Official UTS Review Thread

[desertangel]

I dunno, thought maybe it would be nice to have one place to come and read what everybody's thoughts are on the songs and the CD. I'd like to know what everyone else thinks.

I love the artwork, the colors are appropriate for this time of year. It has a classy design and seems down to earth. This is only the 2nd solo LB work I own, but this one makes me want to do a cannonball off the deep end. I'll be at the Portland show one way or another, even if I end up with a crappy seat.

Question: During The Dance tour, Lindsey talks about Mick and John being in the studio helping him with what would have been songs for GOS. Do we know for sure which songs those were? Sounds like Down on Rodeo was one of them.

Without getting into lyrical deconstruction because that takes many more spins that just a few, here are my thoughts, so far. I could have a different opinion next week... like loving all of the songs equally...

Not Too Late:
Not loving the whispering vocal parts. The verse cadence is too choppy, but the chorus is good. The guitar part reminds me of Say Goodbye. The electronic vocal manipulations are obvious, but okay. This song doesn't rate with me.

Show You How:
Love the guitar intro and the rat-a-tat-tat percussion. It's fabulous. The vocals are signature .."slow down noowhooww.. I'll show ya show show ya hoowwooww." Great cadence. I think it would have fit nicely on Law and Order. Very commercially viable, excellent choice as a single. This is my favorite song on the album.

Under the Skin:
Another great guitar and percussion pairing. Even though the percussion sounds a bit Dr. Rhythm-ish, Lindsey does that a lot and I've come to love it in his songs more than in Stevie's songs. Mostly because all the other layering nearly buries it in all the right places. This whispery vocal sounds much better than in Not Too Late. The lyrics are great and the cadence is excellent. I do love the echoey sound, even if it might be a bit overdone in places, it does create an overall ambiance for the song, one that I really like a lot. It's very smooth, mellow... tea on an early Sunday morning, out on the deck. May also have some commerial viability. This is my second favorite song on the album.

I Am Waiting
Probably my least favorite song on the album because it's just too repetitive. I haven't heard the Stones version, so I can't compare the justice or injustice that Lindsey may have done to this song. This song doesn't rate.

It Was You
Short and sweet with a catchy rhythm. Is that a cowbell I hear? The vocal layering is signature Lindsey. When he sings "yeaaahhh" at the end of the chorus and bends the note up, it reminds me of John/Julian Lennon. This is my sixth favorite song on the album.

To Try for the Sun:
Some of the guitar parts on this song reminds me of Big Love. I thought this song was credited to Donovan but I couldn't find a clip to listen to, so again, I have nothing to compare it to. I like it, it's sweet and I really love the lyrics. The ebb and flow intensity, vocals and guitar remind me of some SYW songs (Red Rover/Miranda.) This is my third favorite song on the album.

Cast Away Dream
The lyrics are sweet. It reminds me of some early LB solo work. Again, I love the echoey layered vocals because I feel it adds to the overall feel of the song. And the rat-a-tat-tat rhythm. This would be the song where it sounds like they're all sitting around strumming acoustics. ... yes, well except for the echoey vocals, but that's okay. This has a good use of a whispery then a regular intensity type of vocal. This song ties for second favorite.

Shut us Down
Again, love the signature guitar, but not loving the whispery vocal parts on this song either. The ending vocals are really a bit weird, sorry, just sounds too pushed. Not liking this song a whole lot because the vocals just killed it for me, so doesn't rate.

Down on Rodeo
Well, we've been hearing this song for awhile... good rhythm, good vocals, great layering on the guitar, lovely lyrics. It was well placed in running order of the album and fits very nicely with the rest of the songs. The chorus is signature, as is vocals and guitar. Sounds like it may have originally been recorded around the time of The Dance, maybe just before ?? The use of the windchimes and the lead guitar tuning sounds like The Dance era. Some commercial viability? This song is another second favorite on the album. Glad it finally appeared.

Someone's Gonna Change Your Mind.
This song seems rather melancholoy, which is a nice change for the overall album. I like the "I know, I know, I know." It has a different vocal styling that works well for the feel of the song as does the children's voices. The horns seem a bit over dramatic and out of place on this song, but I'm not sure how else the crescendo could have been accomplished, what with using the timpani and all. This song is my fifth favorite on the album.

Flying Down Juniper
I love the lyrics, the sweetness, cadence, rhythm. The vocal tone seems a little off, particularly in the beginning, but perhaps that's just part of the overall feel of the song to make it seem more rustic. The chorus is sweet. The windchime intro reminds me of SS on The Dance. Almost sounds like you can hear a metronone in the background. Love the kids in the background. I think you can hear him pushing the stop button on the recorder too. heehee. This is my fourth favorite song.