You have not experienced true entertainment until you sit in the audience at one of Steve Poltz's shows. The former singer from The Rugburns (Mercury Records) is best known for his hilarious storytelling and witty persona... more »lity, defying all traditinal definitions in the songwriting genre. This is a rare artist who is as comfortable touring with such noted national acts like Bob Dylan, John Mellancamp, Jewel, The Wallflowers, Bare Naked Ladies, Rusted Root and Lucinda Williams in arenas,as well as performing intimate living room shows in any city in America. Successfully shattering the traditional troubadour mold, Poltz has most gloriously been compared to unique performers and songwriters like John Prine and Tom Waits. Steve wrote and appeared in the video for the 1995 hit, "You Were Ment For me" helping launch Jewel's debut CD to triple platinum. The sorcery of his current release, Chinese Vacation, picks up where One Left Shoe left off. The heartfelt introspection on "California," irreverent hilarity of "Chinese Vaction" and punch-drunk stupor of "Give You Up For Lent" are merely stops along the panhandling journey into Steve Poltz's charming hysteria« less
You have not experienced true entertainment until you sit in the audience at one of Steve Poltz's shows. The former singer from The Rugburns (Mercury Records) is best known for his hilarious storytelling and witty personality, defying all traditinal definitions in the songwriting genre. This is a rare artist who is as comfortable touring with such noted national acts like Bob Dylan, John Mellancamp, Jewel, The Wallflowers, Bare Naked Ladies, Rusted Root and Lucinda Williams in arenas,as well as performing intimate living room shows in any city in America. Successfully shattering the traditional troubadour mold, Poltz has most gloriously been compared to unique performers and songwriters like John Prine and Tom Waits. Steve wrote and appeared in the video for the 1995 hit, "You Were Ment For me" helping launch Jewel's debut CD to triple platinum. The sorcery of his current release, Chinese Vacation, picks up where One Left Shoe left off. The heartfelt introspection on "California," irreverent hilarity of "Chinese Vaction" and punch-drunk stupor of "Give You Up For Lent" are merely stops along the panhandling journey into Steve Poltz's charming hysteria
CD Reviews
Lost Without Steve Poltz!
king_wiener | Slaughters, Ky United States | 12/19/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The release of Steve Poltz's new album, Chinese Vacation, almost makes you entirely forget about the five and half years that have passed since his first solo release, One Left Shoe. It really is that good. One thing I love about Steve Poltz is that he's not afraid to be humorous in one song and heartfelt in the next. The title track is bound to make you laugh with lyrics such as, "And my strength is as limp as a Chinese noodle. What the hell are you trying to feed me? Is it pork or is it poodle?" While "10 Chances" will be familiar to anyone who knows how frightening and hard it is to want to say "I love you" to someone for the first time. Also on this cd is a surprising cover of TLC's "Waterfalls." He puts his own spin on the song and it works quite well. Personally, my favorite song on Chinese Vacation is "Music Box." It's the perfect combination of humor and sweetness. It's enough to make me jealous of any girl who gets to see him stripped down to his boxers and socks. The album leaves us with another humor-laden song called "Give You Up For Lent." It's a humorous look into a relationship that seems to involve a lot of giving without getting anything in return. Bottom line...Chinese Vacation is great. It was entirely worth the wait, but I do hope that I won't have to wait so long next time."
Steve Poltz, a much underated performer.
Jay R. Adler | Massapequa,NY | 09/09/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Steve Poltz is probably one of the finest songwriters and acoustic performers on the American scene but unfortuneately outside of California he is little known by the public. I was listening to some of his songs today in my car on the One Left Shoe and Chinese Vacation CD's and I just could not believe how powerful and prophetic a songwriter this man is. I think the difficulty in getting him exposure is that his songs like Chinese Vacation and those on One Left Shoe CD tend to be offbeat and non-commercial and very unlike what is accepted on Top Forty. But what about Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen and Joni Mitchell? They all fit this pattern as well. In summation, once you acquire a Steve Poltz album, it's addictive musically and you won't stop popping them in your deck. Whether Steve fades into oblivion or somehow emerges into the next Billy Joel or James Taylor will depend on how many more people like me become totally enveloped in this outstanding artist's music. The fact that Steve's music departs from what can be considered to be mainstream in no way should minimize his astronomical talent.
Jay Adler, Massapequa, NY"
Yeah...
swetsastonical | new york, ny | 09/30/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"wow, wow, wow...can't say enough good things about this cd. was quite a wait, but so worth it. used to seeing steve solo, and this disc manages to capture that, yet also adds to the songs with the perfect accompaniment. on top of that, he included some of my favorite songs (I killed walter matthau, stax, you remind me). the disc is pretty much perfect. kudos, steve. side note...if you haven't seen him live, you should see him live (how's that for flowing prose?).amazing cd."
Like the Camel Pose, with Butter
swetsastonical | 09/27/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Having waited with bated breath for four and a half years for this release, I had to wait a couple of days to write a review. I had to let the excitement wear off so I'd be able to write something fair and objective.
Well I don't know when that time will come. I've been listening for 4 days straight and I can't get un-excited about it. This is an incredible album that brilliantly displays all facets of Steve's personality. Billy Harvey couldn't have done a better job with production, it's neither over, nor under produced.
While the entire album is excellent, the highlights for me are Friendly Fire, Who I Am, Lost Without You and Ten Chances.
This is a wonderful album to sing along to or to have playing in the background.BUY IT NOW!!"
Bikram Yoga Really Works!
swetsastonical | 09/23/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Brilliant. The only word that fits. Mr. Steve "Polioboy" Poltz's previous solo work was a nice departure from his (much appreciated) band, The Rugburns, but seemed somewhat wooden. However, the production work of Billy Harvey (of Bob Schneider fame) is exactly what the doctor ordered, not overproduced, or overly slick, all the right sounds, in all the right places. The song writing is ROCK SOLID. Songs like "Friendly Fire" and "Chinese Vacation" are the rockers, "I Killed Walter Matthau" the pseudo tear jerker..."You Remind Me" the happy little sing along....lovely introspection with "California"...The best thing about this disc is that it presents Steve's true personality, something that I feel was lacking from "One Left Shoe", but all who have attended his live shows have been privy too all these years. As my friend is wont to say, "There's not a fart in the whole carload"God Bless You Steve Poltz."
Track Listings (12) - Disc #1