Three Chords Good

Graham Parker | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 19, 2012)
• Original Release Date: 2012
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: PRIMARY WAVE
• ASIN: B00917IQFY
• In-Print Editions: Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (54 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #21,816 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

2012 album from the British singer/songwriter, who has reunited his original band the Rumour for their first album together in 31 years. Produced by Dave Cook and Graham Parker, the collection's 12 original tracks of driving and confessional rock and roll were recorded in upstate New York and feature the classic Rumour line-up of Brinsley Schwarz and Martin Belmont on guitars, Steve Goulding on drums, Andrew Bodnar on bass and Bob Andrews on keyboards. ''After a hiatus of over 30 years, it was extraordinary to hear the Rumour backing my material again,'' says Parker. ''We've finally made an album of true musical collaboration that we're all very proud of."

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 30 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars "Three Chords Good" is another brilliant album by Graham Parker November 19, 2012

By Mark Steven

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

Graham Parker is both one of the most under-appreciated artists of the past 35 + years as well as one of the most consistently great over that span of time. His new album "Three Chords Good" is backed by the Rumour for the first time in over 30 years. Up until they parted ways after 1980, the Rumour backing Graham Parker was the one backing band that could have given Springsteen's E Street Band a run for its money. Graham Parker went on to make one very good - fantastic album after another in the 30 years since he parted ways with the Rumour. That said, as great as many of those non Rumour Graham Parker albums were, they probably all would have been even better had the Rumour still been backing him. Which brings us to the new album "Three Chords Good". This is a typically great Graham Parker album that's made even greater due to the Rumour being back on board. Hopefully Graham Parker's being featured in the upcoming movie "This is 40" will give this new album the much needed exposure to actually sell a non-trivial amount of copies. "Three Chords Good" is among the best albums that's been released this year. Each of its 12 songs is fantastic. The album features great singing, great lyrics, a great backing band and great melodic tunes with infectious hooks that you can't get out of your head. It's a near perfect album.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars When it's good, it's three chords good January 31, 2013

By Tim Brough TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD

Graham Parker was one of the original angry young men (with Elvis Costello and Joe Jackson) in the 80's, and his band The Rumour was like his version of The Attractions. Around the album "Another Gray Area," he jettisoned the band and began a series of session musicians and another ad hoc group, The Shot," for one album, "Steady Nerves," but it was his days with The Rumour that produced many of his finest works. So imagine my surprise when "Three Chords Good" appeared with The Rumour as the billed backing. Wheil I have been picking up a few of Graham's independent released (and really dug "Imaginary Television," I knew I had to grab this one.

Timed to go along with Graham's appearance in the movie "This Is 40," where he plays himself, "Three Chords Good" is a satisfying album and seems to have inspired Parker to dig into his lyrics a bit more then usual. "Coathangers" is a follow-up of sorts to "You Can't Be Too Strong" and there's an easy reggae lope to the opening "Snake Oil Capitol Of The World." What you'll notice is how much Parker has improved as a singer. He no longer is a howler, he strides the song with control as organist Bob Andrews plays the groove with drummer Steve Goulding. Even better, Martin Belmont plays his parts with strength and subtlety through out.

Parker was once touted as a "New Dylan," and some of the songs here re-merit the comparisons. Both the title song and the snide "Last Bookstore In Town" pull great couplets worthy of Dylan or perhaps Randy Newman out of their collective hats. Even some of the lesser songs ("Stop Crying About The Rain" and "She Rocks Me"; oddly enough back to back in the album's middle) are supple enough to merit repeat listens. Reportedly, Parker recorded the songs live with the band, which explains the easy gait of some of the tracks and the two rockers ("A Lie Gets Halfway Around The World" the best of the batch) just seem so naturally tasty.

Probably a reunion that few expected or where actively rooting to happen, "Three Chords Good" still makes it worth the wait. Parker should have thought of this years ago. It may be his best work since "12 Haunted Episodes," another underrated Parker album from the early 90's.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Beauty in aga November 24, 2012

By john buckvold

Format:MP3 Music|Amazon Verified Purchase

They might not be as young as they used to be, but Graham Parker and the Rumour are as spry as ever and still play beautiful music. With this album, Parker shows he's one of the few rockers whose later work is as good or better than his early work. It's a spirited album with unusual chord progressions and melodies, adult lyrics that don't insult your intelligence, often with uncommon rhymes, and hooky guitar licks. There are one or two songs of dubious quality, but compare that to other seasoned rockers too numerous to mention whose whole albums are of that caliber. I'd actually rate this a 4 1/2.