Customer Reviews

York Blvd

5 star:		(5)
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2 star:		(1)
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Are you enthralled by the Velvet Underground? Do the sonic explorations of Pink Floyd make you shiver? Does Spiritualized melt your heart and lift your soul? Then my friend, do yourself a huge favour and purchase "York Blvd.," Acetone's latest and easily one of the best releases of 2001.

Fans since the days of "Cindy" understand the beauty, power, and dynamics that help to define Acetone's music. Dreamy, almost too-laid back vocals, wistful lyrical images, and perhaps the greatest guitar work you've heard are all found on "York Blvd." Mark Lightcap has somehow raised his game to unprecedented levels. He gives you something new & different in every tune. Just take a listen to the solo in "Things Are Gonna Be Alright." That unbelievable tone! And if both "One Drop" and "Vaccination" don't take you on personal musical journeys, you're simply not alive. His solo on the latter is fuzztone/wah-wah HEAVEN. Mark is one of today's great unheralded guitarists. Discover him for yourself here on "York Blvd."

Steve Hadley's drumming has an almost jazz-like feel--he often comes in just after the beat. He's so smooth and without worry, as if the drum sticks are an extension of his arms and, more importantly, his soul. He's not playing the drums as much as they're playing themselves. Complete confidence. Richie Lee's bass playing and vocals are of equal importance. The music on "York Blvd." is so cascadingly gorgeous that you may look past the lyrics--don't. Personal introspection, lost love, heartache--lyrical themes that you and I can relate to are all over this album. And Richie delivers these stories with a yearning and sensitivity that not only propels the songs, but leads you to believe that he's still in love with the woman who's wronged him ["It's A Lie"]. Devastating.

I can go on and on about the joy I get from Acetone's unbelievable "York Blvd." But judge for yourself. Take a chance on a band you may have never heard before. Your ears, heart, and soul will thank your the rest of your life. I promise.

The latest album from Acetone rocks more than the self titled cd. York Blvd. is more along the lines of Cindy but more refined. The quiet moments are still here like on 19 and ONE DROP, BONDS but ITS A LIE, LIKE I TOLD YOU, and the opening track are great grooving rock that you can feel deep in your soul. Richie Lee's lyrics are perfect. they can be taken literally or in most cases seem to be impressionistic potraits of episodes in life.

Buy this album, put the headphones on, relax and feel the the warm music of Acetone, dont worry Things are gonna be alright.

York Blvd is the first acetone album i ever heard, and I was immediately hooked by it. I was astounded at how great, simply awesome, this music was, and here I had never even heard of them. Read Chris Baptiste's review. I wholeheartedly agree. This is easily one of the best cd's I have ever heard.

Acetone has a type of music that is far too rare. Everything fits, the lyrics draw you in, the bass is perfect. Actually, this can't be put into words. You have to hear this cd.

Acetone. Man, I love this band. What words should I use to describe them? Chilled. Relaxed. So cool. Alas, that's not even the beginning. I'm not just talking this album- their entire catalog is absolutely breathtaking. Just breath deep and put on your bass rich headphones- these guys will put you into a trance. I swear, forget those medications and habits that get you ready to drift in your mind. These guys are the best medication for relaxation. And man, do I love them. The songwriting is top notch on this, in my opinion, groundbreaking album. It's the definition of cool. Richie Lee really knew how to put just the right words down, and I'm not just saying that. Read some of their lyrics and hear the way they incorporate them. It's perfection. The bass is rich and spiraling. The guitars sway throughout with a chilled psychedelic touch. You'll feel cooler by merely listening to the 30 second samples. Slide on some shades and put the needle on the record- you'll be swept away at the swirling essence that'll overwhelm you. This is the kind of album I've always dreamed of, with something special on it. Something authentic and unique. Something like all those cool cloudy days and gently breezy nights that make me feel alright. I so desperately wish Richie Lee didn't commit suicide. Since this album ended up being as matured and masterful as it is, imagine what they could have continued to do. I love his guts. I really do. Do yourself a favor and get more than just this gorgeous record. Get "Cindy" to see where they brilliantly started, and how amazing it was back then. Then get "If You Only Knew" for the maximum chill out factor. Their self titled is where I started, so check out that to thoroughly get more addicted. As a final note, I listened to this album in it's entirety with things in my mind and tension in my body early one morning. I may have zoned out just a bit, and felt something close to nirvana upon waking from my trance to find that I was in perhaps the most comfortable position ever in my bed, not wanting to move. This album will change you, and maybe your views on the world a bit. But there's only so much to write in a review. Look, you've earned it. Get an entrancing, complete album with not one bit of filler on it. Take the chill pill and feel the vibe only this band can construe.

Even though I bought this album after Richie (Acetone's singer/bassist) died, I still believe I would think this is the best Acetone album ever! They really hit their peak with this one! Liquid smooth vocals over bluesy trippy guitar and bass lines have always been the Acetone formula, but on this CD they've PERFECTED it! Mark is one of the most underrated guitarists out there now and Steve's drumming always hits the mark perfectly! Stray is definitely my favorite track on this CD! It's really a shame we'll never get to see what else they had up their sleeve! I really hope Steve and Mark continue to jam and put out some new music, because talent like this should not go unused! So do yourself a favor and pick up this CD ASAP! R.I.P. Richie!!! Long live Acetone!!!

As poorly qualified as I am to fight for our freedom of speech, I hope you will bear with me while I begin this sincere and earnest attempt. And please don't get mad with me if, in doing so, I must fight the warped, distorted, misshapen, unwholesome monstrosity that Acetone's remarks have become. But first, let me pose you a question: Is Acetone actually concerned about any of us, or does it just want to create a global workers plantation overseen by transnational corporations who have no more concern for the human rights of those who produce their products or services than "York Blvd." has for its confreres? After reading this review, you'll indubitably find it's the latter.

I, hardheaded cynic that I am, feel that "York Blvd." wants its cowardice and irresponsibility to be regarded as prudence. My views, of course, are not the issue here. The issue is that it wants us to believe that we can solve all of our problems by giving it lots of money. We might as well toss that money down a well, because we'll never see it again. What we will see, however, is that Acetone doesn't care one whit about how others might feel. End of story. Actually, I should add that nothing would make it happier than to see me lose all self-control. I always catch hell whenever I say something like that, so let me assure you that it maintains that some people deserve to feel safe while others do not. This is hardly the case. Rather, there is growing evidence that says, to the contrary, that the gloss that its secret police put on its magic-bullet explanations unfortunately does little to bear witness to the plain, unvarnished truth. "York Blvd." may have the right to undermine the intellectual purpose of higher education. It may have the right to put a foul, semi-intelligible spin on important issues. But "York Blvd." crosses the line when it uses its bully pulpit to dispense outright misinformation and flashlight-under-the-chin ghost stories. The "facts" "York Blvd." has often stated contain some serious distortions. Some are blatant; others are subtle. One of the most nugatory is "York Blvd."'s discussion of nit-picky card sharks. Acetone should take a step back and look at everything from a different perspective. And that's the honest truth.