"The first time I heard of Paul Thorn, he was a support act for Jools Holland (ex of English band Squeeze) on a UK tour. And did he shine !! He played a number of tunes from Hammer And Nail, knocking spots off the headline artist, and I bought a copy.Hammer And Nail is an album that hooks you from the first playing. And just keeps getting better every time you listen. His tunes are catchy and his lyrics well written. He conveys the emotion in his songs very well, particularly the heart ache in Temporarily Permantly Mine and humour in 800 Pound Jesus.If you buy one album this year, buy this one."
Paul Thorn . . . Is Very Special!!!
Charlie Roberts | Oceanport, NJ United States | 01/04/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Where do I start? I first heard him on KPIG. . . been in the radio and music business all my life . . . have more than 12,000 vinyl records . . . I've "heard it all". So, it takes something very special to get my attention . . . Paul Thorn is very special. Listen to me!!! No, listen to him! Plus, I am very proud to say that he is a personal friend. Nothing I can write here will convince you . . . but, his music will."
Ex-boxer stuns crowded hall in England
Charlie Roberts | 05/18/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I bought this album from Paul when he supported Jools Holland in Bournemouth, UK a couple of years ago. He performed with support from just one other guitarist to an audience who had never heard of him, and were waiting for the main act. Using a combination of wit and great songs, by his third number he had the audience eating out of his hand. This album is every bit as good as that performance, and is a gem. Just where is Tupilo, Missisippi (sp?)"
Witty, Odd, And Completely Entertaining
Robert I. Hedges | 09/20/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Paul Thorn is one of the greatest performers to emerge in the last few years. I last saw him live with Mark Knopfler, and he thrilled the crowd. I met him afterward, and he is a truly down to Earth, friendly guy. This is one of my favorite Thorn CD's, with plenty of his usual wit, peculiar humor, and excellent musicianship present throughout.
For me the standout track on the disc is "I'd Rather Be a Hammer Than a Nail" a wry song with numerous biographical revelations about Thorn. I particularly like the passage relating to his former career as a boxer. When he tells the story of taking on Roberto Duran in the introduction to the song in concert, he makes the audience roar with laughter, which the song then thoroughly reinforces. This is a great CD from start to finish, and I highly recommend it.
"
Fish almost out of water
A. Butterfield | UK | 10/07/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Paul Thorn's subsequent CDs have made me see this in a different light. There's no doubt he's talented, and very entertaining, but in a kind of home grown way, not a polished, produced to the hilt way. So it's weird when you go back to Hammer and Nail and hear Paul acting so serious, with high, yet not particularly nice, production values. It doesn't seem right. It seems artificial.
And yet, there are some great songs here that I can't imagine Paul Thorn could've done justice to without the upscale production on this album. So it's a bit of a conundrum. It's not that it sounds phoney, but... there's just some quality about this that I can't put my finger on that stops me being totally involved.
Best song on the album though is the stripped down 'Temporarily Forever Mine', which rises above the production. 'Sure Sign' is pretty distinctive too, and 'I Bet He Knows' is darn catchy.