Past Time - The Baseball Project, McCaughey, Scott
Ted Fucking Williams - The Baseball Project, Wynn, Steve
Gratitude (For Curt Flood) - The Baseball Project, Wynn, Steve
Broken Man - The Baseball Project, McCaughey, Scott
Satchel Paige Said - The Baseball Project, McCaughey, Scott
Fernando - The Baseball Project, Wynn, Steve
Long Before My Time - The Baseball Project, Wynn, Steve
Jackie's Lament - The Baseball Project, Wynn, Steve
Sometimes I Dream of Willie Mays - The Baseball Project, McCaughey, Scott
The Death of Big Ed Delahanty - The Baseball Project, McCaughey, Kevin
Harvey Haddix - The Baseball Project, Wynn, Steve
The Yankee Flipper - The Baseball Project, McCaughey, Scott
The Closer - The Baseball Project, Wynn, Steve
Rock n' roll vets Scott McCaughey (The Minus 5, R.E.M., Young Fresh Fellows) and Steve Wynn (The Dream Syndicate, Gutterball, Danny & Dusty, Miracle 3) have an unhealthy love for music undermined only by an even more u... more »nhealthy love of baseball. The compatriots blend their two passions with The Baseball Project -- Volume 1: Frozen Ropes and Dying Quails, an album of buzzing guitars and baseball back stories. The heroes and villains of America's (in)famous pastime are explored with cutting wit and fanboy detail in songs that satisfy both the summer's need for rock anthems and sweltering afternoon double-headers. Drummer Linda Pitmon (Miracle 3, Golden Smog) and R.E.M.'s Peter Buck round out the squad, as they spin tales of ill-fated drinking binges ('The Yankee Flipper', 'The Death of Big Ed Delahanty'), near mythical icons ('Ted Fucking Williams'), folk heroes ('Fernando', 'Satchel Paige Said') and, on 'Gratitude (For Curt Flood)', the overlooked man who changed the game. A passionately funny and sarcastically reverent commentary on the state of the sport, The Baseball Project provides a hip soundtrack to the backstage party at America's game.« less
Rock n' roll vets Scott McCaughey (The Minus 5, R.E.M., Young Fresh Fellows) and Steve Wynn (The Dream Syndicate, Gutterball, Danny & Dusty, Miracle 3) have an unhealthy love for music undermined only by an even more unhealthy love of baseball. The compatriots blend their two passions with The Baseball Project -- Volume 1: Frozen Ropes and Dying Quails, an album of buzzing guitars and baseball back stories. The heroes and villains of America's (in)famous pastime are explored with cutting wit and fanboy detail in songs that satisfy both the summer's need for rock anthems and sweltering afternoon double-headers. Drummer Linda Pitmon (Miracle 3, Golden Smog) and R.E.M.'s Peter Buck round out the squad, as they spin tales of ill-fated drinking binges ('The Yankee Flipper', 'The Death of Big Ed Delahanty'), near mythical icons ('Ted Fucking Williams'), folk heroes ('Fernando', 'Satchel Paige Said') and, on 'Gratitude (For Curt Flood)', the overlooked man who changed the game. A passionately funny and sarcastically reverent commentary on the state of the sport, The Baseball Project provides a hip soundtrack to the backstage party at America's game.
Bruce T. (PowerPop98105) from SEATTLE, WA Reviewed on 12/22/2009...
A glorious addition to the canon of baseball songs -- a long-overdue rock and roll answer to Jim Bouton's Ball Four. I keep singing the, ahem, Ted Williams song at inappropriate times.
1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.
CD Reviews
A Stand-up Triple
P. Goode | 07/18/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The brainchild of Seattle musicians Steve Wynn and Scott McCaughey (with assistance for REM's Peter Buck and drummer Linda Pitmon), this CD is way more than a cute exercise in nostalgia. In turns ribald ("Ted F---ing Williams"), bitter ("Gratitude [for Curt Flood]), nostalgic ("Sometimes I Dream Of Willie Mays"), and rueful ("Long Before My Time"), Frozen Ropes successfully and accessibly makes the case that baseball isn't that much different from everyday life, reminding us in "Harvey Haddix" that "We're drawn to tragic stories/The ones that suit us best." Incidentally, the title refers to baseball slang for line drives and pop flies."
Please let there be a Volume II
Susan Petrone | Cleveland | 12/03/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"What is it about baseball that would make a group of otherwise successful musicians form a side band that's basically a baseball research project? No other sport has inspired so many books, songs, and films, and The Baseball Project's Frozen Ropes and Dying Quails is a worthy addition to the lineup. The music is great--let's get that out of the way first. They're good tunes. But the lyrics are what lift this from just another side project to something greater. The lyrics are alternately witty, poignant, funny, and dirty (sometimes all at the same time). On what other CD can you actually learn a bit of baseball history? Want to learn the origins of free agency and the players who benefited from the courage of Curt Flood? Ever wonder how Big Ed Delahanty died? Want to learn the names of every pitcher who's ever pitched a perfect game in the majors (including one who should be included in that list)? Ever wonder if Ted Williams had an ego problem? It's all here. This may be my favorite album of 2008."
Not just Baseball!
The hunterian | 11/15/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I'm an European, and Baseball means nothing to me, at least until now. But this album's not just about Baseball, it's about great stories, social history, racial history and life. Like good literature these stories can be generalized into stories of the human condition.
The song writing duties are shared between Steve Wynn and Scott McCaughey, and both have contributed an almost equal amount of the albums best songs. The song writing styles are very compatible and this album has a very distinct album feel to it. Most of the tunes are very melodic and hooky (just what I needed for my running). It's like what you would get if you mixed an equal amount of Eagles and a noisy Neil Young.
Half a year ago I discovered how good Steve Wynns output in this century has been. This album confirms that he's really on a roll."
Good music about baseball..it doesn't get much better
L. Hampton | Ohio | 09/05/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I was not sure I would like this album at first, as I am an old fart, but after listening to clips on Amazon, I decided to try it. It was good enough that now, every time I get into my car, this is the CD that is playing. It is good music and brings back a lot of memories. Espeically like the songs about Curt Flood and Harvey Haddix"
Baseball history in song
gary assassin | 09/22/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I don't typically write reviews, but I noticed only 1 review of this CD (3 now) and wondered why.
I love this CD. These guys (pretty much the Venus 3 minus Robyn Hitchcock) are real baseball fans, or they just read a lot of baseball history. I love the obscure references to players such as Oscar Gamble.
I think this has appeal to non-baseball fans too because a lot of the songs are catchy and let's face it, people today generally don't even know what songs are about (eg. R.E.M. song The One I Love. I remember seeing a girl say, "This is me and my boyfriend's song." Well, I guess she didn't realize it wasn't a love song, and quite the opposite).
All the name dropping in the Harvey Haddux song was wonderful. Why name David Cone and David Wells multiple times? Are they Yankees fans, or fans of beer drinking, free spirits?