Search - Steve Forbert :: Rocking Horse Head

Personal Music by a modern poet, not mass produced.

05/06/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"OK, I'm partial. I have been listening to Forbert since I saw him on tour in '79. The critics have never liked him very much because he isn't "McMusic", and you won't see him on MTV (except maybe in an old Cyndee Lauper video). But no other artist delivers folk like Steve- he really is a poet/troubador in the old style. This album is a fine example, one of his best (I would have given 5 stars except its not QUITE as good as others). If you are new, try the greatest hits, Alive on Arrival, or American in Me."

A WELL - KEPT SECRET

craig_paul | Pittsburgh, PA | 11/27/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"In 1978, Steve Forbert was the toast of the music industry, riding the wave of his critically acclaimed debut album "Alive On Arrival," a folk - rock classic released smack in the middle of the Punk movement. 20 years later, with the release of "Rocking Horse Head," Forbert's writing and singing are still as fresh and unique; over two decades of ups, downs, and in-betweens seemingly haven't dampened his spirit or drained him of any creativity or energy.This recording, a fine follow - up to the excellent "Mission Of The Crossroad Palms," finds Forbert looking at life, although sometimes through jaded eyes, with a sense of humor and wonder that have been present in his music from the very beginning."If I Want You Now" is the album's most touching and straightforward love song, picking up where "Is It Any Wonder" and "Oh, To Be Back With You," both from the previous album, left off. "Don't Stop," an excellent song, may well be Steve's admonition to anyone who's about to throw in the proverbial towel. One gets the impression that Forbert is singing from experience. "So you're down, so it's hard. Don't Stop, don't stop," he sings. "Stop and you're denying everything that you've been trying for so long." Maybe 20 - plus years on the road, mixed with the highs and lows of life in the recording industry, have given the singer this point of view. "Dream, Dream," a simplistically beautiful ballad, conveys a similar message -"Someday soon the breaks won't bring you down; One day soon you'll wake up safe and sound.""My Time Ain't Long" is Forbert's semi - comic take on mortality - "My drug and booze days gone, I rise and shine at dawn, how come my time ain't long?" "Moon Man" provides a nice Forbert twist on society's preoccupation with technology and its rapidly fading faith in relationships. "Good Planets Are Hard To Find," which has become a sing along favorite at Steve's concerts, is the singer's "environmental statement," for lack of a better term. This album's highlight, in my opinion, is "Some Will Rake The Coals." Forbert has the ability to mix a beautiful melody, a poignant lyric - "Time moves quickly, strangers look like friends, Friends might fall in love and perfect strangers might pretend" - and a hilarious line - "Warren Beatty must have gotten scared, when Madonna made him finally see he'd lost some hair" - and still make it all work. The result is a great song.The other 5 tracks are also solid. Buy this recording and see for yourself. On one hand, you'll be wondering why Steve Forbert never became a household name. On the other, you'll be happy to be part of a group that's in on a well - kept secret.A couple of summers ago, while a throng of Generation X - ers packed the inside of a loud club in suburban Pittsburgh, myself and a couple dozen other fans listened to Steve playing outside on the patio. He ripped through a two hour set, which included a handful of songs from "Rocking Horse Head," with the enthusiasm of a teenager. When the show ended, he packed his station wagon and was off into the night, a few autographs, ticket stubs, and handshakes the only evidence he'd even been there. "Don't Stop," Steve."

Another Winning Effort

03/24/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I bought Steve's first album and have bought every one since. While Alive on Arrival is a ture classic, Steve's later albums at times are hit and miss affairs. This album is one of his best in years. A nice mix of softer ballads and uptempo rockers with his usual worderful insights. Hey, I bought it when it was origninally released and it has stayed very close to my cd player since then. If you are new to Steve's Music, Alive on Arrival is the ticket, but if you already own that I would suggest Rocking Horse Head."