Customer Reviews

Ragged Ass Road

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

 

 

You may already be more familiar with Tom Cochrane than you are aware. His band Red Rider had a huge AOR hit with "Lunatic Fringe" back in '81, and Tom struck gold on his own with the oft heard, early 90's staple "Life Is A Highway." Now don't get me wrong, those are fine examples of Cochrane's abilities, but are by no means representative of the complete breadth of his talents. And while many a consumer shamelessly handed over the necessary cabbage for a copy of "Jagged Little Pill" by fellow Canadian Alanis Morrisette (read Glenn Ballard), they would have been far wiser to take a little side trip down the "Ragged Ass Road" instead. Not only is this disc far superior to such calculated, production line crapola, Cochrane wrote every song save one, and his personal interest is evident on every track. Beginning with the emotional up tempo outpourings of "I Wish You Well" and ending with the somber lament of "Song Before I Leave," Cochrane reaches down and delivers from the heart and soul. And with gems like "Wildest Dreams," "Paper Tigers," and "Dreamer's Dream" nestled neatly in between, this is truly an unheralded recording deserving of a much wider (and don't forget wiser) audience

Tom is one of my all time favorite singer/songwriters. I've enjoyed his music ever since he started out with his group Red Rider back in the early eighties. Songs like Lunatic Fringe, Human Race, Can't Turn Back, Napoleon Sheds His Skin & White Hot through the late eighties with songs like Young Thing Wild Dreams(Rock Me), Boy Inside The Man, The Untouchable One, Big League, Whipping Boy, Among The Ruins(I'll Be There) to his solo songs like Life Is A Highway, Washed Away & Sinking Like A Sunset. Tom's music to me is as good as John Mellencamp(which is also one of my favorite singers too). I Highly recommend this and any of Tom's solo cds or Red Rider cds. Highlights are I Wish You Well, Wildest Dreams, Just Scream, Paper Tigers, Ragged Ass Road & Best Waste Of Time.

I got this CD when I was in Toronto, fittingly. It's a masterpiece, as much for its songwriting as for its production. Reminiscent of Mellencamp, yet very Canadian (whatever that is) and able to mix hiphop-like rhythms into his rock. Alex Lifeson guests on a couple of songs, that doesn;t hurt either. If ever I want to be back in TO, I put on this CD. Best cut: Just Scream!

This is a really good album. Cochrane is a great songwriter and lyricist, and this is him at the top of his game. Just listen to the words of "Ragged Ass Road" or the melody of "I Wish You Well", and you'll see what I mean. It's really a shame that this guy didn't achieve the same level of success in the U.S. as Bryan Adams or Rush or other Canadian rockers. I know that he's one of Canada's biggest stars, but down here in the States, he's a one-hit wonder ("Life is a Highway"). I only discovered this album after reading about him on Wikipedia and listening to a few audio clips.

If you're a Canadian Cochrane fan, you probably already own this album and know how great it is. If you're an American who only knows "Life is a Highway", check it out. You won't be disappointed.-

I have had this on cassette for twenty five years and I have yet to get tired of listening to it. Now having it on cd, it is like getting to enjoy it for the first time all over again. Great music is never out-dated.