Beatlesque Bliss
beatpoet79 | Pennsylvania USA | 02/07/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Michael Penn has been creating brilliant pop music for a decade now (albeit one that included a 5 year sabbatical), and his new release does not disappoint. Like all Michael Penn albums, it takes a couple listens to really absorb (his music has never been restricted to the transient fashions of time)--but it is all the more rewarding for it.MP4 is more comparable to the relatively challenging "psychedelic folk" of Free-for-All, which followed the relatively straightforward pop of March--just as this release follows the accessible Resigned. But the melodies still stick in your head--"Lucky One" and "High Time" are destined to become classics; although nothing stands out like "All That That Implies" or "Bedlam Boys," there's plenty of "Free Time" and "Strange Season" to admire. Still catchy and addictive and ingenious and intelligent.Why can't we hear stuff like this on the radio? Maybe this album will get enough recognition to bring March and Free-for-All back in print, so everyone can appreciate the full spectrum of Penn's genius. As it is, this is a worthy addition to his canon, and I can't wait for the next one!"
A Triumph For Pop Music Fans Everywhere!
Michael K. Hall | Gresham, OR USA | 04/03/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Please excuse my hyperbole! Sometimes we are swayed by our first exposure to an artist, and perhaps I'm fortunate to have heard all 4 of M. Penn's albums on the same day, one after the other, and cannot share the sentiments of long time fans who seem disheartened by their favorite artists latest disappointing album.Put all of those comments aside and buy this one. Penn is a terrific pop singer songwriter and one that deserves radio play! My initial favorite of his 4 albums was Resigned (produced by the terrific Brendan O'Brien), and my least favorite was his first (March - with apologies to his longtime fans), but the more I listened to MP4, the more I'm convinced this is his best, by a wide margin. 10 songs -- 6 or 7 classics (with Lucky One, Whole Truth, High Time, Beautiful and Perfect Candidate coming immediately to mind). Great lyrics, catchy harmonies, terrific guitar work, outstanding support from Patrick Warren and Victor Indrizzo, and a nod to Brendan on Lucky One (how come he didn't produce the whole album?)Please, Michael, don't make us wait 4 more years for the next CD!"
An excellent songwriter
Christopher Ingalls | Massachusetts | 03/19/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Michael Penn has been suffering from the one-hit wonder stigma ever since his 1990 hit "No Myth" failed to yield a follow-up. But like other fine, talented songwriters who rely more on critical acclaim than Top 40 hits (Marshall Crenshaw, Richard Thompson), Michael keeps putting out consistently great albums, albeit few and far between.I actually picked up "MP4" for free (it was a promo copy from the music store where I work), but I'm glad I did. The songs are wonderful, and the production lush and intimate. My favorite song so far is "Lucky One," but I'm sure I'll love the whole disc soon enough. Michael is a terrific songwriter and "MP4" is a great album."