Always Be

Jeffrey Gaines

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 22, 2001)
• Original Release Date: April 17, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Artemis Records
• ASIN: B00005AVRC
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #72,239 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  Music > Indie Music > Pop > Singer-Songwriters

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

With slightly hoarse, easy-over-the-vowels vocals resembling Elvis Costello's Almost Blue-period crooning, Jeffrey Gaines delivers declarative musings on love gone wrong. Clean sonic backgrounds stick with acoustic guitar and genteel percussion in the best adult-contemporary tradition, though occasionally overdriven amps ("Shake It Off") or a simple, creepy minor lick ("Fall You Fool") lend uncharacteristic color. Unfortunately, Costello covers that same ground with much more mesmerizing convolution; on Always Be, if a lyric line ends in "know," you can successfully leap to the conclusion that a "go" is coming up, and probably predict most of the words in between. Ewan MacColl's "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" and Peter Gabriel's "In Your Eyes" (enclosed twice), both boasting superior words, demonstrate the singer's earnest and warm, though not earth-shattering, melodic command. --Andrew Hamlin

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bought it for on reason, kept it for another, July 13, 2001

By	Amy E. Comer "aec20" (Baltimore, MD United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I'll have to admit that I purchased this CD exclusively for Mr. Gaines' rendition of Peter Gabriel's In Your Eyes. I heard the song on a road trip several weeks ago and couldn't get it out of my mind.

Surprise! The entire album is wonderful. Soulfull, emotion evoking, origional music (for the most part). I thought it was a terrific break from the pop and rock that seems to be sweeping today's culture. The music is beautiful, and will add another diverse piece to your collection.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I don't even own this cd...., January 19, 2003

By A Customer

First things first. I don't even own this cd. Second, I've seen JG 2x's and he is a fantastic artist and wonderful human being. He and I talked for some time after the show over a couple beers and I found him to be a very genuine, warm, caring and humurous individual. I have his debut cd which I consider a 5 Star recording and his 2nd release which I consider a 4 Star (Beatle - Esque) recording. The 2nd one definetly takes more time to grow on you, but is well worth the time. The 1st time I saw JG he opened for Melissa Etheridge, just him and his guitar. "Tremendous" would be a word I would use for this show back in '92. He finished his set w/ his cover of PG's "In Your Eyes." He certainly does the song more than justice. Here's my question for people that find it easier to see the negative in things than the beauty. Do you really think an industry icon like PG would allow JG to perform his song if he didn't "Understand" it? I think some of you need to direct your critical mindset toward yourself and your own life not some musician who's doing what so many of us only wish we could do. The second time I saw JG was in support of his second release in a Blues Bar. He had a full band with him this time around (Bass, drums, keys and guitar) and again he was fantastic. His ability to re-produce his original studio recordings is outstanding. All said & done, JG is a top notch musician and I look forward to buying this cd and his other 3 (including the one due for release on 2/11/03) and enjoying them as much as the other open minded listeners do.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jeffrey Vs. Elvis?, April 19, 2001

By A Customer

The Amazon reviewer must have listened to this album once and then judged it. Jeffrey isn't trying to be Elvis Costello at all, and in fact is a much more soulful, meaningful singer. On this album Jeffrey focuses on relationships and love, and does use some simplified lyrics. its perfect - a better, more refined version of Galore. His 2 versions (studio and live) of In Your Eyes blow away Peter Gabriels - and its the weakest song on the album. a must buy.