Search - Michael Penn :: March

Maybe we should call it "March-for-All..."

zephyrzero | Tyler, TX USA | 11/20/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Cramming his first two albums into a single-disc set hardly does a service to Michael Penn or his fans, but the superb quality of Penn's songwriting and rich, distinctive voice more than make up for the less-than-ideal circumstances."No Myth" (otherwise known as the "Romeo in black jeans" song) is still a brilliant tune, but "March" is filled with a number of other gems; "Brave New World," "This & That" and "Big House" are a few standouts. The remastering gives the songs a warmer texture and brings out some of the nuances that make Penn's live performances so great.On this reissue, RCA takes the title "Free-for-All" literally, pillaging almost all of Penn's even better second album for "bonus tracks." (That the main track omitted from this collection was the last one on the album suggests that the folks putting this together didn't even bother to give the thing a listen.) It's still great, but it doesn't do either album justice.Buy this if you need a quick intro to Penn or need to replace a well-worn copy of "March," but do yourself a favor and make sure to check out some of his other work, particularly his third album "Resigned" or his scores for "Boogie Nights" and "The Anniversary Party.""

Unique, well crafted, and thoroughly enjoyable

Michael Ropp | Brookings, SD USA | 08/02/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The original "March" was one of my favorite records. This CD contains all of the music on that release, plus several selections from the follow-up, which I hadn't heard before this. As the liner notes say, Michael Penn found his own sound. He uses a lot of acoustic guitar, and all the guitar work (electric too) has a strong rhythmic intensity. (For a good example, click on the clip of "This and That".) Harmonically, there's no new ground here, but the rock-standard chord progressions take on a new life with Penn's craftsmanship, and the earnestness you hear especially in Penn's voice. The real interest in this album lies in the extremely cryptic lyrics and irresistable, angular melodies. Lyrically, you know Penn is saying ~something~, and you have the feeling it's profound, but when the melody sucks you in and you start singing along, you find yourself saying, "What am I saying?". A great example from "Half Harvest": "So move out of your bed of roses now; I'm putting in a bed of nails; 'cause missiles, guns and rubber hoses can land me in jail". It sounds so cool on the CD, but what the heck does it mean? That's part of the beauty; YOU figure it out. Summary: even if you never listen beyond the end of "Brave New World" (which you should, because "Bedlam Boys" is a great track), you'll get your money's worth out of this one."

Aged like fine wine.

Ikoi Hiroe | southern california | 12/09/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm sure every single one of us has music that we loved when we bought it as a teen, but fast forward ten-plus years, and now you can't bear to listen to one song, much less the entire album regardless of nostalgia value.



This CD has not been one of "those" disasters for me. It's been in my music rotation regularly since I bought it when it was released almost 2 decades ago. Some music you listen to for nostalgia value- this one I've listen to simply because it's a very sensitively molded piece of musical art.



I'm actually reviewing just March(I first bought this as a cassette tape)- this remastering include the second album, Free for all - a superb follow-up album which is darker, but never boring or stale. Long Way down in Free For All is a brilliant song, with hauntingly sad lyrics and heart wrenching melancholy by the bucketful.



For those who have struggled with relationships (who hasn't), the lyrics are sublime and gracefully restrained reflection of the quiet pain and turbulence. There's an honesty to it that allows the lyrics and music to shine through and not become pretentious or overbearing. No Myth captured public attention, albeit the album being a one-hit wonder chart-wise. Fortunately, this album is full of gems that dazzled critics and won him some very loyal and ardent fans. Half Harvest is a deliciously bitter and malicious brew with an undercurrent of resignation and despair. Invisible is spot-on, tinged with bewilderment and loneliness. Battle Room permeates with quiet desperation and anger. There's not a bad song on March or even Free For All.



The album has timeless appeal. There's nothing trendy about it- it's just a collection of very well-crafted, very personal music that speaks to the heart. This album was the beginning of an uncompromising career for Micheal Penn. He has not been prolific compared to many commercial artists, but his music has quality that more than make up for the quantity. Thank you, Michael, for a masterpiece. I don't consider it a drawback, but some may consider this album too subtle or lyrically to tortured for their taste. There's nothing brash about this one. Even upbeat songs like Evenfall have a glimmer of restraint that allows the music to be uplifting without upsetting the undercurrent of melancholy that flows through both albums. That's about the only negative comment I can make.



If I can compare this album to a movie, I would compare it to Wong-Kar Wai's gorgeous film, In The Mood For Love or Magnolia. Incidentally his wife is the very talented Aimee Mann, who composed most of the songs for Magnolia. If you love his work, check her music out (if you haven't already done so)."