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Soft Commands
 
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Soft Commands

Ken Stringfellow
4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews) | More about this product
Price: $16.98 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
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Customers buy this album with Private Sides ~ Jon Auer

Soft Commands + Private Sides
Price For Both: $25.96

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  • This item: Soft Commands ~ Ken Stringfellow

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Product Details

  • Audio CD (July 13, 2004)
  • Original Release Date: July 13, 2004
  • Number of Discs: 1
  • Label: Yep Roc Records
  • ASIN: B0002DFY4C
  • In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
  • Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #169,568 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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1. You Drew
2. Any Love (Cassandra et Lune)
3. Known Diamond
4. When U Find Someone
5. Don't Die
6. Let Me Do
7. For Your Sake
8. Je Vous en Prie
9. You Become the Dawn
10. Dawn of the Dub of the Dawn
11. Cyclone Graves
12. Death of a City
13. Never My Love [*]
14. Down to the Wire [*]
15. New Test Leper [*]
16. Knocks Me off My Feet [*]

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Includes 2 tracks not on the USA version. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.
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Customer Reviews

8 Reviews
5 star:
 (4)
4 star:
 (2)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:
 (1)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.1 out of 5 stars (8 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars A surprising change of style!, August 12, 2004
By W. Rabeneck "billyrayhombre09" (Arkansas United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
At first, I was a little put off by this album because it is so different from his previous work. But since I have really enjoyed his work with the Posies, and his first two solo albums, I continued listening to "Soft Commands", and found that, though it's not an instantly compelling album, it gets better with repeated listens.

Possibly, the main flaw of the album is that, other than "Don't Die Young", most of the songs fall into the ballad category of songs. And though they are good songs, I found myself getting a little bored by the lack of extreme tempo changes. This album would have been easier to listen to, all the way through, in one setting, if there had been a couple more fast and mid-tempo songs thrown into the mix.

That said, around my seventh or eighth time listening to the album, I found that I like these songs a lot better if I listen to them two or three songs at a time, rather than trying to listen to the whole album straight through. Ken has really written some good, stately songs for this album. "Known Diamond" and "When U Find Someone" are particularly standouts.

"Known Diamond" might be Ken Stringfellow's best song to date. It is a very stately, soulful ballad. It really deserves to be a hit, and a 'standard' that other artists would cover in the future. I could really hear Elton John or Joe Cocker having success covering this song, even after making changes to make it fit their individual styles.

"When U Find Someone" reminds me of a Beach Boy's style ballad musically, while the story of the songs lyrics reminds me a little of Don Henley's "All She Wants To Do Is Dance" because the basic gist of the story is that "The country may be at war, but ain't it good to be in love with this girl?"

Overall, I find this to be a really nice album. As I said earlier, you might have to listen to it several times before it really starts coming together for you; and it listens better as individual songs than it does as an album that you can play straight through; but it really does have some good songs that you'll find creeping back into your mind later, when your not listening to the album.
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars now let's not be hasty, December 7, 2004
I notice a lot of complaints that this record is different from Ken's other work. I won't deny that's true - it is quite a departure - but I don't agree with those who have written it off based on that. Ken Stringfellow is my idol and although I was slightly put off by the absence of his usual guitar pop, a little attentiveness reveals the same personality in these songs that graces everything he's written. The magnificent melodies, vivid poetry, and overwhelming emotion are all there, though communicated differently. "When U Find Someone", "For Your Sake", "Cyclone Graves", and "Death of a City" all have a grand, anthemic quality that makes them instant classics, in my opinion. "Cyclone Graves" has incredible and inspiring lyrics, and is a favorable contender for my personal top five songs of all time. I also love the European-sounding ballad "Je Vous En Prie". About half the songs are less emotional than Ken's usual stuff, and don't excite quite the same love - but they have a great deal of personality and are loveable enough in their own way. I think if you like Ken Stringfellow for the quality of his songwriting, and prepare yourself going in for something different, there's no reason you wouldn't love Soft Commands.
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Together we can burn the world, August 8, 2004
By J. Davis (Shelton, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
OK, it's not the stunning power pop of the Posies, but fans of good songwriting can't go wrong with this one. Quieter, more piano, less guitar. But Ken's voice is stronger than ever here, and melodies and images from these songs will linger. The first tune to grab me was "When U Find Someone," sonically a perfect knockoff of Beach Boys harmonies, but dark, initially confusing lyrics about George W driving Saddam to lover's lane, to slip him a cruise missile I presume. The military-sexual metaphor would make Elvis Costello proud, not to mention the earnestly-delivered refrain, "together we can burn the world." "Any Love," "Known Diamond" and "Death of a City" are also standouts.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Softer Sounds, Perhaps - But No Less A Commanding Presence
The Posies are, without a doubt, one of the truly great American bands, but on this, his third album, Ken Stringfellow, very much a kindred spirit, moves into the rarified realm... Read more
Published on June 3, 2005 by James M. Cayon

3.0 out of 5 stars OK, but not great
This record really isn't as good as his "Touched" CD. But there are some songs worth listening to. I wanted to like it more than I did. The songs come off a LOT better live.
Published on August 23, 2004 by M. O'Grady

2.0 out of 5 stars 180 degree turn from earlier work
Strong caution to anyone buying this hoping to hear "more" of Ken Stringfellow. This is more accurately a reincarnated Stringfellow. Read more
Published on August 2, 2004 by MrSofty

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent and something different
This is a must have album that is different than his last great release touched! After the first listen I was skeptical because it is so different than touched, but after three... Read more
Published on July 24, 2004 by JPH

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing!
You just can't go wrong with ken stringfellow. He's amazing. Things here are very heavy on melody. I hear a definite influence from scott mccaughy (if you've never heard the... Read more
Published on July 14, 2004 by L. Leal

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Soft Commands opens new browser window is Ken Stringfellow's opens new browser window 2nd studio release. Browse Ken Stringfellow's Discography opens new browser window and watch Ken Stringfellow videos opens new browser window on SoundUnwound.

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