, no sense wasting time on developing ideas when the kids won't notice the difference anyway. we'll also need to put a picture of you with a beard on the cover, just to emphasize the connection, y'know so that kids know what image you're trying to project just in case the genericness of the music isn't clear enough. ok, so just sign here and wait for the indie dough to roll in. thanks dude, pleasure doing business with you.