Terror ran riot through his ever chilling bloodstream, as the shadow crossed his features... it was ...
Terror ran riot through his ever chilling bloodstream, as the shadow crossed his features... it was indeed the attack of the giant ear!!!!
Member since:10.08.2004
Reviews:47
Members who trust:9
This is a very strange album to try and review.
Let me explain...
This album was written by country singer extrordinaire Garth Brooks. It was meant to be a presoundtrack to a film called "The Lamb" about a fallen rock legend called Chris Gaines.
Although Garth was producing it, he felt it wasn't enough and wanted to force the issue of having him star in the film also. And so he chose to create an album of non-country tracks, written supposedly by Chris Gaines, and release it as a "Greatest Hits..."
The album sleeve features a biography af Chris, photos of "Chris" and album covers from his back catalogue. It also has hand written notes about the origins of the tracks.
Garth's biggest problem was that for so long had he been wrapped up in his country persona, that when he added this new facit to his day to day life, he found it very hard to switch "Chris" off.
Apparently there are stories of him telephoning people as Chris, and not going home to his family because he was Chris, not Garth.
The strangest part of this whole debacle, which almost ruined his life let alone his career, is that the album is... very good.
It smacks of influences such as Elton John, Van Dyke Parks, Brian Wilson and the Eagles and also hints at a very strong decisive move away from down-home-honky-tonk-redneck-country.
Oh, and the film... never made it past preproduction...
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TRACKS
13 tracks make up this album, ranging from near country styled pathos, to funky bass thunping tunes and from desperate ballads, to dark lyrical rap. At it's best it could be compared to the likes of Daniel Beddingfield in the current stable of stars.
The stand out tracks on the album are
Lost In You - a beautiful haunting ballad and the only single release from the album.
It Don't Matter to the Sun - the closest this album has to country music. A lovely acoustic ballad, dealing with hiding the hurt.
Digging For Gold - a cautionary tale about marrying when you are rich. Very funny, and sounds like a late eighties Kenny Loggin's track (don't hold this against it).
Maybe - Another ballad, this time styled after a late period Beatles sound (complete with flute and piano melody).
Other tracks worthy of mention are "Snow In July", featuring a Stevie Wonder styled organ and talking about out of the blue relationship problems, "Right Now" one of the strangest tracks as it mixes a political rap lyric with the chorus of the old Youngbloods' classic "Let's Get Together" (anybody with the Forrest Gump soundtrack will know the original) and the mainstream almost Chicago-esque "My Love Tells Me So".
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I would recommend this to any fan of Garth Brooks, and to anybody in the mood for some pop-rock done very well. It is obvious from this that the man's influences lie outside the George Jones and Johnny Cash he has been compared to at his height.
Give it a try, even just as an oddity.
The album is available on ebay, and for under a fiver from CDjungle online.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Advantages: We get to see an amazing singer try something out of the ordinary. Disadvantages: Unfortunately the album never took off as well as hoped so no more Chris.
Advantages: We get to see an amazing singer try something out of the ordinary. Disadvantages: Unfortunately the album never took off as well as hoped so no more Chris.
very helpful by (80%):
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