Now This Guy's a Songwriter
01/07/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I caught a live performance in December, and bought Machias Morning after the concert. This guy can write a song! He is really very versitile, style-wise, with songs ranging from rock (Heaven-Bound Shuffle) to folk balads (Set Your Anchor) to country (Home in Your House). His back-up band was solid, especially Dale Ayotte on keyboards and backup vocals. It was a great concert, but the CD is even better.I only wish the words were printed on the insert. They're really great, but sometimes a little hard to understand. This is very much a Christian CD, but I think you'd enjoy it even if you aren't a Christian."
Machias Morning is a Rare Jewel
Laura Michaels | Arlington, Washington | 09/28/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I'd never heard of Ken Ainsworth before a friend gave me this CD at work. I love it! You can tell his words and music come straight from the heart, a gift from God. I cried twice when I listened to it. Now I want to hear him play live. Somebody please tell me where he's playing."
Ainsworth can still write a tune
Donald Albertine | Spokane, Wa USA | 09/28/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"First off, I don't normally listen to Christian music. It's not that I have anything against it, really, it's just that I prefer my music to have a little more grit to it. But this is good stuff. I bought this CD mainly out of curiosity, and I've been playing almost constantly for a month.I first ran into Ken Ainsworth when I was in College. He was playing in a two-bit dive in Moscow, Idaho - just himself and his guitar. I remember he did a lot of Gordon Lightfoot back then, but he also played several songs he wrote himself. I thought he was pretty good, and my date thought he was the second coming of the Beatles. But that was the seventies, and folk-type musicians were a dime a dozen. Twenty-five years later, I stumble upon his website. On impulse, I ordered Machias Morning. It is definately worth every dime I paid.The title cut was inspired by Ainsworth's home church, and demonstrates his ability as a wordsmith. I love the line "Though you are deficient, my grace is sufficient to cover a wretch like you." It's a great song that perfectly sets the theme of the entire CD.I also like "Living Water", "The Heaven-Bound Shuffle", "Set Your Anchor" and "The Thank You Song", which (if I didn't know better) sounds like it could have been written by a converted Jimmy Buffett.But my absolute favorite song is "Hard to be a Rich Man". It's a lively folk-rock piece about the futility of pursuing monitary wealth. I don't know why he doesn't try to sell this to a major publisher .... it has "crossover hit" written all over it.The rest of the cuts are also high quality, except for "Home in Your House". Ainsworth sounds like he's trying too hard to be "country", and the result is muddy and weak. I would have rated this CD 5 stars if it wasn't for this mistake.Machias Morning is a breath of fresh air. It's honest and sincere, and takes me back to a Saturday night in Idaho where I first saw this troubadour singing his heart out to a bunch of half-drunk college kids. It's good to know Ainsworth is still writing music. I'd highly recommend you check it out."
Track Listings (12) - Disc #1