Customer Reviews

Stag

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Amy Ray has a talent for writing songs that are not only lyrically meaningful and significant to today's social climate, but are also imminently catchy and fun to listen to. Branching out from the Indigo Girls, Amy uses STAG to explore her harder side, which still incorporates the excellent melodies and guitar parts we've come to expect.

Backed by amazing musicians, Amy rips into such hard rockers as "Lucystoners," "Late Bloom," "Black Heart Today" and "Mountains of Glory." The Butchies seem especially in tune with Amy's vision and style of playing. A few songs are softer/slower and could almost be Indigo songs, such as "Laramie," "Lazyboy" and "Measure of Me," but it's nice to hear Amy's ability to explore this side on her own. "Lazyboy" is especially beautiful, recorded with quiet intimacy.

Should you buy this album? If you're an Indigo Girls fan and find yourself enjoying both their acoustic side and their harder side (evidenced especially by the song "Touch Me Fall" and many songs from "Shaming of the Sun" and "Come On Now Social"), then you should DEFINITELY own this album. If you're mainly a fan of their lighter acoustic material and find yourself more of an Emily fan than an Amy fan, then you might not enjoy it. But I'm definitely an Emily fan when it comes to Indigo Girls, and this album really has shown me how to open my ears to a different kind of material from Amy Ray. The album is fantastic, and I'm really greatful that she chose to do a solo record to share it with the public. Keep open ears and an open mind. You won't be disappointed.

Unlike some others, I was looking forward to Amy's new album. I have been an Indigo Girls fan for years and have always known that Amy was the rockier one. STAG is definately a rockier album than your standard IG album and is a great CD. I found it very interesting that some of the themes and songs from IG albums have made their way to STAG (i.e. Johnny Rottentale). As to her becoming an "angry liberal folk singer", folk music has had a long history of championing causes. It's not a new thing. Amy's new CD is a great CD on it's own, not just because it was written by an Indigo Girl. Some of her songs are rockin' hard, crank it up, and yell along good (Lucy Stoner, Mtns. of Glory), while others are more contemplative (Laramie). There is beauty here, it's just a different form than an Indigo Girls CD.

Stag opens up with the folk/bluegrass Johnny Rottentail from there it covers nearly every emotion on the scale. Amy Ray has reached with in herself and pulled out a wealth of emotions that she has not been able to express with in the constraints of the Indigo Girls. Her Solo project has tapped into the well of songwriting that we have only seen glimpses of during her 15 year carrer with the the Indigo Girls. Aside from the Talent of her song writing Amy Ray has also put out a call to action on many of the political causes that are dear to her heart. On Your Honor, a tribute to some of the activists friends that she has lost over the past few years, reminds us that we need to carry on the struggle and never forget what those before us have done to further the cause of freedom. The other thread through the album is her own soul searching with gender identity. mountians of Glory, explores her own thoughts on male/female identifying in relationships. All in all it is a great beginning to what we can expect to come from this talented free spirit.

I've been a fan of Amy Ray and the Indigo Girls since the begining. It caught me by suprise when Amy sucessfully branched out. From the minute I heard the first Hoot n' Hollerin' strains of "Johnny Rottentail" to the pounding ballad "On your Honor", I was hooked. Yes it did seem weird without Emily, but at the same it was captivting to hear Amy's talent showcased in this low-budget, fine, fine LP.

I had expected this album to be a lot like Ray's contributions to the Indigo Girls, smart song writing with a hard edge over some folky backgrounds. I was right about the first two parts. Ray's songwriting is in fine form and the harder, more punk-like format displays it brilliantly. The cd has a rougher more independent feel to it and all of the songs mesh well together. While very different from the Indigo Girls, some IG influences can be felt, especially in "Johnny Rottentail" the cd's first mandolin laden track.

Ray's songwriting tackles a lot of thorny issues including antigay violence and gender stereotyping. The frustration and anger that accompany these topics comes through full force yet the album never alienates it's audience.

At 35 minutes the effort may seem a little short but repeated sessions with it in the player show that the album is complete, feeling neither rushed nor drawn out. Each time I listen to it I find something else that I like. I'll be keeping this one in the car player for some time.

If you're an Indigo Girl fan, you've come to recognize the Amy/Emily differences: Emily seems to be the softer touch, a bit more humorous, while Amy has the rough edge and seems to go flat-out non-stop. Those expectations play out on "Stag", and they do so without disappointment. Hold on through the weak point of the album, (disappointing because Joan Jett contributed but the tune isn't one of the better ones), and you'll be impressed by the end.

Criticisms are similar to others here: Too short - yep, when the music's this good, you simply want more. The mix hides the vocals - partially true, but that might be due to the harder distorted-guitar sound than the engineer, either way the songs are still great. I'm just hoping this won't be the beginning of the breakup of the Indigo Girls... if I was Emily, I'd accuse Amy of holding out some of the good stuff from their collaborative recording efforts!

Engaging, intriguing, thought-provoking, infectious, can't-stop-hitting-the-repeat-button....

Amy DELIVERS!! Her song-writing has always provoked/evoked (for me) strong emotions. Additionally, she has always managed to write of subjects that seemed pertinent to me at varying stages of my life. (I've been a fan for about 14 yrs.) Once again,she sings of things that matter to me now. I appreciate the way the lyrics, subject-matter, and music of Stag come together into what another reviewer termed a short-yet-complete collection. The rock, punk, blue-grass, all come together in a credible style. Each style seems as natural to Amy as the next. She doesn't get trapped into doing her music one way.

I suppose it must be hard for many to speak of Amy Ray without mentioning her place in Indigo Girls. It is important to remember that this is Amy, solo. Her same moving song-writing skills are at work here on Stag, but it seems inappropriate to try to find the similarities between her work with IG and her solo release.

That said, those of you who already appreciate Amy's stage persona and song-writing, and those of you who are simply devout Amy Ray fans, will not be disappointed!

I really hate to be one of those fans that will bend to the whims and desires of my favorite artists. But, okay, I am. I ordered Stag and listened to it once and thought, "eh.. not my thing." But, knowing how much I love Amy, I thought I should try again. So, I listened to it for a week straight, and loved it. It sounds different from what you're used to hearing from the Indigo Girls. But, I love that edgier feeling, and sometimes you need it. This is a great CD. Amy was awesome live at Slim's in SF. I can't wait to see what's coming next. Still a die hard fan...

As a long-dedicated fan of Amy Ray in her Indigo Girls incarnation I admit I was a little apprehensive about Stag. I should have known better! This is a strikingly excellent solo effort from Ray. The songs are smart, passionate, playful and they ROCK. She wears her indie and punk sensibilities well, as well as she wears her Indigo Girls persona. This could well be a bust-out effort for Amy Ray. If you buy it, you won't regret it. I can't stop listening to it. Everytime it gets to the last song, i wish it were longer!

being one of the biggest amy ray fans in the world, i am surprised to see that i had yet to review this one.

stag is proof that amy ray can hold her own ground both as a musician and a businesswoman. not only did she write and perform all of the songs on the album, but she was the producer and is the CEO of the album's label (daemon). she did all of the mixing and mastering herself. and on tour to promote the album, she did her own driving, teching, and settling. amy is quite multitalented.

the cd itself is out of this world. since its release date in march of 2001, i have managed to wear out six copies of this album. it is that good. her songs are very politically based and have many gender/sexual identity themes. from "laramie," an angry tribute to the town where matthew shepard was murdered to "lazyboy," which very well could have been an indigo girls song, there is not one cut on this cd that is lacking or subpar.

with backing of some friends (but no, not emily saliers) including the butchies, 1945 (a daemon band), rock*a*teens (another daemon band), and joan jett, ray has prooven that she has what it takes to be an indigo girl and to do her own thing stag.