ANTHONY J. QUINN
"THE WORDS AND MUSIC OF..."
2016
FOREIGN PART OF THE TOWN - Nice, gentle lilting album opener akin to Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers with a 60s Folk feel. A little sing along chorus unites well with the sweet melodies.
ALABAMA SHOE-SHINE BOY - An upbeat track that has elements of Folk, Skiffle and Pop music othe sixties. Anthony is giving us his best Lonnie Donegan/Gene Pitney vocalised hybrid which makes the track ultimately unusual and engaging. The song is about Jesse Owens, who won 3 Gold medals at the 1936 Olympic Games, so in 2016 with the games in Rio, this is very apt!
OLD HAT'S RETURN - Half spoken, half sung song which shows the writer's humour and that he isn't taking himself too seriously. Its a fun, whimsical little ditty.
TOXTETH GIRL - One of my favourites, a romantic homage to the Toxteth Girl in question. Really sweet, soft ballad that brings a smile to the listener's face.
BLINDED BY HER BEAUTY - This is half 60s Rock/70s Punk with a bit of Rock 'N Roll thrown in for good measure! Great song and another of my favourites, proper foot stomper!
MADE TO TRANSCEND - Another catchy chorus on this track, a little of The Kinks style here too. I'm a fan of the band so I really like the construction here. Has a quirky 60s hippie feel to it.
END UP IN HEARTBREAK - A sweet Country-esque song with a bit of a crooner style vocal. Nice ballad with gorgeous Acoustic guitar backing.
WHERE ARE THEY NOW THOSE FAMOUS FACES? - A question we all ask from time to time. A nostalgic trip remembering the old days. A really nice, poignant track with heartfelt lyrics.
LAST SUMMER'S CHAMPAGNE - Gypsy style Folk track with more reminiscing of the past in a delighfully constructed composition.
FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND - Jean Crompton lends her gorgeous, powerful voice to this song. A simply beautiful strack incredibly sung. Emotive and sweet, Judy Garland style.
LISA - A lovely song that is an easy listener's dream. Personally not one of my favourites but it is well sung and gives a nice, relaxing three minutes plus listen.
STRANGERS ON THE STREET - This is the first track that instantly recalls some Bob Dylan moments. Dylan is not a favourite vocal style of mine, but I love the lyrical content and respect his genius. As with Dylan, this track is well written and created, even if the vocal doesn't grab me.
SORRY MR TANDY - Good written and crafted song, very cute Acoustic number and seems to be an apology for previous misdemeanours!
RE-KINDLE THE FLAME - Reminds me a little of The Hothouse Flowers. Its got that upbeat, foot stomping, gaelic Folk-Pop feel. Really love this, its got something special and another contender for my favourite on the album!
TEN YEARS ON - Another Dylan-esque track. Good lyrics and well written with some nice guitar sounds.
MOOD SWINGS - This is an unexpected song. A rather aggressive vocal in an 80s style Punk/Goth Rock mash up! A little like The Damned and bands of that ilk, great track!
SISTER JUNE - This could be a Simon And Garfunkel/The Monkees hybrid. Great song all round, the vocals and backing match perfectly and its a pure, emotive listen.
I SHALL MEET YOU IN THE OPEN COUNTRY - For me, the most unremarkable track on the album. Overlong and with little change throughout to grab the listener. On such an overall great album, maybe this is a downside but other listeners may love it. A songwriter sings what he feels and it may not impress everyone but that's what its all about, if you don't write in the moment you're not a songwriter. Not a bad song just not for me.
SONG FOR THE SECOND MILLENIUM - Similar to the previous track. A little too much of the same, although the echo effect was an interesting touch. Anthony at least tries new things and experiments, thats the mark of a great artist.
DAWN 'TIL DUSK - A stunning lead vocal from Moira Witter appears on the album finale. This is another really gorgeous song, could and should be on a movie soundtrack as with "Footprints In The Sand"! Maybe an option Mr Quinn?
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