Apart from his regular gig, Dispatch singer/bassist Pete Francis comes off as a musical schizophrenic. Here he skips from the psychedelic prattle of Pink Floyd to the whimsy of Thelonious Monk to a full-out soul that would... more » do Teddy Pendergrass proud, finally coming to some resolution with Van Morrison-like folk-rock. But Francis, who goes by the name Peter Francis Heimbold in his regular party-hearty band gig--has a way with words. Most of his lyrics are impressionist blots of repeating images, fragile characters, and Freudian symbols that fail to make a coherent narrative statement. Still, the musicianship is first rate. Jazz bassist Marty Ballou and percussionist Marty Richards cast a mighty rhythmic spell, providing inventive textures around Francis's sparse guitar work. --Jaan Uhelszki« less
Apart from his regular gig, Dispatch singer/bassist Pete Francis comes off as a musical schizophrenic. Here he skips from the psychedelic prattle of Pink Floyd to the whimsy of Thelonious Monk to a full-out soul that would do Teddy Pendergrass proud, finally coming to some resolution with Van Morrison-like folk-rock. But Francis, who goes by the name Peter Francis Heimbold in his regular party-hearty band gig--has a way with words. Most of his lyrics are impressionist blots of repeating images, fragile characters, and Freudian symbols that fail to make a coherent narrative statement. Still, the musicianship is first rate. Jazz bassist Marty Ballou and percussionist Marty Richards cast a mighty rhythmic spell, providing inventive textures around Francis's sparse guitar work. --Jaan Uhelszki
"Here's a cd that provides great mood for those early morning road trips, dinner during sunset and cocktails with friends. I first saw Pete perform live as an opener for Better Than Ezra. I bought the cd on a whim and have been thankful ever since.ONE TRAIN is a wonderful addition to any mix tape made for someone you have a crush on...STONES has a HOT HOT HOT bassline, that defines the entire mood of the song. Try NOT moving your head to this one.BENEATH THE FIRE-
One of the most beautiful songs ever written for 9/11 exists on this album, and its sad that not many people have ever heard of it thus far. It explains the story of a Firefighter's Dad searching through the rumble of ground zero, searching for his boy's body, so that he may be properly laid to rest.
This album is worth the purchase for this song alone.Pete's voice is definately equal to the dosage of a mood relaxor. I highly recommend this prescription for cool..."
Good
C. Hood | Austin, TX USA | 08/07/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"A great album. It's worth what you pay, definately. I think it's better than both State Radio and Braddigan (the other Dispatch members' bands). You can certainly tell that Pete Francis spent a lot of time and thought on these songs. My favorites are One Train, and Burning the River, but I don't really like Coal Miner, definately the most "out there" song on the CD. Although this is an amazing album, I find it's less meaningful to me than So They Say was."
Pete's the man!
J. Garfinkel | Hartford | 01/28/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I've been a Dispatch fan and Pete fan for a number of years and have become very involved within his career. After a successful run with Dispatch Pete has been able to maintain his roots and continue to shine. The energy and sound of the album are uniquely that of Pete Francis. The album's success is a blessing and he truly deserves all the recognition it's recieving. In all honesty, Pete is my favorite live performer and his small intimate shows are priceless. He is a genuinely great guy just out to have fun and put a smile on your face. Check out the album and check him out on tour and if you like him I advise you to look into other similar artists no matter how non-mainstream they are, as well as the solo efforts of his two other Dispatch band members.
Peace"
A Pop Up Ad was actually useful!
Olayemi Ogunbase | Beirut....I mean Detroit, MI USA | 06/23/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Well, I was on my way through [a sight] to play some games when the usual array of popup ads assaulted my computer. However, some awesome music blasted from my speakers (One Train). Instead of clicking furiously to close it, I let it play. I must say that the music of Pete Francis has spawned me to an action that I haven't taken in quite a while...the act of purchasing a CD. The last two CDs I purchased were "The Eminem Show", and "Scarlet's Walk" by Tori Amos, and that was only after I downloaded both of them to make sure that the CDs didn't contain the usual two good songs and 13 others of filler. I'd recommend this one for anyone who likes music with that "relaxing on Saturday night with a Heineken with your wife or long term girlfriend" feel to it."
Men & Flies
Lee Armstrong | Winterville, NC United States | 09/08/2007
(2 out of 5 stars)
"Never having heard the band Dispatch, "Untold" looked interesting in the used CD bin. Rather than just popping out $3, I decided to check reviews here before buying. The reviews were mostly good. I like David Gray to whom Francis was compared; so I shelled out the cash. Francis' breathy vocal singing style is not completely unmusical, even if it seems emotionally distant. The part of the CD that fails most for me is the songwriting. The music isn't interesting. While Tim Pierce's electric guitar shines on the opening track "One Train," the music is dull and the lyrics are pedestrian, "The more that I try, I just know that you'll fly; I need you right now, but you're leavin'; I love you when you cry." Maybe that seems brilliant to Pete's mother, but it doesn't connect with me. The track "Julie" is truly awful. There is no detectable melody nor interesting arrangement; and again, the lyrics are strange, "Days without shadows the sun does not rise, a repetition of men and flies, Blue-lit runway has slipped away, unsteady room, light begins to play." Maybe it's a proposed theme song for "Project Runway." The title track is unremarkable except for the background vocals of Nadine LaFond. "Shake the Pain" has poor grammar in the lyric, "I'm burning burning; My love do grow." What's up with that? The only track that works for me is "Coal Miner" with its punchy guitar and Paul Tillotson's keyboards (Farfisa). "Motion lives in my soul; Gonna get me out of this hole," Francis sings hopefully. Unfortunately, the hole only gets bigger. Francis tries for the bad rhyme award, "In Sandcastle City all you have to do is seem pretty; Drivin' around with my girl Kitty." Francis concludes, "OK, I get it now, I don't know how I pulled off this one," Pete sings on one of the more interesting tracks. "Untold" would have been better going unsung. But here it is. It'll be a nice dust catcher on my musical shelf. Taxi!"