Touched

Ken Stringfellow, Ken Stringfellow, Ken Stringfellow | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 11, 2001)
• Original Release Date: 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Manifesto Records
• ASIN: B00005NT4F
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #71,032 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Debut solo album from one of the songwriters in The Posies, along with Jon Auer. Stringfellow is also a member of REM having toured and recorded 'Reveal' and 'Up' with the Athens, Georgia superstars. He also moonlights (alongside Auer again) in the current line-up of Big Star. Poptones. 2005. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magic 'Touched', October 2, 2001

By 

Eliot Wilder "eliotwilder.com" (Boston, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Touched (Audio CD)

Ken Stringfellow is a multifarious talent. Whether it's with his on-again, off-again, apparently on-again hard pop band the Posies or pitching in with R.E.M. and the Orange Humble Band or on his lonesome in a more experimental mode (1997's "This Sounds Like Goodbye" is definitely outre), the flame-haired musician has demonstrated he's got as many facets as a fly's eye. Now out of the remnants of his never-quite-got-off-the-ground Saltine project comes this latest solo venture. Adroitly produced by Mitch Easter, "Touched" is filled with plaintive songs and gentle melodies, as on the country-tinged opener "Down Like Me" or on the ruminative "Find Yourself Alone." Momentarily separated from the vocal interaction of Posies partner Jon Auer, Stringfellow's voice takes center stage; although it's a high, clear and ringing instrument, it still conveys the intended pain and desperation on tracks like "Reveal Love" and "The Lover's Hymn." Plumbing both the depths of despair and the high peaks of hope, this is an album that's touched with beauty and grace.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pure unadulterated incontrovertable genius, September 22, 2002

By 

David O'Brien (Dublin 18 Ireland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Touched (Audio CD)

Ken Stringfellow has created his masterpiece with this his second solo album.It would have been easy to fiddle around in the studio and continue with the experimental style of his first solo album but Ken instead decided to play it straight and has come up with a varied batch of pop songs which are quite personal but never introspective or plodding.This is pure power pop at its very best.It combines influences like the Posies ,Big Star ,Cheap Trick,the Byrds and the Replacements.His voice has never sounded better.There are bucketfuls of harmonies on each and every song.We all know that Jon Auer is missing but you would not notice it because Ken is not afraid to multitrack his voice and I am so glad he did .
On a few songs his voice sounds amazing ('Reveal Love','Uniforms','Find Yourself Alone' are prime examples).
The songs themselves vary in tempo from the very quiet and poignant 'Fireflies' to songs like 'Find Yourself Alone' which is guitar-driven and utterly fantastic.'Uniforms' contains the strangest lyrics of the album but is absolutely brilliant musically.'Down Like Me' is jaw-dropping Gram Parsons country rock which is effortless and one of the many highlights of the album.'Lovers Hymn' could have been written by Curtis Mayfield and contains the best lyrics of the album.
Ken is such a wonderful artist because he always gives one hundred and ten percent on every thing that he does whether he is singing Daryl Mather's songs with Orange Humble Band,playing keyboard with R.E.M or performing as one half of the Posies.

I had high expectations of this solo release but I never thought that it would be THIS good.I mean I am a Posies fanatic but this has surpassed all of my expectations.It is a songwriting masterclass that has elevated Mr Stringfellow into the big league occupied by Messrs.McCartney and Finn.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars touched with beauty & grace..., December 20, 2002

By 

"eurotrashgirl" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Touched (Audio CD)

"At last I understand the consequences/Of my love" Ken Stringfellow sings on the opening track of Touched, his latest cd. And his fans can be grateful that the consequence of his love for music is an amazing album rarely paralleled in today's pop-trash- 'disposable' music world.

Touched is a consistent and wonderful album, ranging from deep sadness to elation, despair to hope, with each emotion bearing Stringfellow's trademark violin-strum of a voice. A fantastic work.

The second track, "This One's on You," an anthem to new love and infatuation, brings about a needed sunbreak from the depression-infused (complete with country-twang) song, "Down Like Me."

The album goes on to explore themes of the confining binds of religion (without getting too specific), to an exploration of finding love that one feels they have to hide, and how ridiculous this is("Uniforms").

"Reveal Love," a gorgeous, catchy song, with a great guitar riff, is one of the highlights of the album, a true pop gem.

"One Morning" is a Beatles-esque little tune with some very happy/fanciful guitar work (as well as a sunny and beautiful vocal harmony).

"Spanish Waltz" is an interesting little number with a unique melody, and Fireflies is a telling tale of some sort of smoky Rock'n'Roll myth.. the man, once a child on the beach and surrounded by beautiful fireflies, is now a man, searching for new forms of light and beauty. The only song without a traditional chorus, it stands on its own, with its haunting background organ sequence.

Lover's Hymn is a fabulous foray into an R&B-influenced world. With its enticing organs and fantastic concept, LH is a prayer of sorts, for love, for ecstasy... a lasting, inventive effort. As Ken strays from Posies territory, he is clearly finding his own brilliant way to go.

The album rounds out with the now-classic, "Here's to the Future," which first appeared on Ken's initial solo album, This Sounds Like Goodbye, in 1997.

Looking forward to Solo Record #3 from the aptly named Stringfellow, not to mention any new Posies efforts. Highly recommended.