|
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
Listen to Samples and Buy MP3s
Songs from this album are available to purchase as MP3s. Click on "Buy MP3" or
view the MP3 Album.
Special Offers and Product Promotions
- Get $1 in Amazon MP3 credit with qualifying purchase. Limited to one promotional credit per customer. Here's how (restrictions apply)
Frequently Bought Together
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Editorial Reviews
What's On in London, January 2004
"An astonishing evocation of the highs and lows life and loving bring . . . richly melodic, beautifully observed. . . Jaw-droppingly good."
Product Description
"Whoever It Was . . ." is award-winning Welsh singer-songwriter-humanitarian activist Martyn Joseph’s first US-released CD since Epic’s "Martyn Joseph" in 1995, and the 17th release of his 20-year career. Described by two of England’s most influential music magazines as "one of acoustic music’s most original voices" (Q Magazine) and as "an artist of enduring worth" (Mojo), Joseph left Sony/Epic after 5 highly produced Top 50 UK hits in the mid-’90s, but continued to record and release CDs steadily, eventually through his own British-based label, Pipe Records.
For his first full-length new studio CD in five years, following several EPs for international social justice causes, Martyn recognized that he’d "made a number of political points on various projects in the last few years, and this record just began to form in a more reflective way." So rather than dwell on the specific, his themes here are universal – love and its bittersweet realities, the need for personal activism and faith despite the limitations of human nature – and winningly conveyed by his strong, yearning vocals and intimate acoustic accompaniment. Each of the eleven songs was recorded live in the studio by Martyn on vocals and acoustic guitar, then a little coloration – keyboards, a second guitar, cello, harmonica, occasional backing vocals – was sparingly added. With nine original songs (four of them co-written by longtime Joseph collaborator Stewart Henderson, a Liverpudlian poet), there is a unity of voice, lyrical outlook, and instrumental approach that links! each track into an emotionally satisfying and thought-provoking whole.
For a glimpse of the political side of Martyn’s music, Appleseed has appended to this CD two tracks from one of his benefit EPs – "The Great American Novel," written in the ’70s by Larry Norman, angrily laments the death of the American Dream, and "The Good in Me is Dead" is a Joseph original from the standpoint of a young Kosovan refugee looking for his family at the country’s border.
Joseph, named "Male Solo Artist of the Year" in the 2004 Welsh Musical Awards, combines intelligence, passion and profundity in each of his songs, and his live performances (described by the Boston Globe as "a profound live experience") also display an extemporaneous, crowd-winning sense of humor.
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Whoever It Was...,
By "sally5294" (Berkeley, CA USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Whoever It Was that Brought Me Here Will Have to Take Me Home (Audio CD)
An incredible album by an artist who just keeps getting better and better...Not a wasted moment on this album. It's that compelling... Aside from the 2 bonus tracks at the end which aren't on the UK version, this is not as political as some of Martyn's albums. However, you can feel the emotion and energy behind every track. Martyn has a way of not only putting 1000% of himself behind every song, but he captures the gut reactions and feelings of his audience as well. This album is a must have for anyone who believes in music that reflects life, love, and politics...
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful Music,
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Whoever It Was that Brought Me Here Will Have to Take Me Home (Audio CD)
I recently attended a small concert of Martyn Joseph and really enjoyed his music. Found this CD and purchased it. Thought I might give it as a gift but really glad I didn't. All the songs are truthful and heartfelt. Great music and lyrics by an amazing songwriter and singer.
5.0 out of 5 stars
A signature recording !,
By
This review is from: Whoever It Was that Brought Me Here Will Have to Take Me Home (Audio CD)
Lots of outstanding artists make a range of music for us to listen to and enjoy ( or not ); but special notice must be taken when a gifted musician/artist records what is by any measure : a gem. No, beyond that, what Martyn has produced here is a signature piece. Like Chris Smither (among a select group) this is an album of intelligent writing both lyrically and musically. I dare you to listen & not think....then, to listen again, and again all the while humming along. This is just really good stuff...sorry it took me so long to stumble upon it.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
