A U.S. release (finally!) for Falkner's album and it makes m
Wayne Klein | My Little Blue Window, USA | 04/01/2010
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Power popster Jason Falkner's 2007 release is more than O.K.--it's a strong album full of melodic, crunchy guitar power pop. As with all of his albums Falkner wears his influences on his sleeve(so-to-speak)including Badfinger, The Beatles, 80's new wave and even a bit of...The Cars on one keyboard driven track. As with his previous albums Jason plays all the instruments here (except for one track)and does so exceptionally well. The former member of The Three O'Clock, Jellyfish and The Grays checks in with some of his best constructed songs creating a memorable follow up to his first two solo albums (I'm not counting his "Bedtime with The Beatles" albums because they are covers albums and TV Eyes his album with former Jellyfish member Roger Manning).
From the riff driven opening track "This Time" (which also shows up as a bonus track on his latest album last year's "All Quiet on the Noise Floor")to the final track "This Life of Mine" all the songs feature the often bittersweet and witty lyrics one has come to except from Falkner. "I'm OK...You're OK" may SEEM effortless but these songs recorded between 2001 and 2007 are so detailed, brilliantly arranged and bursting with some many clever ideas that enhance each song that it's clear WHY Falkner took so long to release this follow up album to "Can You Still Feel?". The highlight for me is "Stephanie Tell Me" which features enough melodic invention for THREE songs wrapping its intelligent lyrics.
We get a booklet with all the lyrics (as usual)and the mastering sounds quite good for a contemporary release. Highly recommended."
Much Better Than OK...
armenianthunder | los angeles | 03/14/2010
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The fact that a full two years passed before an American record label saw fit to re-issue this 2007 album (which arrived nearly a decade after his last proper solo record (1999's Can You Still Feel?), and a full four years after the brilliant Bliss Descending EP) is a crime against taste and justice.
The lyrics reveal a maturing, introspective edge: "This Time" kicks things off with a steady simmering bed of guitar drone, and reflects on being "ignored by this industry," but promising to "let go of that energy" (the alternate version included here is vastly different and just as good). The bouncy "NYC" reflects on time spent adventuring in the Big Apple in younger days, while "Anondah" and "This Life of Mine" are excellent downtempo tunes. "Stephanie Tells Me" and "Komplicated Man" are classic JF tunes, with instantly hummable choruses and crafty guitar hooks, and hold up favorably alongside his best work. However, this is not simply just more of the same power pop gold; "Hurricane" is a relatively downbeat keyboard-and-synth workout that's more Kid A than Todd Rundgren, and "Say It's True"'s minimal organ accompaniment is as effective as the wall-of-new-wave sound of the other tunes. Overall, while it may not top his earlier records, it's an inspired and welcome return that picks up where his other excellent work left off."
Track Listings (11) - Disc #1