Customer Reviews

Spirit Touches Ground

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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There is no one better than Josh Clayton-Felt. The guy can write. He can sing. He is honest. He is a beautiful person inside and out. If you are considering this purchase.....DO IT NOW. Then come back and get any other Josh Clayton Felt & School of Fish you can find. Lastly, search the net for any others you can't find here

My (and soon yours) only regret is that I learned of this very talented individual after he had already passed away. He truly touched me in a very short time. I would've traveled many miles to see Josh in concert. You will see what I mean.

Take the soul and guitar skills of Jimi Hendrix, the talent of Prince, the sophistication and pop hooks of the Beatles, add in a voice that sounds like a young Robert Plant dipped in honey, and sprinkle with the sensibility of Camper van Beethoven and XTC.....and you might get something that approaches this joyful musical masterpiece by Josh Clayton-Felt. It sounds like JCF poured so much of his soul into this that he didn't leave enough for himself to go on. Personally it's hard for me to discover someone with so much talent after he is gone. I love this CD.

When I first heard about Josh, it was the day he had died after a long battle with cancer. Thats the day I wanted to go and buy the CD ... and I don't regret it ... from the start till the end, Josh's voice sounds great and the songs are what I always wanted to hear. Songs like "Backwards World", "Too Cool for this World", "Waiting to Be", the title track "Spirit Touches Ground" ... and especially "Deer in the Headlights" (my favorite). Josh is simply awesome ... and thanks to the family for giving us this great gift ...

I had the privilage of seeing Josh and the rest of School of Fish perform in my home town of Las Vegas back around 1992 when they were supporting their first cd. They played at the old Calamity Jane's, and they, especially Josh, were amazing. Since then, I've listened to their follow up album as well as Josh's solo efforts, all of which are great. Do yourself a favor and pick up any of the cd's Josh and/or School of Fish have put out. You won't regret it.

Dear Josh's friends and family: Thank you, thank you, thank you... To a fan, this album is a sweet and sour reminder, but a lasting gift. To the uninitiated, this album is a 5am wake up call that challenges what you think you know about talent and the current music industry. Then you become a fan (see above).

Josh's final work is testament to the power of rock, soul and human spirit. Truly this album is a jewel. It is quite rare that we can share such precious gifts of purity and substance. Artist like this emerge a precious few a generation. If it weren't for his dear family most of us we may have missed him entirely. These songs roll like thunder and sustain like the most delicate kisses. If you liked "floating on my back and staring at the gray," "Let the dragon fly take you for a ride." From ocean to sky, he knew the span of human experience. Soar. Highly recommended. Additionally recommended- Josh Clayton Felt Like Making a Live Record.

One things stands out with all the enclosed reviews of Spirit Touches Ground, that Josh has this musical gift that displays passion, tenderness, and a true God given talent for songwriting. I remember seeing Spirit Touches Ground in a used CD store. I just saw his name and the title, and without knowing anything about him, placed the disk in the player, put the headphones on, and was hooked on the first 30 seconds of Building Atlantis....."while the rest of the world was drowning around us, we were building Atlantis." And it just gets better from there. Too Cool for this World and Dragon Fly are just amazing. Every song is great!

Do yourself a favor, buy this CD, and then Inarticulate Nature Boy, Center of Six, and of course, his early group, School of Fish.

God blessed this world with a rare musical talent, one that sadly passed away much to early. Jarrette M

From the opening drums to the closing crickets, this disc is simply a masterpiece and will touch you in your heart. Sadly, Josh is no longer with us, but he left this beautiful work of art behind for us to enjoy.

It is somewhat eerie how many references to his own passing are in here, both in lyric and title, such as: "Too Cool For This World", "Night comes creeping up, I'm not ready yet... I'm undone, long before I get a chance at it", "Spirit Touches Ground", "Already Gone", "If your road has reached the ocean, but your legs still want to go".

I highly recommend it to anyone.

I bought Clayton-Felt's first CD and was not knocked over by it. A budget price induced me to give this set a spin. I was not aware that he had passed. After Inarticulate Nature Boy was released in 1996 as his first solo set after his work in School of Fish, the record label A&M dropped him before he could release a second set. He continued to record a bit and tour, but in December 1999 fell ill with testicular cancer and passed on January 19, 2000 at age 32. Dreamworks collected tracks he recorded for a second A&M album and others and released this CD in 2002. Clayton-Felt's voice has been compared to Robert Plant and there is a similarity in the smooth anthem-rock style he frequently employs.

The music on this set is varied and works well for the most part. "Backwards World" appeals to me with Josh's voice warm on the softer track, "There are times when I can't stand still in all of this confusion, but it's hard walking forwards in a backwards world." "Half Life" also shines with dashes of country in the mix. The title tracks launches on a catchy riff and Clayton-Felt's tantalizing vocals, "She pressed her lips together to keep the words inside; Saw a thousand faces and her thoughts were amplified; A mother's boy was smiling, painted like a clown, he said this is what happens when spirit touches ground." "Night of a Thousand Girls" rides on a great guitar riff and has a bit of a Middle-Eastern flavor in its melody, "Each one knows your secrets, Each one knows your fears, They're not here to steal them, they're here to drink your tears." "Dragon Fly," a haunting track, concludes the set. "Spirit Touches Ground" is a varied work. It affirms life and the experiences that touch the soul fabric of our lives. Enjoy!

Josh Clayton-Felt is by far the most talented Singer/Songwriter I've heard in years. Josh's vocals are strong yet gentle, his music ranges from funky to beautifully melodic. His lyrics are spiritual and deeply touching. It is clear he was a visionary in every sense of the word. I only wish that he was still here to play these beautiful songs to all of us.