Customer Reviews

I've Suffered a Head Injury

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

1991. Kalamazoo Michigan. The band (or at least the key elements) was then called "Jonnie with an Eye" and they often played at a bar called Ricks on the campus of Western Michigan. End of the show, Brian Vander Ark came on stage alone with just a guitar and sang "The Freshman." Then and there I said this song is top 40 all the way. I was stunned to hear so good a band playing a campus bar.

This album, originally self produced at a studio in Grand Rapids, originally had three additional songs including the accoustic, non-commercialized "The Freshman". The RCA version now available has the first 7 tracks, but it's a serious shame that version of The Freshman never got out.

But this ablum does have some excellent VP tunes from the VERY early days. "I've Suffered A Head Injury" is a brilliant slam on Vanilla Ice and "oceanside" and "ark of the envious" are also excellent.

I'll save my ancient original CD. But you should get this one.

While this album has only seven songs, it is worth every penny. "acting as your slave" is one of the most georgeous songs I have heard in a long time - and anyone who remembers the beginnings of pop-rap, like vanilla ice, and mc hammer, ... will have a chuckle to themselves as they listen to "i've suffered a head injury". The chorus of "ark of the envious" is one catchy little ditty, 'if you do not care you will not cry, if you do not dare you will not try'. Okay, the music is not as complex as the latter tvp albums, but that is part of the charm. If you enjoyed Villians, you will enjoy this album.

The Freshman effort from the East Lansing, MI band. (Sound like a proper review yet?) Any way - I have enjoyed this album for a good long time, and I still hear something new each time I give it a spin. You know people who are telling you about bands that are great, but have not been signed yet? That's all I was told when I first heard this album. It's fresh, clean and most importantly, fun! Brian Vanderark's words have been discribed as 'haunting' but I think that clearly this guy just takes the time to make sure the words say something. All you have to do is look at the song titles to see that. Acting As Your Slave - Why does this song remind me of so many failed relationships? And even if you liked Vanalla Ice, you can't avoid the humor as they poke fun at 'pop' stars in the title track. Ok, so your not into heavy meaning in your lirics, well there is still somthing for you on I've Suffered A Head... All by it self, even if you only are aware of VP's 'Freshman' single - this album is a primer for rock and pop lovers across the world. I put this album on my list of 'CD's to take along if stranded on a desert island' list in 1993. (when in state wide release) If you like music that is better than basement band rock-junk while not being corprate rock - you'll enjoy this EP. If you like rock, classic rock and/or the Beatle's there is somthing for you to like.

jgbcincinnati - How Ironic. Back in 1991, while attending the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, I went to a bar called "Ricks" to check out the local talent. I recall one evening watching this amazing band. They had a group of loyal followers but it was my first time hearing such amazing vocals and musicianship in such a venue. After the show, I immediatly purchased the CD with the original version of the Freshmen. I dont normally do this but I asked the band to autograph the CD sleeve.
After the show, I recall telling all my friends how great this band was and how they had to see them the next time they came around.
Proud to say that I still have and listen to this amazing CD
I agree that its a shame the this version of the Freshmen never made it out mainstream

My introduction to the orignal release of this cd was in the fall of 94, my freshmen year(it seems to have been released 2 years prior). This cd was holding it's own in 5 disc changers all over the Central Michigan University campus with giants Under the Table and Dreaming, August and Everything After, Tuesday Night Music Club and Four (blues traveler). Also, a little George Benson never hurt anyone.

The business of music created the 7 song mutation you see here. The Freshmen on the original is the best version. Great songs like Martyr Material, Ark of the Envious and the title track remain though and would make this a safe buy. But if you can find the original with 'Brian's Song', 'Monterey' and 'The Freshmen' get it. Obviously The Freshmen is great, but I think the other 2 songs are key compnents of a complete album.

If you are a TVP fan or someone who enjoys seeing sucessful bands when they were at their most raw you should really enjoy this album. Now if we could just re-create the feeling of hearing it in the dorms for the first time......

I saw this band my freshman year at Club Soda in Kalamazoo Michigan and was blown away. I have loved this album since it was released (thier first). For those of you that were introduced to TVP with Villians you need to go back and buy this album.

The Freshman debuted on this album and is later known as 'the fast version' (in concert atlease I have heard Brian refer to it as this) and is the most raw of the three or four recorded versions I have heard. Excellent.

One of my greatest memories was singing along to Martyr Material in concert at "The State Theatre" in Kalamazoo, MI with a pile of my friends.

I cannot say enough about this freshman appearance by a chronically underrated band.

TF

I bought the album for $5 at a Verve Pipe concert, and frankly, I expected a "Villains" kind of sound. Overall, it's a little more mellow (not like "The Verve Pipe" mellow), but the lyrics still have a rock edge. And like always the poetic lyrics are really a treat. They start picking up their more mainstream sound in "Pop Smear," so this pre-mainstream album is really sweet. Worth checking out if nothing else!

WOW! This is my edited review - the first was made after a week of listening. This after two months of non-stop listening. Move over Villains, this is my favorite TVP album. A Top 10, Take It To The Desert Island selection.

One song lends to another. Acting As Your Slave with perhaps the best two lines ever (the first two).

Not sure why someone would like Pop Smear (or Villains) and not like this album. While obviously coarser and less complex than those, the lyrics, driving drums and guitar, and seeds of future creativity are all there. Brilliant stuff.

If you can, try to get the original album (you will have to get it used) - the acoustic version of Freshman is a great alternative to the later Villains' version, and there are two other songs also not on the current version.

After hearing the wonderful Pop Smear album, I decided to dig even deeper into the Verve Pipe archives and gave "I've Suffered a Head Injury" a whirl. I was not impressed in the least. The album lacks the passion and emotion that makes the Verve Pipe stand out from the rest. This is a plain, ordinary album, which cannot boast a good song besides "Ark of the Envious". The Verve Pipe has shown much maturity over the years and to trace them all the way back to this album was exciting.. I was disappointed, but it's still great to listen to for Verve Pipe fans.

Early Verve Pipe is great. Brian really knows how to put songs together. Each song sticks with you and you keep singing it over and over again. He knows what he is doing and just gets better and better. Really enjoyed it.