Russell Diederich | Littleton, CO United States | 09/05/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
""The Rainy Season" is Marc Cohn's sophomore effort, and you would never know it by listening to it. This album picks up where his self-titled album leaves off. Cohn's lyrics go together like puzzle pieces: perfectly. His music is full, but it still allows you to focus on his words. His songs are bluesy, and there is so much emotion in his voice. There is no disappointment here. The album opens with the catchy "Walk Through the World", like "Walking In Memphis" on the first album, and sets the tone for what's to come. The song is upbeat, driven by the notes of his piano, and the words just flow. The title track uses the same formula, a strong voice, great lyrics and well-placed notes. "From the Station" is a beautiful song about a woman's love and his own lost feelings. Most of his songs are high in emotion, like the poetic "She's Becoming Gold" and "Rest for the Weary". Cohn's music is very meaningful. He succeeds at being a musician, a songwriter and poet. The lyrics read well without the music, and doing so you can really see what Cohn is singing about. Some of the songs are actually quite heavy, none very light, but every one of them is a rare gem. Cohn has a great talent, and this album shouldn't be missed."
Outstanding music from a master!
The Campbells | CA United States | 01/08/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Marc Cohn's first album took my heart by storm, this one carried it away. Truly great lyrics and music. Soulful interpretations. The first and second album top my list of all time favorites, and have for the last 8-10 years. I never tire of listening to them. The first is highly romantic, like new love. In the second, there seems to be a tarnish to the romance and loss of love that is both painful and realistic. When taking both together, they depict paths love can take over time. You follow the journey from the starry eyed "Perfect World" and "True Companion" to the doubts in "Rainy Season" and estrangement in "Paper Walls". Or aging singleness in "She's Turning Gold." Or the caginess over getting involved again in "Angels at the Station." Or the complexities of parenthood in "Baby King."
Love it, first note to last."
Just beautiful...
roadtripper | Vancouver Canada | 12/10/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"After enjoying the hits "Silver Thunderbird", "Walking in Memphis", and "Ghost Train" off his eponymous first album, I knew I had to have his second effort. I was not disappointed."Walk Through the World" is the catchy, justifiable hit here, but my heart lies in this CD's finishing tracks. "She's Becoming Gold" is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard, about a young girl growing into a woman, "as she thinks about all of life's mystery, and how slowly the answers unfold". And "The Things We've Handed Down", Marc Cohn's excellent tribute to his then-as-yet-unborn child...well, it's really hard to suppress the odd tear...Excellent CD Marc!"
IT'S NOT THE ROAD THAT KILLS YOU
Michael Butts | Martinsburg, WV USA | 04/23/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Marc Cohn's brief shot at fame in the mid-nineties is evidenced in his second album, "The Rainy Season." An adept, poetic songwriter, Cohn delivers his eleven tunes with respect and sincerity, and touches on several of the themes songwriters have attacked over the years. My personal favorite is "Paper Walls." It's got a hypnotic, moody feel, and the musicianship is impeccable. Also liked the imagery in the hotel room; it's almost sinister. "It ain't the road that kills you, it's the paper walls..."
The rest of the album has some unique gems, including "The Things We Leave Behind" which is a beautiful poem to his yet unborn child, that makes you think about parenthood and even about how we feel about our youth and our parents. Haunting. "She's Turning to Gold" is also touching in its sorrowful tale of a woman who is growing "gold" without a true love.
I don't know what happened to Marc; we sure could use his elegant poetry in this day of irrepressibly boring music.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED."
BEST CD I OWN
The Campbells | 10/13/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This album got almost totally ignored only 2 years after Marc Cohn won the best new artist grammy. And that's sad, because the truth is, this album is 100 times better. He expands his range a bit on this album, throws in more acoustic guitar, a few bigger arrangements. The lyrics are also a lot more melancholy, a lot more real. There is some serious poetry in a few of these songs. Let me just say this: I'm an 18 year-old college student who's been listening to Marc for as long as i could and this is the best CD i own. And i'm not normally a real fan of singer-songwriters, if that tells you anything. People should stop swooning over "Walking in Memphis" and appreciate Marc for his entire body of work. "She's Becoming Gold," on this album, has got to be one of the best songs of all time. BUY THIS CD..."