Customer Reviews

the parlance of our time

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Enough of this Beck wannabe stuff that I've been hearing in a couple of reviews on this site, Elwood is for real. Surely Beck and Everlast, along with countless other hip hop, jazz, and techno artists influenced this album, but Elwood's sound is all his own. "Sundown" is a superb Gordon Lightfoot remake and a quintesential summer song for 2000. "Slow" is a catchy tune with some great mixing, and "Red Wagon" is a true gem, blending folk rock, jazz, and hip hop into a wonderful song. "Forty five" is another great song with some experimental instruments and a sublime groove. "Bush" is a fun song with the best beats on the album. The horns that accompany Elwood on "Red Wagon," "Picture of You," and "Peaches" are the best you'll find anywhere. "Dive" is nice slow groove with some piano mixed in with hip hop. "Love Hook" and "Stockboy" use some electronica mixing as well hip hop grooves. There are very few albums that are worth the 5 stars, but this is 1 of them. This album is a great CD to pop in the car, put the top down, and just groove endlessly for miles.

The debut album from Elwood, whose real name is apparently Prince Elwood Strickland III, is a fun and winning combination of studio tricks and charismatic songs. Although he may be compared sonically to Sugar Ray, Everlast, or Beck, Elwood carves out his own sound. Clearly more talented than the first two and not as concerned with being hep as Beck is, Elwood makes "Parlance" an album full of easy loping summertime grooves.

From the opening cut, a funky remake of Gordon Lightfoot's sort-of classic "Sundown" to the noisy clatter of "Stockboy," the last song on the disc and the edgiest selection here, Elwood covers a wide range of stylistic bases and does it all well. Check out the catchy chorus and horns on "Red Wagon," or the sophomoric, hilarious "Bush." There's something here for everyone, and it should be sold with a six of cold beer to make it perfect for summer.

Elwoood never got the recognition it should have. Even MTV2 only had one song in rotation. What a shame. The fact is, this album is smooth and catchy. It's laid back. I first heard of Elwood on what used to be the mp3.com website. I downloaded "Sundown", Little Red Wagon" and another song from their page. Then about 6 months later, I saw this CD in a record store and quickly snatched it up. That's the way mp3s and p2p are supposed to work. If it wasn't for their webpage, I would probably have never heard of Elwood in the first place, because it wasn't getting air play or video play in my neck of the woods. It's in my top 20 of all time.

I was impressed with over half of the songs the very first time hearing them, and the others grew on me very soon after. The remake of Sundown is the best by far, with 45 and Redwagon following. This CD is a must.

...When I say new style, I don't mean just one new style of sorts. Elwood releases a great debut CD, involving just about every musical style. The songs staple, "Sundown", is an excellent remake of Gordon Lightfoot's classic, and I am generally not a big fan of remakes, anyone think puff daddy? Not here. The rest of the CD is just as good, using styles such as Everlast, somewhat beck, even throwing some reggae sounds and a delighful suprprise near the end for a techno freak like myself, two tracks which have a drum and bass, jungle sound, bonus! Sure to please even the hip-hop hater and the techno hater alike. Anyone say suprise cd of the summer? Quite possible.

I first got into Elwood when a radio station in San Diego started to play "Sundown". I bought the ablum expecting it to be a one hit wonder. But then I could not stop listening to the record all the way through. Elwood has a very rich repertoire. He has many influences (and that should not be a negative) from Beck, the Eagles, and the Beatsie Boys. "Red Wagon" and "Bush" will make Elwood a very well known artist and then "45" will take him into the cover of Rolling Stone leagues. By the way there is this crazy, X rated animated video of "Bush" that is circulating on the net. It's hysterical and one not to be missed. MTV would never play it! I don't know how it ever got made but I would try to get it in case it disappears. Eminem & Kid Rock wish they could release a video this wild on the net.

I read a lot about how this sounds like Beck and Everlast, and I guess there's some truth in it in so far as it's hip-hop influenced. That's as far as it goes though. It's like comparing The Beatles to Pantera because they both play guitar music, and is inherently lazy and close minded.

For my money Elwood is far more melodic and therefor more commercial, and I guess this is why certain pretentious, hipster Beck fans find it so offensive. I'm no fan of the mainstream, but having just listened to the album again after a couple of years, and as the owner of the back catalogues of both Beck and Everlast, I'd say this beats both hands down.

Maybe it's not as artsy, and maybe Elwood's vocals aren't the best, but musically it's excellent. A real feel good record. Highly recommended.

Why oh why didn't he make another album?

I bought this CD on a whim after sampling a few tracks at a local music store. I was surprised to find that I liked every track on it. Many will buy this CD for "Sundown" but the stand out tracks for me are "Red Wagon" and "Dive". This is a groovy, jazzy, feel-good album that you'll find yourself listening to again and again. It also has hip-hop elements without the foul language, which is refreshing. Highly recommended!

I got this cd because I actually had been hearing an awful lot of elwood, and liking it. Sundown, Red Wagon, and Forty Five are probably the best songs on this cd... but I heard Bush a little while back, don't ask me how. Anyways, I'm thinking Elwood sounds a little more like Everlast then Beck, but not enough to say that Elwood is copying or remaking anything. Give them a break... I mean even if they are following up everlast or beck, who says they are not doing a better job?

Elwood is the best group to hit the scene in a long time. Elwood's southern influence combined with the NJ natives on the album prove to mix as well as beer and football. It's so refreshing to not have another boy band on the market. I highly reccomend this album to anyone, regardless of age or musical taste, it appeals to everyone across the board. Sundown is an awesome remake of a great classic and their original stuff is just that, original! Hats off to the boys of Elwood, i can't wait to hear them live!