Search - Edie Brickell & New Bohemians :: Stranger Things (Dig)

A New Beginning

prisrob | New EnglandUSA | 08/04/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Brickell calls this album, (the combo's first studio release in 16 years) a "true beginning," the one effort in which she and her original band-mates perform together as a bonafide group, without the addition of session players or too much production sheen. It's as close to the combo's live sound as a studio recording can get. Opening with an addictive little fuzz-toned guitar riff from guitarist Kenny Withrow on the title track, Stranger Things establishes a loose, playful and confident tone. "



Edie Brickell & the New Bohemians broke up 16 years ago after a long tour and at a tine when they forced to fire a teammate- they never got over it. The next year Edie married Paul Simon. During that time they all went their separate ways but kept in touch. Last fall they got together when Edie found a great producer to help them put their sound back together. Edie says that her husband, Paul Simon, is a role model. "He does what he wants to do, he finds a way to get things done" says Edie. And that is what this group has done they have put themselves back together again.



The 13 songs on this CD are well written and sung. They have a sound of rhythm and blues at times and then light and airy. My favorite is "Buffalo Ghosts" and then the title song "Stranger Things". "Early Morning Breakup" has the wistful, longong tones of a romance that could halve been. Al in all, the 13 songs are strong and this group has found their rightful place again. Edie's voice is as strong as ever and at times you wonder if the group ever left. My best friend and I remember Edie Brickell and are glad she brought back her musical repertoire.



Edie Brickell & The New Bohemians remember them? They are a more mature group but their early years are found in the lyrics and tones of love and loss. Highly Recommended prisrob 8-4-06

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Philosophy is the talk on a cereal box.

Jason Stein | San Diego, CA United States | 09/02/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I see that after one month of release the new Edie Brickell & The New Bohemians cd hasn't garnered much attention. I'll bet most fans don't even realize it's out. It's been 16 years since the last Bohemians album, 1990's "Ghost Of A Dog". Since then, Brickell has released two solo albums, 1994's "Picture Perfect Morning" and 2003's "Volcano" with varying results, but almost always no publicity.



Why did Brickell feel the need to resurrect the New Bohemians moniker after two solo albums and 16 years time? We may never know. The question is whether this is a solo venture or a band venture, and, most importantly, is it good? The answer to the first question is yes, "Stranger Things" is definite a band effort, and this is refreshing. There are many aspects of "Stranger Things" that reminded me of the Bohemians salads days with "Shooting Rubberbands At The Stars" (1988). This is the most jamming I've heard from Brickell in years. This is great since her last two solo albums haven't really captured this live feeling. It does sound live, and underproduced for the most part, which is allows the music to sound as if it were made in your next door neighbor's garage.



So, is "Stranger Things" good? I liked it better than "Volcano" and "Ghost Of A Dog", but I don't know that it matches "Shooting Rubberbands At The Stars". There are several memorable tracks like the title track, "Oh My Soul", "Buffalo Ghost", "No Dinero", "Early Morning", "Mainline Cherry" and "Spanish Style Guitar". The rest of the tracks are decent. The album is a tad long at 56 minutes, but it is worth the price of admission, especially if you are like me, and like to listen to an album all the way through several times.



The only problem with Edie Brickell And The New Bohemians is trying to find a niche for them to fill these days. I don't think they're going to get much exposure with this music, though it would fit nicely on college radio (which is where the band began in the first place) and adult contemporary stations (but why do we have to have all these musical categories to box in and limit what we listen to?)



If you have always liked Brickell, then you will like "Stranger Things". I am curious to see what she will get up to next."

It's like this: Buy this CD and tell all your friends!

Lon Moore | Texas | 08/01/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"No, don't flip through the samples and make a snap decision based on fragments. Do it the old fashioned way... Just buy the CD! Now unwrap it and listen to it once, set it aside, then listen to it twice the next day and you'll be hooked!



However you get this CD into your collection, don't pass up this great little summer of '06 surprise from Edie and the boys from Booker T. Play it on your summer vacation. Play it on your way back to college. Play it on your back porch while you're sweltering in the record heat.



This CD is 100 percent real music from a genuine group who's been jamming together since they were teenagers. It drips with authenticity -- and it should -- because it's clear these talented musicians made this record solely because they want to make music.



Considering the musical ups and downs and sideways turns the members of this band have taken over the past 20 years, this CD comes across as the outward expression of a collective mellow epiphany, a six-way harmonic convergence (a full seven years before Earth is due to become the Galactic Seed, too!) Then again, it comes across even stronger as a bunch of musician friends -- exceptionally good musician friends -- who called each other up and said, "Hey, let's jam."



It's the original lineup -- free from the meddling hands of shortsighted record company pricks and impatient producers -- doing what they love to do in their own.. particular... idiom. Close your eyes and let the groove laid down by Brandon, Brad, and Bush on Mainline Cherry and others take you back to a breezy '80s summer night under the trees and stars behind Club Dada -- even if you'd never been there before.



As a bonus, they've added keyboardist Carter Albrecht, who's about to become a lot more well known than he already is around town. He channels the late great Billy Preston on 45 speed (that's a record player reference) as he barrels through Long Lost Friend, and adds rich, full-bodied flavor throughout.



I don't know how hard they plan to push this record into whatever the "music industry" has become. I gave up long ago trying to figure out what makes a hit record these days.



It seems more than one potential "hit" lurks within the bits of this CD. But if you just go ahead and buy this record you probably won't care any more than the band itself about hits and charts and all that crap. As long as you like the music, that's what they're after here. It works for me!



Check it out...

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