Rock and think
Jack | NYC | 03/11/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"There are bands who rock. There are bands who make you think. Blue Sandcastle is one of the few who does both. The thoughtful lyrics are presented in the form of classic Metal meets REM. AC/DC meets XTC. And even though I mentioned bands from the 80's, this band is relevant today. I recommend you go see them at one of their New York gigs (or wherever else you get the chance). I bought their CD at a show. Lucky you... you're on Amazon. But just because you can order the CD online doesn't mean you shouldn't go to the show. There's nothing like seeing a good band play live."
James McMurtry Meets Bob Mould
Jack | 01/24/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is an extraordinary cd. Lyrically compelling -- humane personal testimony without the turgid self-obsession that marks so much singer-songwriter material -- the images from these songs remind me of James McMurtry's best work; wry, plain-spoken observations of the quiet terrors of normal life. All of that alone would make this a worthwhile collection, but it is the sonic quality of this cd that makes it so arresting. It rocks!!!
Much of it has a frenzied, throbbing, train-wreck sound that brings to mind Bob Mould. Like Mould's best stuff, the hammering of the music never gets in the way of the hook. I can't get these songs out of my head, and I can't (don't want to) get this cd out of my player."
Awesome guitar, great songs
Jack | 01/06/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
""I'm close enough to the truth to know I'm nowhere near it," sings frontboy Jean-Paul Vest. You'll find yourself quoting him often if you play this CD a couple of times. Even if Blue Sandcastle's original songs were weak -- and they certainly are not -- this CD would be worth owning for the incredible cover of George Harrison's "Art of Dying" and the absolutely demented take on Willie Nelson's classic "Crazy." But this band's original material can stand up to the challenge. "I'm Sorry Now," "Closing Time at the Fair" and "Guardrail" are among the best songs recorded by anybody lately. And "This Here Changes Everything" rocks like hell."
Track Listings (14) - Disc #1