Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
This is good, but he's better live......., July 3, 2002
I first saw Dan Bern play at a local coffee house and was blown away. Despite his slightly annoying Dylan-wannabe voice, his lyrics were witty, funny, and insightful. The live show seemed to be very spontaneous, very Springsteen-esque, with stories and all. After the show, I was so enthralled with him that I bought this album then and there. Unfortunatly I was slightly disappointed. There are some artists who simply cannot convey their talent on a studio album, they must be seen live. Dan Bern seems to be one of these artists. Even though they are not AS good, they are still some excellent songs on this album. "Wasteland" is a look at the crumbling world around this middle aged man. He observes his friends who have abandoned their dreams, and a society of people obsessed with being the "in-crowd" and losing their sense of individuality. A very interesting song. Other highlights include "Jerusalem," which many consider to be his finest work, and "Marilyn," a hilarious look at Marilyn Monroe's life if she had married Henry Miller. I would recommend this album to fans of folk-ish rock, but I would recommend to EVERYONE that you see him live! I promise you, he won't disappoint.
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
wow., June 27, 2001
He's funny, he's thoughtful, he's vibrant and pithy and... well, everything I could ever want out of an artist. When I heard the first minute of "Jerusalem," I knew I had to hear more. It was partially a gut reaction to the resonant chords he uses, I think, but then when I heard the words --- yeah. Wow. I love his colorful, expressive voice and ragged acoustic sound, which I think is particularly evident on the second track, "Go To Sleep," which I also love for its punchy rhythm and acute (but somehow amusing) commentary on our (over-)commercialized lives. "There's some tomatoes/ Chemically engineered/ They come out square/ To fit in boxes./ There's some people/ Chemically engineered/ They come out square/ To fit in boxes." Yeah - I think we all know a few "squares" in our lives...The next song, "Wasteland," mourns the loss of one of his relationships, but it also focuses on the loss of our idealistic dreams and the sacrifice of our soul to the gods of practicality and "real life." The Amazon "official" editorial review says that the album "drags" on this track, but I fervently disagree. Yes, it's a long song. But I feel like it's a necessary break between the frenetic pace of "Go To Sleep" and "Marilyn." Besides, it's not exactly a dirge. It hits a universal chord with lines like, "And I watched as the best of my generation/ Abandoned their dreams/ And settled for making a little money." Plus, it's still kinda makes you laugh, or smirk - "But she kept driving / 'Cause everyone else kept driving / And cause gridlock is evil / And not knowin' your way is evil." The rest of the CD is just as good - although I would say that the first half is more catchy than the last, but *all* of it is good. (And so are all of his other albums, if you're curious, although some might find that Ani DiFranco's production aesthetic on "Fifty Eggs" gets a little tiring after several listens. Personally, I think his other albums are more faithful to Dan's "sound" than "Fifty Eggs," and therefore, better, but I still got hooked on to Dan after hearing "Fifty Eggs," so that just tells you how much soul this guy has.) Dan Bern is amazing, and this, his first full-length album, reflects a good chunk of his ability.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Thought provoking, funny and worth listening to, November 17, 1998
This album is a wonderful mix of politics, humor, and philosophy that leaves you reeling. I Loved the dylan-esque style, and the ripping nature of the societal commentary. If you like acoustic punk, this is the way to go.
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