Most Helpful Customer Reviews
|
|
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
In the West . . ., January 3, 2001
For Phil Ochs fans, the long-awaited CD release of TAPE FROM CALIFORNIA is a real cause for celebration. It has been out of print for many years and it took a lot of effort on my part to get a copy on vinyl. Along with his album THE PLEASURES OF THE HARBOR, TAPE FROM CALIFORNIA documents what Phil perceived to be the cancerous immorality eating away at America's institutions and conscience. The title track, "White Boots Marching in a Yellow Land," "Half a Century High," "The War is Over," and especially "When in Rome" relentlessly pursue the theme of internal decay. "When in Rome," Phil's longest song ever, presents the history and future of the United States as those of a modern Roman Empire. Phil sees the American (Roman) Empire as corrupted force that has become the very evil it had intended to replace. The entire album (save one song) thematically leads up to this revelation; it's a unified whole as are all of Phil's later, introspective albums (PLEASURES OF THE HARBOR, TAPE FROM CALIFORNIA, REHEARSALS FOR RETIREMENT, GREATEST HITS). For those of you already familiar with Phil Ochs, this album will fill an important space in your collections. Those of you who are NOT familiar with Phil's work, listen to his topical albums first (ALL THE NEWS THAT'S FIT TO SING, I AIN'T MARCHING ANYMORE, PHIL OCHS IN CONCERT), so will be able to understand his transformation in context.
|
|
|
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Outstanding reissue of a great American Artist's work, July 8, 2003
Whether the lyric lilt of his voice or the tremendous passion of his articulate poetry, Phils Ochs had a profound impact on listeners. He could be politically outlandish (sometimes even more outlandish that his own personal views) but more often incredibly insightful. His lyrics are some of the the most intelligient written by the modern day folks artists or songwriter of any ilk. And his later work, although not in the least classic folk style material, showed an artistic maturity that could be dazzling. The lyrics could be at once cinematic, portraying a physical scene, and at the same time evocative of intense emotions. And he used his voice with a keen sense of timing and phrasing -- it's fun just to listen to how he wraps a line around the tempo. During his short life he was known as much for his politcs as his artistry, and he probably wouldn't have had it any other way. The material here is that of his second "non-folk-music" albums and contains what some fans consider one of his poetic masterpieces -- the dark and unsettling story of "When in Rome."
|
|
|
12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The later Phil Ochs at his best, September 20, 2001
By A Customer
Phil Ochs lived in the shadow of his mentor Bob Dylan. I believe that as a folk-protest singer, he exceeded him, though never got the name recognition. While others spoke to the "movement" of the 60s and 70s from the edges, Phil spoke to its heart, and especially the political left, those who were not into drugs but into politics instead. He released 3 good folk albums, "All the News That's Fit To Sing", "I Ain't Marching Any More", and "Phil Ochs in Concert". This album, plus "Pleasures of the Harbor" and "Rehearsals for Retirement" represented Ochs in his foray into rock, following his mentor Bob Dylan. It is by far the best of the three, as Ochs remains true to his folk roots in this one, whereas in the others he tries unsuccessfully to be "artsy". (Releases after "Rehearsals for Retirement" are mostly old material). The best song on this album is "When In Rome" where he compares the US to the Roman Empire. I believe this comparison is still valid today, as the US is an overextended power. For those new to Phil Ochs I would recommend this CD plus "Phil Ochs in Concert" and the Cctober 2001 UK release of his first two albums ("All the News That's Fit To Sing / I Ain't Marching Any More") as a 2 CD set. Skip the others, they are a waste of your hard earned money.
|
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|
Interact With Your Music: Discover, listen to, and buy new music, all from the pages of SPIN's digital edition, free to Amazon customers.
by Phil Ochs 
