Boston's Gigolo Aunts have been around since 1989, and while their guitar-based pop is always efficient, they remain unable to come up with a big hit single. In spite of its generic tendencies, the band has created a parti... more »cularly coherent album that highlights the angelic voice of singer-guitarist Dave Gibbs. Enhanced by Mike Deeneen's sterling production and the rich vocal harmonies of guitarist Jon Skibic and bassist Steve Hurley, Gibbs's sweet falsetto is crystal clear and often enchanting. On "The Big Lie" the band receives vocal assistance from the Counting Crows' Adam Duritz and Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne. Balancing evocative ballads like "Everyone Can Fly" with rockers like "Super Ultra Wicked Mega Love," the Gigolo Aunts seem just one step away from mainstream success. --Mitch Myers« less
Boston's Gigolo Aunts have been around since 1989, and while their guitar-based pop is always efficient, they remain unable to come up with a big hit single. In spite of its generic tendencies, the band has created a particularly coherent album that highlights the angelic voice of singer-guitarist Dave Gibbs. Enhanced by Mike Deeneen's sterling production and the rich vocal harmonies of guitarist Jon Skibic and bassist Steve Hurley, Gibbs's sweet falsetto is crystal clear and often enchanting. On "The Big Lie" the band receives vocal assistance from the Counting Crows' Adam Duritz and Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne. Balancing evocative ballads like "Everyone Can Fly" with rockers like "Super Ultra Wicked Mega Love," the Gigolo Aunts seem just one step away from mainstream success. --Mitch Myers
An exceptionally mature recording in its musicality.
09/11/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The Gigolo Aunts have proven that they are most knowledgeable in their handling of sophisticated musical material. This is an album that can be appreciated by people who understand how music is put together.It is economical and mature. It does not waste a sound. It is pure artistry in its melodic, harmonic,timbral contrapuntal and textural content. The singing is suberb in its intonation and its expression of the serious lyrics. A true masterpiece of pop music not often heard today""
Amazing!
12/17/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Wow! Ever since I bought this CD, I can't get it out of my CD player. Highly melodic songs complimented with thoughtful lyrics. You can feel the emotion in songs like "Everything is Wrong" conveyed through Dave Gibbs' impressive vocals. I don't recall hearing a ballad as beautiful as "You'd Better Get Yourself Together Baby" in a long, long time. "The Big Lie" is a power rocker that screams #1 hit, that is, if commercial radio ever got a clue. Combine the beauty of these songs and the quality of the production and you have one damn fine record here."
Rare Gem in the Desert of Pop Artistry
M. Aves | Lake Worth, FL | 12/16/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you want a bottom line: I think this is the finest collection of mature, intelligent, Pop songcraft released in 20 years. Trouble is, in a world where N'Sync, Backstreet Boyz, and Brittney Spears sweep the Billboard Music Awards, this band will be quickly forgotten by a music industry that has moved on, and no longer supports singer/songwriter acts. And that's a shame.The music is accessible, fun, sensitive...and in the case of the melancholy, post-breakup meditation "For A Moment", hauntingly beautiful. As a musician, and songwriter myself, this album represents a collection of songs I only I wish I could write, and I am truly humbled by their brilliant simplicity. A must have collection for any student of pop songcraft."
Simply fantastic
M. Aves | 07/29/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I heard this band play live, opening up for the Counting Crows in Toledo. About 3 or 4 songs into their set, my wife and I decided that we had to have their CD. We were not disappointed! It is great. A week later, they played a small gig in Pittsburgh. We had to see them again. The intimate setting made it even better. They played with such emotion. We got to meet the band afterwards, and their personalities are every bit as great as their music. Every song on this CD is fantastic. Some of my favorites are, The Big Lie, Everyone Can Fly and Super Ultra Wicked Mega Love. They have a good range of types of songs. Some soft and mellow, others heavy and hard-hitting. Everyone great. Buy this CD, you'll love it!"
This needs radio exposure
J. Michael Abernathy | mobile, al. USA | 08/01/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Wow-what a great CD. I purchased this CD mainly because of the reviews I had read online. I was a little unsure because I have the CD of their's entitled "Flippin Out" and found it uneven. There are great songs i.e. "Where I Fund My Heaven" and there are the not so great. This CD is quite another story. Solid from top to bottom. Song like "Every Thing Is Wrong" and "The Big Lie" have hit written all over them. I just wish they could get some exposure on radio. I sure hope they come somewhere close so I can catch them live. In the mean time I'm going to push our local modern rock station and see if I can get some of this played."