Stealth brilliance
Danny Lesh | Glendale, CA USA | 10/07/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I can't help compare the brilliance of this album to that of the less radio recognized albums the Femmes released in the 80's, particularly 3 and Blind Leading the Naked. On Hitting the Ground, just as in those, Gano has challenged boundaries of staunch rock n' roll fans with a solid exploration of rock n' rolls various formations, both musically and lyrically.On first listen, it strikes as generally good, with several songs -- Oh Wonder, Don't Pretend, and Darlin' Alison -- clearly taking a leading role on the album. On second listen, however, some of the more difficult-to-listen-tunes really came alive for me, especially Lou Reed's contribution in Cath 'Em in the Act, Frank Black's in Run, and, especially, Cynthia Gayneu in Merry Christmas Brother.Gano has completely erased any lingering doubts critics may have about his vast brilliance, his passion for music, and his reverence for songwriting as an art form. Having been a dedicated Femmes fan since I first heard "American Music" as a seventh grader, and having grown up consistently referring back to their various musical manifestations for inspiration, Hitting the Ground is, in all honesty, a wonderful gift to Femmes fans after the mediocre (by comparison) Freak Magnet."
Gano Has Good Taste
SkewedPerspective-dbrowell | VA United States | 02/24/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"In a surprising find that oddly presents all the flavors of casette tapes that once littered the floormats of many a girl friend's Toyota, Gordon Gano's solo songwriting effort is worth a listen... Gano has the good sense to let his songwriting shine in the throats of more accomplished, or at least a better assortment of, some incredibly talented folks. From PJ Harvey, Lou Reed, Frank Black, They Might Be Giants, John Cale and more, Gano proves that while his voice may be a neat trademark of the Femmes, his songwriting can equally shine in the hands of others. In a telling example of his forsight in letting others represent him, the album opens with PJ Harvey singing the title track and closes with Gano singing the same tune (accompanied by PJ's slovely good guitar solo) which while not bad, is a far more entertaining song in the hands of PJ Harvey.It's worth a grab for the Femmes fan for sure, but more importantly it's worth it for the far of one or more of the accompanying artists. Gano is the Starbuck's crowd's Mike Patton, so follow his screaming as far as his lyrics and check out this unusual solo effort."