A TRUE ORIGINAL
James R. Ferguson | Nashville | 01/28/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"What can one say about R. Stevie Moore than hasn't been said about . . . oh, say . . . Brian Wilson, Todd Rundgren, Frank Zappa, or fill in your own ultra-original creative genius. R. Stevie is a musical machine, having cranked out nearly 400 (count `em 400!) full-length albums since 1968. As Nevertheless Optimistic demonstrates, he is proficient and original in virtually every musical genre. He is a brilliant arranger and producer of SOUNDS, an excellent satirist, biting social commentator, insightful observer of the human condition, a hopelessly romantic poet, curmudgeon, and country comedian. He is overwhelming. His music will draw you in, and then push you away, even though you want to get closer. His music touches, and makes one aware of feelings that one might not wish to be aware of, or feel. Is that not art? For the uninitiated, Nevertheless Optimistic is an excellent place to begin exploring the depth of R.Stevie's musical diversity and virtuosity , equaled by only a handful of people on the planet. Treat yourself, and keep an open mind."
Listen to a real artist for a change
Chinacatalba | Livingston Scotland | 01/15/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"In a perfect world R. Stevie Moore would be recognised for the maverick pop genius that he is. Think Brian Wilson/Beatles/glam rock/punk/new wave/ambient/musique concrete/folk/country and he does the lot, what's more he can do them in the space of one song!! His material has been frustratingly difficult to track down (I initially came across him purely by accident)but since the advent of the internet he has been more accessible to me via www.rsteviemoore.com; This collection is a good place to start for the uninitiated, just a mighty fine collection of Stevie's more accessible commercial material collected from 30 years of recordings. Idiosyncratic? yes, Dull? Never. Fed up with a world populated with dull vacuous pop idol type wannabees? Check this out!!"