It's more than y'alternative, it's damn good
just another singer-songwtiter | Seattle, WA United States | 04/09/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"let's get this straight, i've been writing and performing songs long enough to become the bitter and cynical bastard that i am. my rule of thumb for other bands is "First of all they[stink], and secondly i've never heard them", it seems to work for me. so i'm as shocked as anyone when i come across a record (debut at that) that i REALLY LIKE. the first thing i listen for from a record is a good song and this damn thing is chock-full. the main songwriter, Chris Cline, has the insightfulness and turn of phrase that Paul Westerberg has at his best. the band has the strength of good musicians that know that the most important thing is to play for the song. the songs are presented by both Cline and Jennifer Potter (who gets inside of Cline's songs and sings them as if she has lived them). hers is a pretty voice, along the lines of Rosanne Cash's, while his has the ragged appeal of a Jeff Tweedy. it's more than y'alternative, it's damn good."
Every song is a gem!
just another singer-songwtiter | 11/10/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I simply cannot get tired of listening to this album. My wife and I have turned on many of our friends to this cd (most of whom don't even like country music!). I was not surprised to read that they are one of Seattle's most popular up-and-coming bands...
The songs are beautifully written - they strike you with simple expressions of heart-felt emotions. Their first song, Island, begins "She was born on an island - she hates the water". Jennifer Potter has a beautiful clear and uplifting voice which blends seamlessly with the honkytonk guitar and slide guitar of Chris Cline and Kevin Suggs. The melodies are straight forward and simple - the kind that you find yourself humming hours after you listened to the cd - but, as many times as I have listened to this cd, they continue to grow on me. There is something very special here. The sound is open and uncluttered, but with the intelligent lyrics, beautiful singing and plenty of foot-stomping rhythms, this music has real "bottom" to it. If you ever get a chance to see this band live, do so at all costs - they are a wonderful live band!"
The Real Thing
scrodcracker | Portland, OR | 04/24/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"What happens to the midwestern, rust-belt losers from the Replacements' songs when they grow-up? Well, some of them manage to escape their factory town and form country bands. Thank God for Gram Parsons and Uncle Tupelo, and screw Nashville. Real country is white soul music, and Evangeline is proof of that.
Check it out."
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1