Customer Reviews

Wishing Like a Mountain & Thinking Like the Sea

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Whenever I'm in the mood for something fun and upbeat, this is the CD I pop in. The rhythms are catchy and the lyrics range from silly ("the days of wine and roses and the rubbing of noses") to philosophical ("Would our paths cross if the pain it had cost us was paid in vain"). This CD never fails to make me smile.

This eclectic, happy, utterly original collection literally saved my life in the early nineties. Seldom does one come across a CD that is completely unique, completely honest, completely creative. Even the CD insert is a work of art with original sketches and heartfelt thanks to practically everyone who ever brushed up against them. Second (and equal) only to their first untitled release, "Wishing Like a Mountain and Thinking Like the Sea" combines traditional instruments like the guitar, violin, mandolin, trumpet, xylophone and snare drum with the whimsical sounds of bells, woodblocks, frying pans, cow bells, tap dancing, and (my personal favorite) a bicycle with playing cards. The happy, layered, rich sounds created by these instruments are accentuated with uplifting, philosophical, carry-around-with-you-all-day phrases like "let me be the yeast inside your bread; let be the new thought inside your head," "You should wear with pride the scars on your skin; they're a map of the adventures and the places you've been," "I know you're bitter, but why? Don't you know that two wrongs don't make a right," "You get to know things better when they go by slow," and "I owe my soul to each fork in the road, each misleading sign..." The idea and lyrics of "Spending the day in the shirt you wore" inspired me as an undergraduate to create a series of oil paintings that illustrated their lyrics... all fingerpainted in the wee hours of the night while I danced barefoot in the huge, empty art studio at the University of Arizona... this music is that inspiring. I defy anyone to listen to this brilliant collection and not walk away a little taller, a little lighter, a little more hopeful. No matter what tragedy befalls me, what trials life sends my way, I always know that I can play a little Poi Dog and recapture my own joy. BUY THIS CD!

Living on a military base in the Aleutian Islands of AK at the end of the 80's and trying to decide what to do with my life after graduation, somehow this platter came along to save my life (and sanity). It was a mesh of ideas twixt average rock n' roll riffs, lush orchestration, americana, world beat and just about everything else. Personal faves are "Watermelon song" "Fruitless" and the unbridled whimsy of "Spending the day in the shirt you wore". Although I rarely skip through any of the tunes. It's a great album and a personal soundtrack to some of the best times and friends in my life. I can always sit back listen, and at the end of "Everybody's trying" (which they performed on Letterman), hear my friend Aliesha say, "I like the Pondering one, Dave" like Paul Schaeffer. What can I say? It's like a basket of strawberries on a warm morning in May. Succulent and beatific.

I had the tape in highschool. At one point I loaned it to a friend and after listening to it she contemplated telling me she had lost it so she wouldn't have to give it back. Eventually (after I got it back from her) I loaned it to a guy and broke up with him a few days later. He never gave me the tape back. I guess that's justice in a cruel world. I'm so glad to have it again!

wow! so glad to see others digging this band, too *grin* i'm used to always being the one to introduce this music so i thought i'd go ahead & throw my two cents in. i realized an old true love wasn't so true when he didn't understand the beauty of "sugarbush cushman" (#13) ~ i plan on having that song played at my wedding one day! the affirmation of "thanksgiving" (#8) really did help me to see the scars on my skin as a map of the places i've been. it seemed as if someone had peeked into my own shoebox with the lyrics of "big beautiful spoon" (#5) & not only do they sing an ode to the joys of "spending the day in the shirt that you wore" (#7) but they infuse it with the sound of a playing card tickling the spokes of a bicycle wheel! poi dog's style seemed to change over the course of time, but this album & their original release are two must-haves for anyone interested in feeding love to their heart!

Simply put, this is one of my all-time favorites. The irony is that for such a happy-sounding cd, so many of the songs are about death! Poi Dog Pondering, in their earlier days at least, featured a wonderfully earthy style that fused together all kinds of roots music. The lyrics were wonderfully crafted - "If I should die in a car wreck, may I have Van Morrison on my tape deck!" Their concerts were downright festive, with happy fans packed-in chest-to-chest, dancing the night away. You owe it to yourself to add this cd to your collection.

They do not agree with my ideology, but it takes all kinds and I say live and let live. Who knows maybe there is a special place in the afterlife for those who do not tolerate anothers ideology...Then again is it loving to totally close off an artistic expression and nullify all of its value simply because you disagree with the theology of the artist?



Peace

AjP

This is a good CD. It's good because it's not the simplistic melodramatic pop music that's overplayed on the radio. I think it's appeal is the use of so many different intruments. It's got a Dave Matthews feel to it, yet the two groups are completely opposite in many respects. I would say that this music is something to be experienced, rather than just listened to, because it's more of a musical portrayal of life, rather than just music and words.

I had been given a tape of the first two Poi Dog albums while in college. The tape had long since been lost, and I decided to replace it by purchasing CD's. I debated about buying both of the first two CD's, but I'm glad I didn't. My fond memories of this music were squashed when I listened closely to the lyrics. This CD is full of hate and I see that others who have reviewed this CD have come to the same conclusion. I wish I'd never given my money to this band, but at least I didn't buy the first CD, too.
The CD is musically interesting, but the lyrics are dreadful. The overall message is that if you aren't an atheist, left-wing, socialist, extreme environmentalist, you don't rate. In the Ancient Egyptians, the singer won't ride a car for anything, but in the very next song, he sings the praises of an "aimless drive behind a motor wheel". I'm sorry, Poi Dog, but I have my own brain -- I don't need your new thoughts corrupting my head.

I have some quibbles with this album. Some of the songs have very blasphemous lyrics. Some of the songs have a "you should be an atheist, don't become religious" message. So be aware. The song 'Praise the Lord' is particularly evil. There are some positive messages in songs like 'The big walk' but there are blasphemous songs in there as well.

This album is very interesting. It is folksy music that has the nature of early-90's alternative rock. It has quite an eclectic mix of styles that come together, though the overall sound would be country/folk. Many instruments are used, which makes it really interesting. There is some Mariarchi songs. The overall effect is quite pleasant, as the music is really soft and easy listening. The lead vocalist has a folk singers voice and a woman often doubles up, adding some nice bakcing vocals.

Overall, it's about 3 1/2. I would have liked a bit more diversity of the tempo but the music is actually quite pleasant, interesting (definitely) and entertaining at times.