New York Town

Israel Nash Gripka (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 17, 2009)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: CD Baby
• ASIN: B001VG2O10
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #263,123 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Son of a Preacher Man, May 26, 2010

By 

state - See all my reviews

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This review is from: New York Town (Audio CD)

I never thought I would be thanking a midwestern baptist minister for anything, but all praise goes to Mr. Gripka Senior for maintaining a good record collection. Young Israel grew up with both the fire and brimstone of the Old Testament as well as the Stones, the Beatles, the Velvet Underground, Neil Young, Bob Dylan and John Prine and it shows. Jimi Zhivago produces as well as supplying electric guitar, bass, organ/piano, percussion, vibraphone, keys and throws in some background vocals and handclaps while Blake Fleming provides drums. Mr. Gripka meanwhile plays a fine acoustic guitar and some tasty harp and his voice sounds like John Fogerty or Jakob Dylan.

The songs on NEW YORK TOWN are muscular, weighty and full of old time rock and roll swagger. "Pray for Rain" is the standout track on this collection (having been selected by Uncut Magazine as one of 16 songs in the spirit of the Rolling Stones' Exile On Mainstreet (1972)), though no doubt listeners will find alternate favourites amongst the other 11 over time since there are no duds anywhere on NEW YORK TOWN. The cover features Gripka looking downward holding his acoustic guitar with New York City behind him-- notably blocking out the location where the Twin Towers used to stand. Although from the midwest and a son of a preacher man Gripka writes convincingly about love and loss in the big city ("Bricks", "Confess" and "Concrete") as well as hope and dreams in the big city ("Let Me Down", "Beautiful").

An auspicious debut, one that presages great things. Recommended. 4**** stars.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Album, January 10, 2011

By 

Mike - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: New York Town (Audio CD)

Prior to purchasing this album, I had only heard one cut from the artist. Bought this more or less in the dark, and hoped I would like it. It is awesome, a really great find! Very good musicianship and song writing. From the mellow introspective songs, to the more upbeat (Pray For Rain, and Bricks) I love them all. Highly recommend this album, and I will be looking through Isreal's back catelogue and buying more!