Customer Reviews

Why Store

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A great debut album for the Why Store to a national audience. Unfortunately, MCA wanted to the change the essence of the band and then abandoned one of the best bands of the '90's when they refused. High energy music unique in style borrowing from traditional rock and roll, the band's lead singer Chris Shaffer, who authored almost all of the band's music, has an incredible voice and is supported by Michael David Smith's mastery on lead guitar. The album contains most of the best performed by the band live (with the exception of "When You're High," which was re-released on the second MCA album, Two Beasts). Why Store albums have become collectors' items - get a copy while you still can, sit back and enjoy some of the best music ever printed onto a CD. If around the Midwest, can catch Chris Shaffer and his current band still performing some of the Why Store songs as well as his new music that he continues to create. Check it out on Chris Shaffer.com

The first of many big time deals. But the boys from Indiana will keep it home grown. If you like CCR and The southern rock sound you will love all the Why Store's CD'S

I have listened to these guys when I was in college at Ball State University. I think Chris Shaffer brings back the southern rock like the better days of rock. I was glad to see the Why Store reunion back in June 2002 at the Vogue in Indianapolis. This is a must buy CD. Take care!

I bought this CD on a whim five years ago and still listen to it regularly. I can't say that about many of the other CDs in my collection.

I saw The Why Store live in 1997, courtesy of KFOG, the best AOR FM station on the planet. I recently ran into the CD again, and am amazed at how completely fresh it still sounds. These guys could have been truly major. One thing that few have commented on is the deep spirituality in their music. It's not "Christian rock", nor are they pushing a particular agenda. But, especially on the tracks "Father", "Surround Me", "Lack of Water" and "Broken Glass", it's obvious that they are wrestling with the BIG questions (and wrestling with them in an interesting and poetic way)

Style-wise, they are unique, but if you imagine a blend of Roxy Music, CCR, The Goo-Goo Dolls, and the Kingston Trio you would be in the ballpark.

This has gone into my heavy rotation list, I commend it to you as a most excellent undiscovered gem.

ps... to the poster who talked about 27 tracks??? puhleeze! did he even look at the disc? There are 13 songs, and for whatever reason, 14 tracks of 5 sec silence. Those 13 real tracks, though, are worth every frakkin penny.

Do yourself a HUGE favor and grab this one.

The Why Store isn't really like any other band I listen to. At times, they rock hard. At others, they're playing a ballad or a bluesy number. But they clearly fall within that American tradition of great songwriters, as all the songs here are just nice to listen to. The melodies are interesting and not at all typical and the guitar playing is enjoyable, but the real strength of the band (and the album) is in Chris Shaffer's unique vocals. Deep and rich, with enough ability to do howling rock n' roll or thoughtful, acoustic folky numbers, his vocals are both interesting and yet seem friendly and familiar.

Album highlights include opening riff rocker "Broken Glass," the melodically intriguing "Surround Me," the medium tempo traditional rocker "So Sad to Leave It," the bluesy, guitar driven "Sunrise," and the vocal/piano focused "When I'm With You."

While this isn't their first album, it is their primary hint at real success, with a national single in "Lack of Water." Having grown up in Central Indiana, they got a lot of airplay on the Indy rock stations, and I've had the pleasure to see them live on multiple occasions.

Shame that they're no longer.

This record has their single "Lack of Water" on it. For some unknown reason, the CD has a bunch of blank tracks on it after the first 10 or so songs. The last track on the disk is "Lack of Water". The description by Amazon doesn't even include this song in the list of tracks, probably because of the weird gimmicky blank track thing, but rest assured that the last song is their big single.
The rest of the disk seems ok, but I bought it for the hit single. This was unavailable at iTunes the last time I looked, so I had to buy the entire CD. Not a bad price at a penny plus S&H.

Music on this CD has a stlye similar to 7 Mary 3 combined with Edwin McCain. Tracks 2 and 27 have to be the best on it. YOU NEED THIS CD IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT ALREADY!

While OK, this major label debut from the Why Store lacks the intensity of its first two CD's. Don't get me wrong, this is a good batch of music, but it just didn't suck me in like `Welcome to the Why Store' and `Inside the Why Store.' You be the judge!

This is the album that probably brought a lot of us to the band with "Lack of Water". Although it doesn't seem to have quite the carefree attitude of their earlier work its still a great album. It showcases the bands writing ability, many different kinds of songs. Each song is individual. The best are "Broken Glass", "Surround Me", "So Sad to Leave It", and, of course, "Lack of Water," one of the bands best songs to date. This album has absolutely no weaknesses.