Search - Smoke :: Another Reason to Fast

Bill taft is [attractive]

Noah Britton | Boston, Ma | 12/08/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"One of the greatest cds I've ever owned... pretty much only second to the first smoke record. From the ashes of the Opal Foxx Quartet, Smoke was formed. From the ashes of Smoke, Hubcap City was formed. You can order the reissued cds from cdbaby, or straight from the band, go to the Benjamin Remembered site. And look for Benjamin Smoke, coming out on DVD in January."

Too beautiful

dangersnap | Athens, Atlanta, Savannah GA USA | 02/05/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The first time I heard Benjamin's voice was around the time this CD was released, and I'd never heard anything like it. Even years later, there are vocalists who sound SIMILAR (Crooked Fingers, Tom Waits) and I like them, too, but lyrically, musically,SONICALLY! this is the real deal. Six years after his death now, I still miss Benajmin."

For When It Rains

K. H. Orton | New York, NY USA | 11/20/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"These guys should be more well known. Ofcourse, there are a number of factors as to why they aren't. First off, they're no longer together since their raspy, eccentric frontman, Benjamin passed on. Secondly, they were never on a major or hip Indy label. Yet, their praises have been sung by such folks as REM's Micheal Stipe, Patti Smith & Vic Chesnutt.



Raw, passionate, cutting edge & achingly beautiful, there are few bands that sound like this. There's the usual drums & electric guitar and a touch of banjo. But it's all offset by the steady churn of Brian Halloran's cello & Bill Taft's soaring coronet. There aren't many acts around that use this combination so predominantly & so effectively.



Cutting through it all, is lead singer Benjamin's gloriously gruff vocals. Tom Waits & Nick Cave are obvious comparisons. Lyrically, things seemed ripped out some long lost notebook by Hubert Selby Jr. or Flannery O'Connor.



Standouts here include the harrowingly intense, "Clean White Bed" & the dark, driving,"Shadowbox". "Dream" is as heartbreaking as "Fatherland" is sparse & haunting.



For the full story, check out Jem Cohen & Peter Sillen's award winning documentary, Benjamin Smoke. Without a doubt this is one of the most original bands I've heard in years. Wish there was more but their only other record is the similarly wonderful, Heaven On A Popsicle Stick."