Customer Reviews

Travel on Rider

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

 

 

Something compelled me to acquire a taste for this band. Their sound never grabbed me when I would hear them occasionally on local radio. I saw the lead singer, Marcy Mays, one day at a Wendy's drive thru and she seemed the epitome of not phony and definitely living in the real world. I figured she had something to say as a singer-songwriter and I was right. I played this album more than any other in late '96 and '97. Their earlier albums-- Plus, Also, Too; He's Drunk; Smallmouth; Bloodsucker; and Velvet Hammer all contain excellent songs with a consistent, distinctive viewpoint/philosophy and sound.

This CD ranks in my top 20 of all time rock records. Scrawl is one of the original postpunk indie bands that has remained true to its origins without becoming repetitive or wussy.

Travel on Rider is the epitome and summation of why Scrawl is a great band. "Hey, you got raw power in my vocal harmonies." "Hey, you got vocal harmonies in my raw power." Why can't more people meld these two great tastes? (OK, there was X, but who else?)

I have heard Sleater-Kinney, and can't understand why they're popular and Scrawl is not. S-K is Scrawl-lite. No offense to S-K, but they're to Scrawl like REM is to the Velvet Underground.

By this one. And see them live.

I was hooked on this album for ages. Marcy Mays has a great, distinctive voice and style and the original songs are truly original and catchy. It's easy for me to identify with the downbeat emotions and subjects addressed in the lyrics. It's too bad more people haven't heard of this band

I was an early fan of Scrawl so I'm not going to apologize to anyone for saying this CD is bad. There's one good song: the "at the piano" version of Story Musgrave. He Cleaned Up is OK. The remainder meanders around, at best it's not memorable but sadly most tunes rate a rapid fast-forward.
Good buys = Plus, Also, Too; He's Drunk; Smallmouth. Not this.

After a couple of the songs, the power that is contained within the album has already been unleashed in its entirity... It was since track 1 and youve been so into the music you didnt even notice. After listening to the whole album a couple of times, its easy to see who where the predecesors of great bands like Sleater-Kinney, or rocking out long before PJ Harvey came along.
This record is sheer energy...
The only downfall is its obscure mood which barely leaves the atmosphere...
This album is less refined than "Nature Film," but is certainly a couple of steps beyond it.I recommend it to any Indie, Alt, or classic Grunge fan who doesnt mind a less than great voice that still manages to rock you off your feet.

Just a killer CD. Anthems for a life lived in a furnished room. Hard-driving extra-bouncy sounds that stay crunchy in milk and make Alex Chilton's ears turn red. Music for the day it was pouring and the bus never showed up and you forgot to call, you idiot.