Customer Reviews

Walking on a Wire

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

wow! i haven't heard this album since 92! i had it on a tape which i've since lost and i didn't think these guys were still around. their harmonies are so great and their lyrics just make me wonder why there isn't more music like this on the radio.

I bought this when it first came out. I only heard one song in the record store (The Spell You're Under) and bought instantly. I've never done that with an album before. Every song on this album is excellent! Buy it!

You don't know what you're missing if you pass up the opportunity to listen to L&N. I have been a listener and fan since 1990, and L&N continue to get better with age. Nevermind that these guys have written blockbuster songs for artists such as Pat Benatar, or that one has a famous, hard rocking ex-Red Hot Chili Pepper/Jane's Addiction, guitarist, brother. L&N can live and celebrate their own laurels. They could take a lot of the younger artists of today to songwriting school. Lovely lyrics. Excellent music. Catchy harmonies and melodies. Songsmithing has never been done so well.

Songwriting duo Eric Lowen and Dan Navarro have probably annoyed some of their more illustrious peers with this album.

The pair, who wrote Pat Benatar's "We Belong" and the Bangles' "I'll Set You Free" among others, said enough is enough and released their own record.

Normally the names behind the hits, this duo have come out and proven to be somewhat of a surprise. Most of the tracks here were sought by other performers with the title track for example, requested to be used as an Eddie Money single.

It is easy to see some big names turning such tracks as "What I Make Myself Believe" and "Someone Like You" into hits but this pair has done just fine without their help.

They seem right at home fusing pop and folk with good, but not overdone, harmonies, refreshing acoustic guitars and even a cello.

These professional hit men have produced well-rounded songs with both instant appeal and lasting value. Why didn't they do it sooner?

This re-release of their first album is even better than theoriginal release.

I finally broke down and bought this CD from Amazon for the song " Walking On A Wire " ( track 2) but I was surprised when I discovered that there were more than a few gems on the rest of the CD. The songs: " Goldmine, Seven Bridges and The Spell You're Under " could have been hits if these guys took off. Why they did not become more mainstream stars is surprising. I guess they weren't shoved down our collective throats like Alanis Morrisette, Chris Rock and that ilk. Lowen and Navarro's harmonies and guitar work are ultimately pleasing and comparible to Simon and Garfunkel. They're songs give you a sense sadness and longing for a lost love and then redeem you with hope again. I would say the only potential clunker on the CD for me, is " Hammerhead Shark ". They tried too hard to be funky and rocked out on that one. However this CD is indeed a genuine keeper that is hard to put away in its case because you never get tired of listening to it. Which is rare because even our most favorite music collections get on our nerves sometimes. Even the Beatles! Blasphemy!!!! However, a great Elvis collection I got from Rhino two years ago is still in my car's CD player magazine.....

Add two more stars to my rating if you are A) a true blue Lowen & Navarro fan or B) longing for 41 minutes of non-stop good intentions.

I bought a used copy on a lark of Lowen & Navarro's 1993 album "Broken Moon" a while ago and was quite surprised at how much I liked it. Great guitars, pleasant vocals, neat & varied backing instruments, and intelligent lyrics abounded. Later, I found a copy of 1990's "Walking On A Wire" and figured I'd give it a try. The first song "Somewhere Far Away" sounded well enough. The third, "Oh Mary" began to put me to wondering as they sung about the joys of winning over a sylph named, amazingly enough, Mary. Girls who just finished watching "Titanic" for the 36th time would likely love this whereas I was wondering if an uxorious milksop may actually be what's in the making. The fifth song "Seven Bridges" is a nice enough song about a boy (really all of us collectively) venturing out into the world seeking the greener grass somewhere else only to eventually realize that "Happiness Is Lubbock Texas In My Rearview Mirror". Then tragedy struck at the eighth song. Pat Benatar has almost always irritated me. She is forever either whining, preening, or strutting about giving everyone good reason to loathe Long Island. Little did I know that Lowen & Navarro are the one's who originally wrote "We Belong" that good ol' Pat crooned (croned?) a few years ago. I hated that song, mostly because of Patricia's unctuous bathos. Now how can I be objective about the original version?! Well, if I have to, I will admit that I usually skip over it or simply avoid the terror of random chance on shuffle play. The French also tend to infuriate me so, the ninth song "C'Est La Vie" was at an unfair disadvantage initially. The first listen to "Walking On A Wire" was ironically nearly salvaged however, by the last track "Hammerhead Shark". This simple but amusing song seems to have almost been added in at the last minute when they realized the album would be below 40 minutes without it. Seems they may have been either a little "lubricated" when they recorded it or, drank way too much Kool-Aid.

You may be fairly inclined now (particularly if you like this album) to howl that that was only one listen! I must play it again to get more objectivity. You are correct, and I did. I found it does get better with a few listens but, my socks stayed firmly on my feet through all of those listens. The remaining songs are actually all very acceptable. The title cut and "She Said No" are rather good and have probably seen a good amount of airplay on certain radio stations.

The bottom line: Now that I've used some of my best 50 cent words seemingly ripping apart this album, what do you think I will recommend? You might be surprised. "Walking On A Wire" I believe best reflects the old gender divide of "Men are from Mars and women are from Venus". Most average guys are not going to dig this well done album; it's as simple as that. There are some exceptions, and I commend those exceptions but, you will not see a gold record from this album on Lowen & Navarro's company wall. Women will be much more sympathetic overall to this album. The previously mentioned "Broken Moon" album of 1993 I believe is a better album overall than "Walking On A Wire" showing to excellent effect how much L&N have improved in those three years. Definitely give both a good, long listen before you buy.

The superb duo made their public case for attention with this amazing first album. They are the logical extension of the creative and literate legacy that began with the Everly Brothers and emerged through Simon & Garfunkel. Immaculate harmonies, intricate but accessible melodies, intelligent heartfelt lyrics. Please note that this original release is the only way to get the complete song "We Belong to the Night" entirely in English. (The Mercury re-release has an interesting bilingual version which should have been an additional track and not a replcement for the original!)

I absolutely love this CD. Every song on it is a winner. I bought it used and it was in perfect condition. iTunes doesn't have this album or these tracks and it was cheaper to buy the physical disk and have it shipped than it would have been to buy an album on iTunes anyway. I love it!

This Cd is one that ends up on my playlist year after year. I got it 17 years ago and fell in love with it back then. My daughter was one year old at the time and today at 18 it is one of her favorite CD's as well.

It is one of those albums that has mostly great songs. Even the odd ball in the mix "Hammerhead Shark" has a place when your in the right mood.

I find the depth of meaning and emotion in each song draws me back over and over again. As time goes on I find different songs touch me as a I travel the adventure we call life. I bought the album knowing "Walking On A Wire", but was surprised at the depth of the entire album. I love "We Belong" with the addition of the Spanish lyrics. Many of the rest hit home in the daily trials of life whether it be "Seven Bridges" about going home or "Goldmine" that touches on the struggles of relationships.

Overall this is one of those sleeper albums that grows on you over time and grows with you as you go through life.

It is sad to know that Eric Lowen is fighting ALS and this duo will not be able to continue creating such wonderful music for many more years.