Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars

Edie Brickell | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: The David Geffen Company
• ASIN: B00004V1GG
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (49 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #190,411 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Somehow this slips through the cracks..underrated, April 29, 2005

By 

Greg Brady "columbusboy" (Capital City) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Shooting Rubberbands At The Stars (Audio CD)

Any list of the 'best' albums of the 1980s never seems to include this album. The average person considers her a "one hit wonder" for "What I Am"..the track that leads off the album. I can't for the life of me figure out why this is the case.

I found this album quite by accident at our local library when I was in high school ("What I am" wasn't really a big hit in our area and I'd never heard it). Something about the packaging sparked my interest and I borrowed it and loved it. It's been almost 20 years since this came out and I still play it and still love it which I can say for precious few discs I loved in high school.

My enamourment with the album doesn't stem from pure nostalgia. I still have good memories associated with a song from Bad English but I'm not going to tell you it's great art. This is...

What you get here is 12 smart, tuneful songs that marry folk and rock without being pretentious about it. Indeed, "What I Am" urged listeners to "choke me in the shallow water before I get too deep". The intellect that underscores this album is more basic than the kind that's flaunted in an attempt to garner critical praise and "indie" cred. It's in the notion that your doppelganger (look it up) is at this moment living his/her life elsewhere on this blue-green orb. ("The Wheel") It's in the simple observation that it isn't the harsh words we exchange that cause relationships to implode but the poisonous feelings held inside ("Nothing"). It's in the telling detail that paints a picture from a long distant memory ('the sun was in the sky like pink champagne and it glistened in your eyes all day' from "Air of December"). Perhaps Edie ended up marrying Paul Simon because she really understood "I Am a Rock" (consider her own "Circle":"When I'm by myself it's the best way to be/When I'm all alone it's the best way to be/When I'm by myself nobody else can say goodbye"). A gorgeous understated tune like "I Do" can even be wasted as a hidden track on this one.

BOTTOM LINE:
Give this a chance. Your library probably has a copy. A friend has a copy. This album is much better than it gets credit for.

HIGHLIGHTS:
Air of December, The Wheel, Love Like We Do, What I Am, Circle, I Do (Hidden track)

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars, November 22, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Shooting Rubberbands At The Stars (Audio CD)

I accidently discovered Edie on the darn Windows 95 cd. Unfortunately, no one could tell me who she was. I eventually found two versions of the video on the cd. The second version I found had her name listed. FINALLY! Now, I've gone back and got the first cd's. I remember a the first song as sort of a one-hit wonder 10 years ago. The more I listen to her, the more I like her. Wonder if we'll ever get another album?

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Still My Favorite Group, November 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Shooting Rubberbands At The Stars (Audio CD)

Just buy this c.d. Until you hear it for yourself, there is nothing more I can say about it that will do justice to the lyrical and musical quality of Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians' songs. If you haven't heard other material by this group, check out "Ghost of a Dog," and (Edie solo) "Picture Perfect Morning." They are equally stellar accomplishments despite the lack of media attention. Go to bodyofwater.com/edie and post messages on the board to let the band know that their fans are still out here!