Posted by TheTechLounge - Recent Articles: Multimedia: Headphones
http://www.thetechlounge.com
| September 28, 2004 |
Posted by Amazon Customer Reviews
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/themoneysit08-20
Philip Turner reviewed:
Inner Worlds
| 3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:  A Selection For Solid McLaughlin Fans Only, September 25, 2004 |
| September 25, 2004 |
Posted by Amazon Customer Reviews
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/themoneysit08-20
Art reviewed:
Running Horse
| 27 of 37 people found the following review helpful:  A Disappointment, September 19, 2004 "Running Horse" opens with the MOR ballad, "One Tear At A Time." This is where I became immediately concerned. As much as I love Rusty Young and his phenomenal guitar-playing, I cringed at the breathy and, dare I say it (sorry, Rusty), wimpy vocal style he is prone to use when he sings ballads. The song itself is unremarkable, neither great nor terrible, but the vocal makes me want to skip to the next track. That next track, Paul Cotton's "Every Time I Hear That Train," is a highly listenable mid-tempo rocker; the kind at which Cotton excels. Now that he is pushing 60, Cotton's voice has mellowed like a fine wine and is as expressive as ever. A terrific track! Next is "If Your Heart Needs A Hand." More "breathy" Rusty, but delivered in a slightly more palatable manner thanks to more backup vocals from the band. The song is somewhat better than the opening track, with an interesting beat and is pleasant listening. "Never Loved... Never Hurt Like This" is the Poco debut of "new" band member Jack Sundrud, who has toured with the group for some time. Well, Paul & Rusty, the next time the tour bus stops at the side of the road so Jack can relieve himself, do yourselves and all of your fans a favor and pull away quickly and leave him behind! 'Never Choked... Never Gagged Like This' might be a better title for this song. This unremarkable, pedestrian ballad is better placed on a Tim McGraw album, or the record of some similar, purile Nashville hack that churns out sound-alike song after sound-alike song. If Sundrud is to remain part of the band, better he stand in the background, play his bass, and keep his mouth shut except to provide backup vocals. Ugh! Paul Cotton's praise of Sundrud's songwriting ability in the liner notes of "Running Horse" leaves this reviewer absolutely agog. "Forever" has a beat that hints slightly at 1989's "Call It Love," from the original Poco lineup reunion album, "Legacy." "Forever" is, unfortunately, not up to that song's standard, and is at best a fair-to middling ballad, where we once again hear a breathy Rusty Young churn out another "getting VERY OLD" vocal performance. I often wonder whatever happened to Young's grittier vocal stylings from a song like 1980's "Made Of Stone" from the album "Under The Gun." He has a great voice, at least when he decides to get down and gritty. That "softer side" is much more palatable when taken in small doses. Unfortunately, on "Running Horse," we get far too large a dose. "Never Get Enough" is more Sundrud-penned, Nashville drek. Enough said. Where's the remote so I can skip to the next track? At this point, the listener suddenly realizes that Paul Cotton has not been heard from since the second track. However, this is understandable, as Cotton spent the majority of his recent songwriting output on 2000's terrific solo work, "Firebird." The listener hopes he is next after what has been heard to this point. Unfortunately, the next song is yet ANOTHER ballad, "If You Can't Stand To Lose," featuring Rusty Young on vocals. Ugh! Though the breathy delivery is somewhat muted on this song, it is so sickly sweet that, after having choked down so many ballads already on this album, the listener yearns for something to sink his teeth into. Fortunately, Paul Cotton delivers that 'something'. He is heard from at long last, with "I Can Only Imagine." This mid-tempo rocker has more meat on it than al of the non-Cotton songs on this record up to this point. Smokey vocals and tasty guitar licks in Cotton's inimitable style make this song worth repeated listening. Next up is "Shake It," a song who's title promises the up-tempo country rocker the listener is, by now, almost begging for. At first it seems to deliver with a nice up-tempo beat, that is until Jack Sundrud opens his mouth. Ugh! Mail this one to Toby Keith for his next album. This sounds like every other piece of crappy, modern Nashville-formula garbage. An absolute nightmare for a Poco fan, who is most likely to be someone who finds 21st Century "Country" music radio to be something that makes them want to drop in a 1969-1982 era Poco CD for some REAL Country Rock. With lyrics like "She's gonna dance, dance, dance/Like a Sufi in a trance," the sooner this song is over, the better! I mean, is he kidding? Additionally, the incredibly obscure reference to Sufi Islam is so phenomenally out of place on a Poco record, one wonders what anyone involved with the recording of this song was thinking. Just awful! Please get Sundrud OUT OF HERE! Please, please please! Not ANOTHER ballad! NOOOOOOO! However, that's what Rusty Young gives us with "That's What Love Is All About." By now, The listener wonders whatever happened to more listenable Young ballads like "Here Comes That Girl, Again" (from 1981's Blue & Gray) or the king of all Young ballads, 1979's "Crazy Love." "That's What Love Is All About," is a nondescript ballad, replete with Young's breathy vocals that by now are making me want to gag on the sap that is flowing ever so freely on this record. Whither the Rusty Young of old? The album ends on a moderately upbeat note with the title track, "Running Horse." It is an autobiographical Paul Cotton song about how, no matter the time that has gone by since his last appearance on a Poco record (1984's "Inamorata"), the band continues to be a part of his life. It is a positive ending to an overall disappointing effort. Paul Cotton and Rusty Young both need to take a hard look at the next Poco project and get the band back on track. I believe they could release 3-4 or more musically satisfying albums if they took a look back at what Poco was about and try to recapture some of that feeling; a feeling that is sorely lacking on this long-overdue effort. Jack Sundrud needs to be told his songs are no longer welcome. They are not suited to Poco's style and are not even any good. What about the possibility of a guest shot from Tim Schmit, or even Richie Furay, as I understand happened at a DVD taping in Nashville this summer for an upcoming concert video if there are not enough songs to fill out a record? THAT would be amazing! C'mon, guys, we know you've still got it in there, somewhere, so let's hear it! Another reviewer said it well. You have become followers instaed of leaders. This is just not a good Poco record. |
| September 19, 2004 |
Posted by Amazon Customer Reviews
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/themoneysit08-20
Philip Turner reviewed:
Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 5
| 4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:  Best of The Symphony #5 Releases & Lark Ascending, September 18, 2004 |
| September 18, 2004 |
Posted by TheTechLounge - Recent Articles: Networking: Wireless
http://www.thetechlounge.com
| September 17, 2004 |
Posted by Amazon Customer Reviews
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/themoneysit08-20
Erin Loughran reviewed:
Tru Calling - The Complete First Season
| 5 of 6 people found the following review helpful: Eliza is Amazing!, September 9, 2004 |
| September 9, 2004 |
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