Standing on Shoulders of Giants

Bill Lloyd | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 23, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Koch Records
• ASIN: B00000I9D3
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #274,173 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Power Pop Lives On, January 29, 2000

By 

Patrick F Clifford - See all my reviews

This review is from: Standing on Shoulders of Giants (Audio CD)

Anything on this record would sound great on AM radio in 1975 along with Big Star (like they would've gotten on radio). It's a cruel world that Bill Lloyd isn't more well known.

These songs are definately driven by Lloyd's Rickenbacker and intelligent songwriting. "Cool and Gone" is a power pop masterpeice in it simple theme and melodic impact and "She Won't Be Back" is one of the best "ahh, nuts, I finally get it" songs about a failed relationship to come out in a long time. Very direct and intelligent, but still meaningful to those who've found themselves in a bad (self imposed) position.

Along with the incredible (a real national treasure) Marshall Crenshaw, Bill Lloyd is one of the best songwriters still going. I can't wait for the next record.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great pop with many of your favorite flavors melted together, June 5, 1999

By 

hyperbolium (Earth, USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Standing on Shoulders of Giants (Audio CD)

Like the best pop, Lloyd's dissolves and recombines his sources until the amalgam has its own, unique flavor. Passing phrases of the Smithereens channeling Revolver-era Beatles and Byrdsian 12-string guitars rub up against the Velvet Crush's version of 60s Big Star jangle and the lyrical sophistication of the dBs. As Lloyd states in the title track, "We're all standing on the shoulders of giants," and he's far from shy about his influences.

Unusually, Lloyd's pedigree includes time atop the country chart as part of the mainstream Nashville duo Foster & Lloyd. There's nary a hint of that to be found here. In place of steel twang is layer upon layer of chiming guitars, lush vocal harmonies and a tackle-box full of melodic hooks.

Guests include friends from both pop and country (and hard-to-pin-down points in between), including Marshall Crenshaw, Dennis Diken (Smithereens), Tom Petersson (Cheap Trick), Al Anderson (NRBQ) and Kim Richey. With Lloyd as master chef, the result is very sweet indeed.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well worth the wait! Pure pop fan's dream come true., March 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Standing on Shoulders of Giants (Audio CD)

Bill Lloyd may not put out records often. But when we are treated with a new disc the wait hardly matters. "Beatlesque." "Rundgrenesque." Forget that..."Lloydesque." Witty, literate & catchy as all get out. While this is hardly revolutionary - hence the title "Standing on the Shoulders of Giants" - maybe putting a strong honest pop record out in 1999 should be considered revolutionary. Lloyd's recorded output - both solo and with Foster & Lloyd - has quietly earned him respect among pop music fans. "Standing on the Shoulders..." should be welcomed loudly! He deserves it. So do we.