Customer Reviews

See and Be Seen

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

 

 

WOW!!! I just bought this Steve Ward CD based on a review from Miles of Music. I had heard of Cherry Twister, but had not heard even one song from them. He is fantastic. A chameleon with voice and arrangements. On one song he sounds very much like Art Garfunkel, and then two songs later a country crooner! He writes very memorable songs, and can really do justice to the songs with his vocals. There are so many undiscovered singer-songwriters out there now days. Earlier this year I discovered Ed Harcourt and Richard Julian. Those guys are similar in style and better than 90% of what is on the radio. I will be buying Opening Night soon. I couldnt recommend Steve Ward any higher!!!

Yes, I'm a huge fan of the Opening Night solo album. But there were times while listening to the song " Good " for example, I would wonder to myself - are we 15 years old here or what? Of course, songs like " Trust " , " Still Life ", et al, more than
made up for that... See And Be Seen shows an artist not afraid
to be his age - thoughtful, introspective, call it what you will-
It's thankfully not the cotton candy thatI was afraid it might be. Good for you Steve! "Flow" is a work of art - "The Death Of A Star" and "Can We Feel?" should more than satisfy your existing fans - " The River Leads Me Home " and " Down By The River " - should bring a boat-load of new fans in to your world.
5 well-deserved STARS!!!!!!!!

"Down by the River" and "The River Leads Me Home" are a couple of fabulous songs on this CD that could be used as film title tracks. The whole CD is a good example of excellent songwriting and production. Steve Ward is very talented songwriter and deserves some attention.

why on EARTH is this man not signed to a major label?

a perfect effort by steve.....i never thought he'd top "opening night".....but he did...

don't be swayed by the "powerpop" label that steve has been given in the past....this is an album for the masses....

take a swim in steve's "beautiful river" and buy this cd now...you won't be sorry......

The title of this review could have easily been the title of the latest Steve Ward record, but of course "A River Runs Through It" has already been taken for the title of a book by Norman MacLean and, subsequently a fine movie by Robert Redford. Too bad because it would have made for quite an album title and would have fit perfectly with the feel of the album. Well...OK, so it would be a bit corny as the album title. But there are similarities between the movie and "See And Be Seen". No, the album has nothing to do with fishing, but it has a "feel" about it that is very similar to the movie (I've never read the book). Both display a beautiful innocence on the surface with an undercurrent of melancholy and sorrow underneath. And rivers do play a rather prominent role in both. Low-key, understated, subdued, sweet, confident...just a few words that can be used to describe this album. And of course it exudes top-notch musicianship and beautiful vocals. What else can one expect from a Steve Ward album?

With one pick of a guitar string followed almost simultaneously by the soothing voice of Mr. Ward all is right again in the music world on the opening track "Down By The River". He definitely knows how to open an album. This is one sweet tune with a country feel courtesy of some great pedal steel guitar. It appears to be about an old romance, where one seems to have passed on leaving the other to look back and remember their lost loved one with great fondness ("a smile memorized and a rhyme for the pain"). Could not have hoped for a better opening track.

"The Death Of A Star" seems to be about the life choices that the subject of the song has made that has led her down a certain path and the regrets she may have of not having chose a different path. Something all of us can relate to as we all have regrets over some of the choices we have made. Musically this is "classic" Steve Ward...great vocal harmonies, catchy melody, with the added bonus of some nice strings in the mix.

"The River Leads Me Home" is simply a beautiful song. Sounds like Steve has been listening to Simon & Garfunkel? Again with some nice pedal steel guitar (love that sound), strings, and a nice bass line by Mike Bitts of The Innocence Mission...fitting.

"Days" is an accordion dominated tune that takes a bit of a step down from the super first three tracks. Not a bad tune but it would be impossible to maintain the kind of pace those first three tracks held.

"Flow" is very Simon & Garfunkel like...a little "Wednesday Morning, 3 AM"? Pedal Steel shows up again. Nice quiet little song involving, yep, a river.

"Evergreen" picks up the pace a bit although it is hardly a rocker. But it's maybe the closest thing to it on this disc. Very catchy tune that will stick in your head almost without you even knowing it. You'll find yourself humming it during the day and find yourself wanting to hear it again when you get back home, or back in your car.

"Idaho"...a little honky-tonk country number that grows on you with each listen. At first I wasn't really taken with it but it is a fairly nice little ditty. But I would have to say it is the weakest track on the album.

"Can We Feel?" would have fit right in with the tunes on "Opening Night", Steve's previous solo album. Again a catchy melody and nice harmonies. Very nice tune.

"The King Of Sinking Spring"...not sure what this tune is about but it is a heck of a song. Maybe it is a veiled political statement of some sorts? And what is with the backward vocals? I would love to know what the backward passage says but my CD player doesn't have a backward play feature!

"Fighter"...Steve is finishing up strong. Highlighted by Steve's sweet, wonderful voice and an electric piano, I wouldn't be surprised if this one turns out to be a favorite track on the album for many.

"Kid Yourself" finishes it up on a very high note. Again this is "classic" Steve Ward. This one would have fit quite well on "At Home With Cherry Twister". Proof positive that Steve Ward is among the elite tunesmiths going today, with not nearly the audience that he deserves.

Overall "See And Be Seen" is another fine album from Steve Ward. Is it as good as "Opening Night"? Well...no...it does fall short of that wonderful album. It is a bit on the slow side. It could use one or two more up-tempo tunes. I must admit to being a little disappointed upon the first couple of listens. But after having been awaken by the sounds of this album and listening to it before I go to work every morning for the past two weeks my opinion of it has changed for the better...much better. It is just not quite up to "Opening Night" standards. Which isn't really too harsh a criticism since that album is so good it is downright criminal. Steve is lucky he didn't get put in the slammer after that one. "See And Be Seen" will not likely result in any time served for Steve either, but I am sure much time will be served listening to it.

Thank you Steve for another fine album. You can count me as a fan for life. Or for however long you choose to make music. Which hopefully will be for a very long time.