Album Reviews

Photo

American Music Club

Love Songs For Patriots  Hear it Now

RS: 3of 5 Stars Average User Rating: 4.5of 5 Stars

2004

Play View American Music Club's page on Rhapsody

"Ladies and gentlemen, it's time for all the good that's in you to shine," announces American Music Club singer-songwriter Mark Eitzel at the outset of the band's first album in about a decade, four original members (plus newcomer Marc Capelle on piano and trumpet) still on board. So, has one of alternative rock's longest-lived mopers turned over a new leaf? Not really -- he sings that line, and some others on this record that might appear optimistic on paper, in a despondent if muted death wail rather at odds with the sentiments of the words. Yet that shades-of-gray (mostly gray) collision of music and lyrics is part of what makes AMC both interesting and energy-sapping. Eitzel fearlessly details the downbeat in articulate songs about depression, male strippers, guilt and doomed affection as the band shadows his moves with appropriately lurching, artful sluggishness, like a ship determined to sink with dignity.

RICHIE UNTERBERGER

(Posted: Oct 12, 2004)

Advertisement

News and Reviews

loading...

Click "Copy Me" to add the RS.com Widget to your Facebook page, blog, MySpace page and more.

Advertisement

Review 1 of 1

experiencenotfaith writes:

4of 5 Stars


A strange album for AMC, sort of a mix between United Kingdom & California but with Mark's more experienced lyrical matter. Guess that sounds pretty goofy, huh? It's not as focused as Everclear & Mercury, and the recording quality that was present in Mercury & San Francisco is missing. Don't like the big ol' rock drums. I wish these guys would record their drums w/o gates and reverb because the drummer is one of the most talented, under-rated I've heard. A lot of recording studios have forgotten what a good mic, preamp and room can do for capturing a performance. Really beautiful writing from Mark. The addition of Marc Capelle is a good choice. Vudi sounds rushed on this. I wish they had a budget to spend more time on their recordings. I think this is one of the greatest combinations of musicians with the 4(5)in this group. I'm so glad they're making music together. I give it 4 stars because they can do better. But nobody else has ever come close to the quality of this group that I've heard, and the more music I hear the more I beleive that may always be the case. They are American Music Club.

Sep 7, 2006 20:04:43

Off Topic Report Abuse

Previous Next

 

Everything:American Music Club

Main | Biography | Articles | Album Reviews | Discography | Music Store

 


Advertisement

Advertisement