Search - Jeffrey Gaines :: Always Be

Bought it for on reason, kept it for another

Amy E. Comer | Baltimore, MD United States | 07/13/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'll have to admit that I purchased this CD exclusively for Mr. Gaines' rendition of Peter Gabriel's In Your Eyes. I heard the song on a road trip several weeks ago and couldn't get it out of my mind.Surprise! The entire album is wonderful. Soulfull, emotion evoking, origional music (for the most part). I thought it was a terrific break from the pop and rock that seems to be sweeping today's culture. The music is beautiful, and will add another diverse piece to your collection."

A Song's Emotive Genius...Jeffrey Gaines will..."Always Be"

firstfooter | Belle Plaine, Iowa United States | 04/21/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Where do I start? First off, in all fairness, I wish Amazon's Andrew Hamlin would have done a bit more research and true listening before posting his editorial review. This review is, unfortunately, the first review that the searcher will see. I know that everyone is entitled to an opinion, but education commands that a review is more than just opinion...To even compare Jeffrey to Elvis Costello is...well...ignorant and downright bogus. I hear no parallel in vocal style between these two voices!!! Elvis is a nasal singer and, frankly, quite annoying after a few listens. Jeffrey sings with his heart, not through his nasal cavity. When I read this, I had to constrain myself from vomiting. Gaines is soooooo much more than Elvis will or could ever hope to be. Sure, Elvis Costello is more widely known than Jeffrey Gaines...but, Gaines is no sell out to a genre of music or to a money hungry corporate entity.One can only scratch their head when they go through the thinking and emotional journey that is Gaines' music, and come to the fact that he is not a household music figure worldwide?This is Jeffrey's most prolific and diverse work to date. I never thought he could top his self-titled effort. But, overall, this is a much more mature Jeffrey at play. His vocals are stronger than ever before. One listen to "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" will send you on an emotional rollercoaster. I've never experienced such a strong relationship with a song since Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven" - Gaines reaches to us, the listener. He has a subtle, yet powerful, way of singing and writing songs that we, ourselves, write in our hearts and minds...they're kindred!Jeffrey should reach a larger audience with this effort; God knows he more than deserves it. It was smart to include his remake of Gabriel's thought-provoking masterpiece, "In Your Eyes" - This is the first single, and should do well, indeed. However, I sincerely hope his PR folks will not stop here. I personally feel that the tune "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" is "THE" song that will place Jeffrey in the bright lights; if it's released as a single and promoted feverishly. This would be a perfect fit as a love song on a Soundtrack to a blockbuster movie. Just think of the possibilities...Musically, "Always Be" takes us back to Jeffrey's acoustic roots on his self-tltled disc; only he's surrounded by a much more gifted cast of musicians. The music here moves, and weaves nicely around Gaines' beautiful melodies and choruses. There's alot of nice little spicings that trigger an array of moods...Lyrically, it's a bit more simple than his first three efforts, but what's so wrong with that? The lyrics are still real and experience-driven - it's all here folks!Also, this effort seems to define itself as a "come full circle" presence. Gaines' first song on his first cd is the incomparable "Hero In Me" and now a beautiful acoustic version of this song seems to have found a place as the last tune on this cd....hmmmmm...I sure hope this isn't Jeffrey's way of saying this is my "Final Stand"...Almost to say that if there's no success, that it's time to call it quits, as far as the devouring music masses of popular music are concerned. I believe that know matter what, Jeffrey will always make music - For all of us that our his admirers and have been with him form his beginnings, and wondered... Let's get this guy his glory. I can only pray that Jeffrey will not be like so many other genius's...who aren't discovered until after their earthly death...Jeffrey Gaines deserves the "BEST" of everything. A better website, a better PR campaign, a more note-worthy record company, like Atlantic, who should have the decency and guts to get "real" music in the mainstream again. I'm so very tired of this teeny-bob schtick, violent rap, and what some call today's metal (which I call pure garbage). If you like to "feel" and "think" this music is for you. If you succomb to peer pressure and buy what everyone else is buying just because it's "cool" and "in"...than, guess what? - this music is for you too, because Gaines' music can alter your life - it's spiritual and moving. Please take the time to be moved and to come to know that there's a Hero in you..."

Jeffrey Vs. Elvis?

Amy E. Comer | 04/19/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Amazon reviewer must have listened to this album once and then judged it. Jeffrey isn't trying to be Elvis Costello at all, and in fact is a much more soulful, meaningful singer. On this album Jeffrey focuses on relationships and love, and does use some simplified lyrics. its perfect - a better, more refined version of Galore. His 2 versions (studio and live) of In Your Eyes blow away Peter Gabriels - and its the weakest song on the album. a must buy."