Customer Reviews

Uncivilized Love

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

 

 

I don't understand how another amazon reviewer found this album boring. One listen to "Never Before Our Time" should persuade you to turn the volume up to ten.

Let's put it this way: if you don't like Grant Lee Phillips' ever evolving folk-rock music, then you probably won't like Gus Black's album. (Gus Black's "When you go" is most reminiscent of Grant Lee's best songs.) However, if you adore textured, acoustic-guitar driven melodies, American-heartland songwriting, achingly tender singing, then you might (you just might) learn to love this album.

While there are many outstanding songs on this album, I suggest you listen to the entire album while driving at dawn or dusk toward a new destination.

Gus' first album, "Gus," was an inventive mix of driving beats, emotional lyrics, and oddball sounds thrown in at precisely the right moment. It was unpredictable and interesting.

"Word Of Mouth Parade" was mellower, more accoustic, more subtle. The tunes tended toward pop without going over the edge into silliness.

"Gus" is by far one of my top-ten albums of all time. "WoMP" is decent, but not quite great.

"Uncivilized Love" follows the downward trend. For me, the sound lacks the vibrant inventiveness of his first album, or the candy-like pop quality of his second. There are some jewels, to be sure; "Cadillac Tears" is worth the price of the album just by itself. The inventiveness isn't sustained, though, as demonstrated by "12345," which borrows Muddy Waters' lyrics, "Got my mojo workin', but it just don't work on you."

Overall, the album seems rather... boring. Although the sounds are pleasant, and I enjoy listening, there's nothing engaging, nothing to involve me as a listener.

But, of course, your milage may vary. There will be a lot of people who find this is his best album, while his first is too noisy and his second too adolescent.

Gus Black could have named his recent release for Immergent records A Breath of Fresh Air for in todays folkmetal rockabillyartnoise world,that's what "Uncivilized Love" is. But, that would be too cliche and cliche is not what Gus Black is about.Black's poignant lyrics and perfect mix of effects, electronica, and acoustics sing to the slightly cynical soul. Those who haven't lost all hope, but often find themselves alone at a table for two questioning the answers over a cold beer..."There's a better life in between who we are and who we seem," (When You Go). "We can't change what was never before our time," (Never Before Our time).Yet, there's a copious dose of the positive, "Faith when the world decays", from my personal favorite (Violent Rain), the realistic look at a relationship (Over A Great Wall), and the light hearted tribute to his son in (Debut). Gus Black is a man that can't help but remain true to himself commiting several first major release "no no's" and coming out on top. One, a cover song of Black Sabbath's Paranoid no less, and an excellent job he does. Two, including both the acoustic and mixed versions of the same song. Giving them two different names (I love that), Black nails both on the head. "Uncivilized Love", a work of art set to music.

Gus Black is back! He did two records as Gus (just plain Gus), which are well worth seeking out. He did an incredible acoustic version of "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" by Blue Oyster Cult on the soundtrack to the first Scream film. And now Uncivilized Love, which is a perfect album in nearly every way. I'm not a fan of people putting their kids on their albums in any way, so let me get that out of the way and say "shame on you, Gus" for that little Casio interlude with the baby crying, even though it only lasts a minute or so. Otherwise, this album is full of Gus Black and his plaintive, often haunting, voice. Unlike some of his previous work, Uncivilized Love is not purely acoustic. There are acoustic moments, but Gus also plays electric guitar, bass, piano, mellotron, keyboards, and harmonica--and there is a full band complimenting him throughout. Some of these songs rock and swing like nobody's business, and all except for the above-mentioned interlude are great. This would be worth the price of admission just to hear Gus and his acoustic guitar on an unexpected cover of "Paranoid" by Black Sabbath. He somehow manages to be completely true to the original while reimagining the song as a slow, breathy love ballad. Gorgeous and chilling! I recently caught Gus live in Reno with the always amazing CHRIS WHITLEY and another great band, JOHNNY SOCIETY from New York. If you are a fan of Chris Whitley, Ryan Adams, or Jets To Brazil, you will not be disappointed in Uncivilized Love. And it wouldn't hurt you to pick up Whitley's newest, Hotel Vast Horizon, which compliments this album perfectly.

One of Gus's best albums, the 1st 4 songs are some of the best Gus has done,and the acoustic version of the title track at the end is haunting. This is also the album with Paranoid cover. AS a bonus there is an awesome DVD that comes with this CD that has a majority of the songs on the CD being performed. Def a must have CD.

I actually picked up the DTS version because I'm totally a surround freak at the moment & it's cheap. This is a surprisingly good CD. About as good as anything I've picked up in a long time. Very consistent, great singer/songwriter who I hope we hear a lot more from in the future. IF you don't hate Dual Discs then I would definitely go for that to have both the stereo & surround mix with one buy, especially if you have or plan on having 5.1 capability in the future. Definitively recommended while it's cheap.

I picked up the DVD-A version of this. The songs are wonderful; lots of strong pop hooks and nicely textured arrangements. The 5.1 mix is really nice and the bonus videos are a treat. These include some live in the studio performances of songs from the previous two albums.