Customer Reviews

Wishpool

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Lyrically deeper and more musically complex than their first two albums, Brother Cane shows their talent on this record. I admit, I don't care for this album as much as the first two. It's great, but a bit too much of a departure from their earlier work. Stand-out tracks are "I Lie in the Bed I Make", "Wishpool", and "I Look for Something More". While good, their are a few songs that just seem to rub me the wrong way, "The Crow Flies" and especially "Come Alive Again". They redeem themselves with the last four cuts on the album, however, perhaps the four most well-crafted songs they ever wrote. This is still one of the best rock albums around, but it just doesn't hit you with the same power the their first two records.

Damon Johnson is an excellent singer and his band mates are just as good. Wishpool is an obvious showcase of their talent. I did not feel that this CD was as strong of a release as Seeds. There isn't a track that stands out like "And Fools Shine On" or "Got No Shame" from their debut release. That doesn't make this a bad CD though. The music is above and beyond most of those Rock CD's that you hear these days. My personal favorite is "I Lie in the Bed I make", but there isn't a bad cut on the whole CD. For Brother Cane fans, this is a must own. For all others...you owe it to yourself to check this CD out.

The best rock I've heard in years! After listening repeatedly to this CD, I quickly got hold of "Seeds" and their debut. All 3 are great. But let's get back to Wishpool. The CD opens with the title track, a grab-you-by-the-throat rocker, and ends with "Human After All" , a killer rock ballad. The CD is filled with great songs. Machete, The Crow Flies, and Come Alive Again show Brother Cane's power. The best song, for me, is "I Surrender", great vocals, great guitar work. You may hear some influence: Aerosmith comes to mind on occasion, which is actually quite fitting, since this album "Rocks". I owe a debt of gratitiude to a friend who answered my "who's Brother Cane" remark by lending me "Wishpool". I heard the band may be on some sort of hiatus. As rock and rock fans, let's hope not. Great CD !

Damon Johnson & crew: more talent in one note than any lame alternative band. It's a shame the record label didn't promote this band and its potential. This album is where music should be going. Too bad kids today don't have a skilled musician like Bro. Cane's Johnson for inspiration. Guess there was no "gimmick", just good music. For those of you with a true taste for rock and roll, pick this (or any B. Cane) album up and call Virgin records and tell them how you feel!

Damon Johnson where have you gone? If only more people were asking this question then maybe Bro' Cane, as they are known by their fans, wouldn't have faded away so easily. It's shame they did because this album rocks in a timeless sort of way that would sound fresh in any era, regarless of what's popular at the moment. Johnson and producer Kelly Gray polish up 12 arena rock gems that run the gamut; from recollections of hard times, "I Lie In The Bed I Make," to the bluesy intro of "Where Was I To Know." Even the most commercial song on here, an almost Aerosmith-like ballad "The Truth" refuses to sound as hokey or forced as that band's latter work. This revealing honesty is partly becuase of Johnson's deep vocals and is also due to the fact he underwent a divorce during the making the record. On the album's closer "Human After All," when he sings "blue sky ends...rain it clouds my life again," it's not a cliche. He feels it and beleives every word - and so will you.

Well, if you had any doubts about Damon Johnson's songwriting abilities before hearing this CD, I'm sure they've been dispelled afterwards. Brother Cane smokes on this CD! I heard "I Lie In The Bed I Make" on the radio and I picked up the CD immediately. There are so many strong songs on here, that I was unsure why they picked the songs they did to be singles (other than "I Lie In The Bed I Make"). I really enjoyed "I Surrender", "Lead My Follow" and a song that just about didn't make the final cut for Wishpool, "Human After All". I'm really glad they included it though. Some very powerful music in the last 3 songs of this disc.

In my opinion, they picked some of the weakest songs on the CD (as weak as they possibly could be) for radio play. This says a lot about the jugheads that run the record companies and radio stations, but that is a rant in itself.

"Where Was I To Know", "Machete" and "Mirrorball" are more of my favorites. Some kick ass rock and roll being served up.

All in all, buy this CD. And see Brother Cane live. You won't regret either choice.

brother cane rocks....i saw them and candlebox in wilmington DE at the big kahuna...brother cane blew candlebox away....that's alot to say for someone whose favorite band is candlebox...i've never see someone both sing lead and play lead guitar at the same time like this guy does...he is unbelievable...please come back to wilmington again....

This is the best stuff i've heard in a while. I have been into Brothercane for some time now but Wishpool has really brought them to a new level. I'm not kidding when I say I've been listening to Wishpool for 4 months now, I mean that's all i've been listening to is wishpool. I've also been so into Brothercane I've been getting back into the older stuff too. This record is a little alternative,a little rock, but most importantly It's all mood and attitude. To me it really hits the spot. Incredible record Brothercane, you ROCK.

one of those albums thats grows on you , great for the car.
quality rock music.

I think the biggest problem for Brother Cane was the fact that they were always submerged in a radio friendly alternapop culture. During the early to late nineties when then they were around and still making music, you would have been hard pressed to find a better band. Stylistically they had a sound all their own, yet despite this, they had a familiar sound which reminded you of many great bands that preceded them. I think that perhaps one of the biggest influence on their sound would have to be Soundgarden. Damon Johnson, the vocalist at times sounds reminicent of Chris Cornell, but lacks all the annoying 'nasally/scratchy throat sound' qualities of the latter and ends up being truly memorable and enjoyable. He's just a great singer, backed up by a very talented, tight band. It's a shame that they were never marketed to their full potential. If Wishpool had been released today, it might have had a greater chance of finding it's own niche. It's a great album that misses the mark, which is to say, that it never becomes the "alternative" alternative to Alternative. It's just a ballsy, gutsy, rocking out adventure and sometimes even poignant album that finds a way to speak directly to your soul, with such songs as as The Truth, and Human After All. I highly recommend it - if you find it in a bargain bin somewhere - as with any of their albums, snatch it up - it's a gem you won't soon get sick of showing off to your friends.