Customer Reviews

On the Way Down From the Moon Palace

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

 

 

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!

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.

Some moments of sheer brilliance in Lisa's repertoire. Emotive violin as usual and this is music for the head rather than the feet. Brilliant. Thanks Lisa.

If I like a particular recording artist, I am always pleasently surprised by their first works or auditions. The slick production studio is generally not there, and you get a true listen to the unmassaged talent and skill of the artist. This album is no exception. Fidelity is great, don't misunderstand me. in fact i think it is better than highly "produced" records. Hearing the strings ache, bend, creek, and sing is all part of the genius of the music. Nowhere is this more true than with the violin and mandolin musings of this immensly talented and original artist. WOW.

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!