Enjoyable, the best was yet to come
Robert Hammond | Oshkosh, WI | 06/05/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Ever since viewing Once, I've started a mission of really getting to know The Frames. So I started at the beginning with this album, spending a few extra dollars to buy the actual CD. Didn't really strike me as anything special the first time through, but after a few passes this CD aged well.
The lead track, Dancer, is a folk-rocker that is soaked in a huge wall of sound. Hansard's screaming vocals broaden this simple ballad and revs the listener up for a great CD.
`Tis a shame that the rest of the album is a bit scattered. Most of the remaining rockers follow the same formula, but fall short. The quiet songs are a highlight, especially "Telegraph Poles", which is the last slow dance before the fist-pumping folk songs that serve as a closer. Sorely, Glen Hansard needs his vocal space. The arrangements on this album are bit busy for the songs. Since breaking away from Island, The Frames have put out better music.
It's enjoyable, considering the rest of the Frames' discography is comparatively lo-fi. But there's a noticeable gap between here and Dance The Devil, and even more to Fitzcarraldo. Probably best to borrow and burn.
"
Wonderful Rock!!!
James Porter | 04/30/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is the first cd by the wonderful band called the Frames. The song are just awesome!!! However, this cd is out of print so gat your copy soon."
The Irish Pixies
James Porter | Houston, TX USA | 01/05/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The Frames today really don't sound like their debut. This album was produced by Gil Norton, who produced the Pixies, and there are some definite Pixie similarities here. Was Gil trying to make an Irish Pixies? Maybe. For me, it works. I like this album a lot. Glen Hansard is already an extremely emotive and charismatic vocalist, even if he does spend 60% of the album screaming (it is quite good screaming, I might add).
There are a couple of quieter songs... "Downhill from Here" is quite beautiful, and "The Waltz" is, in fact, a waltz, even if there is some screaming and some tricky vocal time signatures in it. "Telegraph Poles" has a cool bass groove easing it along its mellow way.
But mostly, you're going to be banging your head with this one."