Customer Reviews

Tremolo

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

My discovery of Blue Rodeo is similar to the reviews you will read hear -- go to Canada, hear this great sound, and get hooked.

I was eating breakfast in a little cafe in Jasper National Park and I heard this interesting music on the sound system. Every song was intriguing. I asked the waitress, "What is that music playing?" She knew the answer immediately: "Blue Rodeo, the Tremolo album."

That night, after dinner in Jasper, I stopped in a record store. "Got anything by Blue Rodeo"? ... I didn't know I was mentioning the name of a Canadian icon band. "Sure" ...

I bought Tremolo and listened to it as my wife and I drove around Jasper on our day-hiking trips. This is fascinating music, and very difficult to define. Country? Yes, but not in the slick, USA sense. Intelligent? Definitely. Moving? Extremely.

Blue Rodeo has its own sound, its own style. Tremolo is definitely worth a listen.

While this album got a bit of a critical pounding when it came out, it has a lot of good songs on it. "Moon & Tree," the opening track, is one of my favourite songs, harking back to the summery feel of "Five Days" without being a retread of anything on that album. It's one of Greg Keelor's "living in the country" tunes and it sounds like one of his happier songs in a while. Keelor's work on this record ranges from that type to breakup rockers to meandering opuses like "Frogs' Lullaby" -- a strange piece that grows on you.

Jim Cuddy's material also includes several good tunes, notably the midtempo "Shed My Skin," the jazzy ballad "Falling Down Blue," and the poppy protest song, "It Could Happen To You." (This is no longer a band that feels they have to write political songs, but when the spirit moves them they still know how.)

Not a classic, perhaps, but at least eleven of the fourteen songs could be rated from good to excellent. That's not bad.

I was first introduced to Blue Rodeo after a friend of mine returned from a trip to Canada and let me hear this CD. I was an instant fan. It is rare that I hear a CD for the first time and like nearly every song. That was the case here. From Jim Cuddy's pleasant tones on "Fallen From Grace" to Greg Keelor's raspy verion of "Disappear" this album never fails to satisfy. I have since bought all of their other albums and they are equally as good. Can't wait until Jan 11, 2000 when their new album "The Days In Between" comes out.

I spend alot of time in Canada on the road listening to the car radio. The first time I heard this band it was the song "fallen from Grace". I was so blown away by the song I had to pull over to listen. I was an instant fan. The fact that this band doesn't get more air time in the US is still a mystery to me. This CD is a must for anyone who once listened to bands like Marshall Tucker or the Pure Prairie League. Do your self a favor and listen to this CD.

As with most of the other reviewers, I was cruising through B.C. one fall when I heard a song from "Casino" by Blue Rodeo. I vowed to remember their name until I got home and purchased this CD; I enjoy it each and every time I hear it. If you're someone whose office is at home (as mine is) this CD is easy to listen to and fills in the gaps nicely when you're not focusing on your work (which happens to me often - ha!)

Though not quite as great as "Five Days in July", this CD is not far behind. Try it, you won't regret the purchase.
Here in Santa Cruz, CA we pride ourselves in appreciation of Americana music, but I had never heard of Blue Rodeo until it was recommended to me on Amazon. I'll have to take it up with KPIG (webcasts on the internet for the Americana deprived).

This is a great album period. It has so much of what Blue Rodeo are about on this record. The gentle blues of "Falling Down Blue." The straight ahead folk of "I Could Never Be That Man," and "Fallen From Grace." The pure Rockers like "No Mircle, No Dazzle "Me and Baz," and "It Could Happen to You." The trippy yet lovely "Beautiful Blue." They even go back to their roots with belting out "Graveyard" a pure punk melody.

Tremolo, like Outskirts is another fine piece of musicianship from Blue Rodeo. Like their debut album, there are the songs that hit you in your first listening (Moon and Tree, Falling Down Blue and It Could Happen To You), and the other songs that are experiments in the psychadelic blues that you may not understand during the first spinning, but leave you breathless once you understand the album (Beautiful Blue, Brother Andre's Heart). It has a deep, soft sound that is perfect for any rainy day at the cottage or even day of sailing. The perfect soundtrack to any vacation.

Blue Rodeo, unarguably my favorite band, has released another gem! This time around, they've outdone themselves. "Falling Down Blue" and "Dragging On" are, quite possibly, the best ballads I've ever heard, the writing, as usual is superb, and there seems to be many a song you can't help but listen to over and over. GREAT CD.

Tremolo gets off to a fine start with Moon and Tree, but then -- while never less than very listenable -- it drags a bit for the next few cuts. Blame a mix of morose lyrics and slo-fi arrangements that wander on a couple minutes too long (both Blue cuts are the prime offenders). Then comes Fallen From Grace, a midtempo, loping tale of life losing its flavor, and just like that Blue Rodeo is at the top of its game. From there on, with the exception of the indulgent croaking instrumental called Frogs' Lullaby, the CD is pure gems, including the sad, slow Disappear ("you closed your eyes/you made a wish/you laughed and looked at me/and said what are you still doing here?"), the anti-urban renewal and maybe anti-U.S It Could Happen to You, and the mystical Brother Andre's Heart. Both Disappear and Brother Andre also offer memorable, yearning vocals. Yet nothing that has gone before even hints at the power of Graveyard, a stunning two minute and twenty second rock bash of loss and forced liberation ("so let's go kick over tombstones/in the graveyard of my heart").

Overall, this is one of a very good band's best works.