On the Way Down From the Moon Palace [ORIGINAL RECORDING REISSUED]

Lisa Germano

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 19, 1999)
• Original Release Date: 1991
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued
• Label: Koch Records
• ASIN: B00000G4SB
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #213,131 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Although it hardly qualifies as juvenilia, this reissue of Lisa Germano's first album provides a nice snapshot of an artist's earliest stylistic impulses. Respected in the music business as a talented accompanist to John Mellencamp, among others, Germano is loved, however, for haunting solo albums that showcase her sensual voice, delicate songwriting, and uncanny musical aptitude. The songs on Moon Palace are mainly dark reflections on hard-luck love. Interspersed are gentle and melodious instrumentals that highlight her expert violin playing. "Riding My Bike" eerily chronicles a child's encounter with sinister danger. "Dig My Own Grave" is a rambling, electric blues number that is as lyrically self-effacing as it is rocking. "Bye Bye Little Doggie" contrasts the gentle brush of acoustic guitar with menacing mandolin and violin. Germano refers to herself in the credits as "the emotional wench"; judging by her lyrics, it's an accurate self-description. Her moodiness, however, resonates musically. --Lois Maffeo

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous moments, but only a hint of what would follow, September 27, 2001

By	Winthrop Harrison "winharrison" (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Lisa Germano is a truly creative artist for the '90s. This isn't the best CD to find that out, but it's an album Germano fans should check out. Lisa spent considerable time in the '80s as a session musician for touring musicians. But her debut, 'Moon Palace' has attitude. That courage & attitude carries the record. "Riding My Bike" is a nasty show of how roadside perverts leer, and how women rise above it. Many of the best tracks are instrumental, with violin and Eno-esque lofi controls. This is beautiful but uneven stuff - still required if you're a fan of Lisa Germano.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An artist just starting to blossom, July 6, 2000

By	Eric B. Joachim (Watervliet, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This is Lisa's first album, and as such it's not quite as polished as the others, so I don't listen to it quite as much as -Happiness-, -Geek the Girl- or -Excerpts From a Love Circus-, which are absolutely brilliant five star albums.

This album does have it's moments though. There are more than a few great songs here, my favorite ones being "Hanging With a Deadman", "Bye Bye Little Doggie", and "The Other One". Lisa Germano is an utterly intriguing, fascinating songwriter, who can express feelings of despair tainted with an undying hope in such a way that you just can't escape feeling...something, and it ends up being good.

Her music can only be listened to on an emotional level, although she and her musicians are perfectly competent. Hers is the kind of music you listen to alone, in a candle lit room, late at night. But the beauty of it all... oh, it is a thing to behold.

The most striking thing about this particular CD is that it it has a lot of her violin playing on it. She is as emotional a violinist as singer, and you can almost hear lyrics as she plays. The instrumental tracks (of which there are a handful) are far more than just interludes between songs. The first track, "On the Way Down From the Moon Palace", is an instrumental one as beautiful as any song on the album. I highly recommend this album, but don't forget to buy the other ones too!

5.0 out of 5 stars moon palace, May 24, 2002

By	sirgent "sirgent" (madison wi) - See all my reviews

this is as good as ANY other lisa germano disc
with seemingly more violin playing than other releases
and containing what may be lisas best song ever, The Other One
if you havent heard it, get it!