Customer Reviews

Sailover (Dig)

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

 

 

This collection is a tight, contemporary treatment of new and revisited songs by PF Sloan. Each song is carefully crafted, with an excellent, rich collection of supporting players and superb production. This CD is not a hastily assembled effort put together to support a revival tour. The reviewer from Amazon is either off base or has an ax to grind. This music captures much of the energy that many of us felt as youths exposed to music in the mid-sixties. Young people today might find many of the compositions vital to them as well. The new selections on this CD are not throw-ins but reveal a still creative and insightful artist. The guest performers on some of the verses blend in naturally with the songs and add a great deal without being forced. This CD should provide considerable enjoyment for some time.

P.F. Sloan's new "Sailover" is a welcome reprise by a songwriting legend. "PK & the Evil Dr Z" is a Dylan-homage from Dylan's "Subterranean Homesick Blues" era. Sloan talk-sings and talks about a Dylan concert in a rambling story for P.F.'s friends from Planet Mirth. Two of Sloan's oldies are also favorites here. Lucinda Williams joins him on "Sins of a Family" that pumps furiously with Tom Hambridge's juicy drums, "The stone's been cast & blood's thicker than water." Felix Cavaliere from the Rascles joins P.F. on the Grassroots' hit "Where Were You When I Needed You." The tune pumps tightly with a chorus rendition that makes it sound fun to feel so bad, "You're looking good, it's hard to fight it; but it's no use explaining, baby, I've already decided that living with you is worse than without you." Other tunes also have their appeal. "Hollywood Moon" is a sweet shuffle with Becky Hobbs' piano plunking out a bit of barrelhouse on the bridge, "Is this face for rent?" "Love is 4Giving" is also another original piece with a great P.F. guitar part, "Like a history train pulling out of the station with no destination in sight." 35 years ago Jimmy Webb sang, "I have been seeking P.F. Sloan, but no one knows where he has gone." "Sailover" is a welcome return from that missing man. Enjoy!

I was a big fan of this songwriter back "in the day" and was pleasantly surprised to find out that he was putting out a new album. The new version of "Eve of Destruction" (with Frank Black sharing vocals) sounds great and is just as relevant today as it was during the Cold War years of the War in Vietnam. I was especially pleased to see the inclusion of "From A Distance". The original version of this song was released in 1966 and never received the exposure that it should have. (It appeared on an anthology released by Rhino Records a while back but is now out-of-print.) Anyway, it's good to hear from you again Mr. Sloan!

I offer Mark Deming's review, from the ALL MUSIC GUIDE, as an alternative written by someone who enjoys music:

by Mark Deming

It's nice to know some things don't change. More than a dozen years after his last album and 40 years since he penned the epochal pop-protest number "Eve of Destruction," P.F. Sloan is still writing worthwhile pop songs with smart, impressionistic, and somewhat off-kilter lyrics, and Sailover confirms time has been quite kind to his muse since he last entered a recording studio. Sailover is not built from the same sort of Brill Building materials as Sloan's best-known work of the '60s (either as recorded by the songwriter himself or through such clients as Johnny Rivers, the Association, the Turtles, the Grass Roots and lots more); these days, Sloan and producer Jon Tiven go for a simpler approach (guitar, bass, drums, keys) that not only emphasizes the rootsy leanings of his melodies but brings out the Dylanesque side of his songwriting, which doesn't manifest itself in extended lyrical abstraction but a clear desire to write of the personal and the political with the same draw. While Sloan has resurrected a few old favorites for this set (including "Eve of Destruction," "From a Distance," and "Sins of a Family"), the new material makes it clear the man has been keeping his songwriting chops in solid shape; "Violence" and "PK and the Evil Dr. Z" speak clearly with the same mordant wit that he's summoned in his best-known music, while the compassion and warmth of "Love Is 4Giving" and the wanderlust of the title tune prove that while he's mellowed a bit, he's also learned what to make of it. And even when he does revisit the past, the mournful weight of the new recording of "Eve of Destruction" (with guest vocals from Frank Black and Buddy Miller) and the bitter eloquence of Lucinda Williams' verses on "Sins of a Family" show that some protest songs never die, they just remain uncomfortably relevant. Sailover shows P.F. Sloan still has songs in his bag that are well-worth hearing, and he has a gift for making them work in the studio; this is the work of a man who ought to be making records more often than once every 13 years, if he's so inclined and we're so fortunate.

This has to be one of the greatest comeback albums ever! Not only many of the 'oldies', but a fabulous assortment of new material as well.

I'd say the true test of a good CD would be time, and this one passed with flying colors! 'Sailover' has been part of my collection for over a year and has never slipped into the 'seldom played, dust collecting' category. Quite the contrary - both the old and the new songs are as enjoyable to listen to as the day it was bought, some even more so over time. This CD continues to remain on my often played list.

The older songs are timeless; 'From A Distance' is one such beauty, it is such a lovely piece, and so well done here. Some things get even better with age, and the version of `Halloween Mary' truly rocks on this CD, I like it even better than the original. Of the newer tunes included, 'Violence' and 'Soul of a Woman' are two of my favorites, but all the others are certainly right up there. The production is great, and PF Sloan doesn't just sing, he SINGS - with all the emotion that is wrapped up in the lyrics.

I think there are more layers to be uncovered yet in the talent that comprises PF Sloan. Have a listen...a couple of times...see if this music doesn't hit you somewhere in the depths of your musical soul.

Having just turned 34, I'm not old enough to remember original PF Sloan material. I read a 4-star review in MOJO magazine, and put it on my list of stuff to check out. After hearing snippets, I thought it worth picking up used from my local store.

The album is solid. About the only thing I can agree with from the Amazon reviewer is the comment about lack of depth in his voice, but that's not uncommon as people get older. The songs are good enough, but mostly pretty straightfoward. I've given it several listens now, and it's not going to get played with any kind of consistency from here on out. Having never heard the original "Eve of Destruction", I think it's pretty good here, although the two standout tracks for me are "PK & the Evil Dr. Z" and "Violence". The former is as good a Dylan tune as there is, and the latter is as relevant as "Eve of Destruction", but the music reflects the lyrics better.

Not a bad album, but not one for the ages.

The first times I heard this, I was so moved, I had to stop what I was doing. If You Knew, Violence, Sins of a Family, Eve of Destruction sort of blew my husband and I away. It's been a long time since we've heard a new great, straightforward rock and roll CD, and it's great to hear one of the old masters put one out and still sound so fresh, unlike most of the people from the "classic rock era." I am in my 30's, to give some idea of my perspective--but I was listening to music before I could crawl, for whatever that's worth. Some people comment on the lack of depth in the voice. I don't get it. I find the voice very moving and beautiful. From what I have gathered, Sloan is is an astounding survivor--not just in the music world, but in life--and his voice carries the rich rewards of this, in my opinion. There may be more pyrotechnically virtuostic voices out there, but Sloan's is beautiful and more importantly in my hierarchy of values in music--it touches my soul.

A great blend of old classics, with new stuff that ranges from mellow and bluesy to rocking, with electric guitar solos. Sloan's contemporary voice is fantastic . . . a cross between Bob Dylan and Mark Knopfler . . . and his acoustic guitar playing is better than ever. Buy this album. We're proud to have PF Sloan as a guest artist on our Jan Berry / Jan & Dean Tribute Album.