Search - Peter Bradley Adams :: Gather Up (Dig)

Quiet Timeless Genius

Steven D. Forrest | Chapel Hill, NC | 09/26/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I played Eastmountainsouth until I knew it like I knew the Beatles -- OK, I'm an old guy. But in the old days, we'd listen to a few records deeply. Now we tend to listen to a million of them superficially. But Eastmountainsouth was something I just couldn't get enough of. I listened until I knew it note by note. I was sad when I heard they'd broken up and that Peter Bradley Adams was going solo - but I shouldn't have been. Right from the first listen to "Gather Up," there was that same haunted, timeless quality. This music creeps up on you; it washes over you; it's familiar from the first listen. Like the famous potato chip, I betcha can't eat one -- listen once, and you'll play it again, thinking it's good. Then you'll play it a third time, and you'll really like it. Then, at play Four, it'll be one of your favorite albums ever. Play Five -- well, write your own review."

A strong debut album from an incredible talent

J. Hallman | Nashville, TN | 09/25/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"My first listen to Peter was in 2004 when he was part of the duo known as Eastmountainsouth. A friend and I caught their show at a local venue and I was immediately blown away by his vocal and instrumental talents. I was happy to see that he released a solo album this year. Since purchasing the album, it has been in constant rotation in my cd changer. Each song on the album is solid, but there are stand-outs: "One Foot Down", "Chant", "Little Stranger" and "Gather Up". My favorite on the album, however, is "Upside Down". It's one of those songs that hits you in the heart. Peter has the rare ability to translate moments in his life into words and music that touches your soul. You feel the emotions not as a voyeur, but as though you've experienced those same moments and situations yourself. And in many cases, you probably have. "Gather Up" is a strong debut album from an incredible talent."

I can see why Robbie Robertson signed this guy!

William Janis | Seattle {+Nashville & Bozeman} | 08/20/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A few years ago my favorite record was eastmountainsouth's cd. The band that Robbie Robertson from The Band signed to Dreamworks Records. I really couldn't get enough the ems cd. It became a soundtrack for me the year it was my favorite, and I was lucky enough to save it for a vast driving trip from Santa Fe NM to Bozeman MT. I couldn't wait until the next eastmountainsouth record. I must have listened to ems a hundred times on that long trip alone.



Well, ems has since disbanded, and Peter Bradley Adams, the chief song writer has gone off on his own. Peter wrote most of the songs on the ems record, but I still didn't know what to expect on "Gather Up."



I'm happy to say "Gather Up" has blown me away. I'm so picky that I really didn't expect lighten to strike twice. There are masterpieces on this cd. My favorite's are the incredibly emotional and vulnerable "Little Stranger," "One Foot Down," "Queen of Hearts," "Chant," and "One Picture." But picking favorites on this cd is awkward because it's such a complete piece of work. Peter Bradley Adams has the rare ability to sing in a way that delivers music both vulnerably and confidently at the same time. It's like hearing the inside of the human heart. Powerful stuff!



Thanks for reading!"