Customer Reviews

Songs of Innocence & of Experi

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

 

 

A labor of love, not for his musical influences, but for some of the poetry that inspires Greg Brown's songwriting and his life. Sixteen of Blake's Songs of Innocence & Experience interpreted beautifully by Brown- I can no longer read the poems without humming the tunes. With exceptional guitar, mandolin, and violin arrangements, Browns barritone voice has more range than on more recent CDs. Brown has long been the voice of rural Iowa Joy, and rural Iowa Sorrow. Lucky to have one of us talking poetry along with the weather in the cafes. I listen to this CD as much as any of his others. One more thing- great CD cover with the Innocence of his sleeping daughter and almost refrigerator repairman Experience of Brown.

I think this is a wonderful CD for fans of Brown, Blake, or folk music in general. William Blake's poems set -- word for word -- to accordian, harmonica, pan pipes, mandolin, and guitar. Beautifully arranged. I have given this album as a gift to English majors and played it in class for students--a great resource for teachers. One English professor called the CD "dull" and found "every song the same." I suppose she has a point -- many of the songs do tend to blur together after a while -- but I think his covers of "Introduction" and "The Tyger" stand out very well. I think this would be a great CD for kids -- it's a pretty mellow album overall, great for nighttime listening -- and a fun way to introduce children to poetry.

Although Brown has said in many interviews that he'd rather forget this cd, I really liked it and it made me like evn more Blake's masterpiece. It's naive and touching and different from brown's output in general, although his great voice is still here.

I've been a fan of Greg's since the early days and just recently reintroduced myself to this lovely, almost 15 year-old tribute to the words of William Blake, the enormously talented poet and printmaker. Greg may want to forget this album, as another reviewer said, but I'm very glad he made it. To me, it's achingly beautiful and sad, and the Brown-penned melodies, and musicianship by some of the best (including mandolinist Peter Ostroushko), make this a unique and charming listen. In my large Brown collection, it's one of my favorites, especially in front of a roaring fire, on a midwinter night.

Take some Blake, mix with Brown, you've got this album. I like it, but some might find it strange.

I purchased this CD 8 years ago because I had heard good things about Greg Brown. It is packed full of super cheesy songs and quickly turned me off. It wasn't until 2 years ago that I checked out Greg again and once exposed to his other albums I fell in love immediately. If you like super cheesy go ahead, but if you want to know what Greg Brown is about I recommend The Live One.