Sucker's Dream

Alternate Routes (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 24, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Vanguard Records
• ASIN: B001PCNZ36
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #99,036 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

No Description Available.
Genre: Popular Music
Media Format: Compact Disk
Rating:
Release Date: 24-FEB-2009

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Music's Best Kept Secret, February 25, 2009

By 

F. de Jong (Austin, TX, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sucker's Dream (Audio CD)

Following up their superb first album "Good, Reckless and True", "A Sucker's Dream" is a stellar and solid mix of beautiful ballads and earthy rock melodies. Tim Warren's voice holds an emotional presence that articulates sincerity. I can not pick out any favourite song in particular as they are all worthy of a special mention. This album consists of perfect lazy afternoon tunes as well as songs with catchy, upbeat melodies. I can not stress enough how worthy this album is of your collection. The Alternate Routes are music's best kept secret.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another great album from The Alternate Routes, March 6, 2009

By 

Steve Johnson "product management evangelist ... (Gainesville, VA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sucker's Dream (Audio CD)

I've had this CD in my car for a week now and it just gets better and better. The songs are great, and I often find myself singing the choruses as I walk around. Woke up this morning singing parts of "Ain't no secret." And wait til you see them in concert. "The Future is Nothing New" features a toolbox as a percussion instrument. It sounds good on the CD but the crowd goes wild when they play it on stage. If you like good rock music, you'll love The Alternate Routes.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars This route is a litte too middle of the road, August 16, 2010

By 

Doctor CD "Bill's Music Forum" - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Sucker's Dream (MP3 Download)

I love The Alternate Routes. Their full-length debut, "Good and Reckless and True" was one of the best CDs of 2005 in my opinion; it was passionate, earnest, and organic. They followed this up with the highly respectable "Watershed EP", which certainly whet the appetite for this long awaited sophomore release.

"A Sucker's Dream" is no sophomore jinx, but I'm afraid it is not going to help make The Alternate Routes a household name - I hope I am wrong, because these guys have a monopoly on talent. I just don't think it is maximized on this record. Normally, vocalist Tim Warren contributes a rather extraordinary performance, but on this release he seems to take a backseat to everything else going on. That is a shame. I kept waiting for more spine-tinging moments like those experienced when listening to "Ordinary", but such moments never came. The songs are a bit busier, which is cool at times, but it often distracts from the organic feel that made "Good and Reckless and True" a winner for me. The one moment that is stripped down is the breezy "Desdemona", but this tune is so drawn out and dull even backing vocals from Patty Griffin fail to salvage it.

The good news is that The Alternate Routes have maintained their sense of melody and lyrical competence in the majority of the songs. One-liner gems like "The future's nothing new - just another day to miss the things we used to do" permeate the record. The chord changes are wonderful and Eric Donnelly's lead guitar work rivals that of Dada. And even though he seems to have avoided vocally challenging himself this time out, Tim Warren still sounds charming and soulful. Standout tracks include the festive "On and On We Whisper", "Ain't No Secret", the Lennon-esque "All a Dream", the high octane title track, and the very catchy and reflective closer, "A Better Way".

If you enjoy Ryan Adams, Matt Nathanson, or The Finn Brothers, check out The Alternate Routes.

Key Tracks: 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 11

Bill's Music Forum review