Customer Reviews

Walking in the Shadow of the Big Man: Jamboree

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Previous reviews have focused on the poor mastering of this disc. Having never listened to this issue, I cannot comment.

However, as the singer, songwriter, and rhythm guitarist of Guadal, I can say that this was done without our knowledge, and I absolutely loathe the cheesey "cover art."

Having said that, it WAS the only way to find Jamboree on cd...

-Murray

If you are thinking of buying this CD because you believe it to be remastered then don't do it! While nowhere on the packaging does it claim to be remastered the sound is definitely a letdown. Especially, on "Jamboree", the sound is muddled and sounds like it came from a 10th-generation master tape. My clean vinyl record sounds a lot better than this CD. "Walking in the Shadow..." sounds a bit better than "Jamboree" but if that is the main reason you want this CD then try for Rhino's REMASTERED version of "Walking", because it sounds great. I am hoping that Rhino is considering remastering "Jamboree" because this version just plain stinks!

Why the dolts at Elektra never re-released the brilliant "Walking in the Shadow of the Big Man" is beyond me. "Jamboree" is icing on a delicious cake. Mr. Attaway and the boys were the most underrated of the Athens GA bands (shout out to my old friends at WUOG) to grace the airwaves in the early- to mid-80s. I for one am out of my mind with excitement to finally have this added to my collection, sitting right next to my "Cypress/Afoot" CD from Let's Active---another sorely missed and rarely discussed raw talent of the era.

Damn, you can only rate up to 5 stars? 'Cause this one should "GO TO 11"!!!! Now that I have 'Walking...' and 'Jamboree' I have them all on CD... including 'Live At Your Birthday Party'. 'Jamboree', 'Murmur' (R.E.M.) and 'Workbook' (Bob Mould) are my favorite "albums" of all time... and I have not heard 'Jamboree' in about 10 years, since my cassette got eaten by a mean-spirited player. If it is possible to wear the grooves off of a CD I will do it w/ this one! The lyrics, guitar work and production on both 'Walking..." and, especially, 'Jamboree' are, in a word, perfect.

I enjoy taking a chance on albums by artists I don't know much about or remember little of. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, but it's worth taking a chance. This album is an absolute Winner through and through. I saw this band back in 1988 at a ballroom in Milwaukee that hosted bands that were on the verge of making it, the semi-famous - you get the idea, but that was 18 years ago and after burning many brain cells in those days, I just have a vague recollection of what they were like. I just remembered that they were a great live band. I've always been a fan of Power-Pop, jangly, Rickenbacker-ish sounding bands, and these guys were, from what I can tell from this two-fer, masters at this craft. I can't stand REM and there are the obvious comparisons, but these guys had their own style, and if you are going take a chance on an album, this has got to be one of them. I bought it 3 weeks ago and it hasn't left my CD player since. REM should be opening for this band.

I have been waiting for the release of Jamboree on CD for many many years. I have all GD's music, and in my opinion Jamboree shows the band at their best lyrically and musically. Murray Attaway's lyrics are concise, slightly off-kilter (a good thing) and at times downright chilling ("Please Stop Me"). This group was years ahead of it's time and seeing this re-release immediately caught my eye. Now I can toss my record-to-cassette-to-CD recording and get the real thing. With groups such as Modest Mouse making hay with their quirky musical stylings it's a shame GD isn't around any more.

I'm sure I have plenty of discs in my collection that don't sound much better than this, but it's still a bit of a disappointment after all this time that "Jamboree" sounds average at best. Quite frankly, I'm not going to complain too loudly since I waited over 15 years to have "Jamboree" on CD. Getting both of these recordings on one disc is a very good deal, but I docked it a star for the sound and even a couple of obvious mistakes in the liner notes (Marietta is a suburb of Athens? Think I might move to Marietta then!).

When this twofer came out on CD I was about to run out and buy it and then noticed on the GD website that "Jamboree" would soon get the makeover treatment that "Walking... " got from Rhino. I'm tired of waiting for that to happen, so I purchased this pup even though I already owned the first pressing of "Walking...". "Jamboree" is THAT good of a recording that I really had to have it in my collection.

I have read many reviews of 'Jamboree' which are far too harsh. This album is one of the best alternative/college rock albums of the eighties despite a few production issues (hear how the guitar deafens you at the end of 'spirit train'). Songs like Michael Rockefeller, spirit train, dead eyes, pray for rain, fear of god capture a mystery and supernatural quality that few bands can achieve lyrically or musically. 'Big Man' is hit and miss with me- there are several throwaways; and it seems that the band had not quite hit its stride yet. However- Watusi Radio, Trail of Tears and a few others are worth a listen.

Why the "Big Man" CD was never reissued by the original label is beyond me. There were websites dedicated to people on the hunt for CD releases of the Big Man masterpiece. I have a badly deteriorated cassette of this recorded from some LP a long time ago. The double bonus of Big Man plus Jamboree is just too much sonic delight for one CD. This is perhaps the highest quality CD per byte I own and at a twofer price! If you like REM, you will love this band. From the bell-like ringing warm bouncy tube amp sound of their lead guitars (their guitars sound like the Byrds on occasion)to the clear and quite accomplished vocals to the solid song writing (not a throwaway in the bunch!)to the great drumming, this double CD is a joy to listen to. Both CD's have their own distinct style and you can definitely tell when Big Man ends and Jamboree begins. However, you will marvel at the style change but no let down in musical force and high quality, both of writing and the delivery thereof. A must! Take the chance, single CD price, double CD chance, double bonus, and permanent exponential delight. It doesn't get much better than that...

I am fortunate enough to have a CD of Walking in the Shadow, but not Jamboree. Friends don't understand why I still have casettes and when I explain that it is so I can listen to these albums, they inevitably respond "Who?"
When I tell them to think what REM could've been if they let themselves get liquored up before playing, I get their interest.
Please, please, please release them all!!!!