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SHAWN PHILLIPS - Fan Reviews of
No
Category
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There are few who knew, who were honored with the knowledge,
that they were in the presence of greatness as they sat and listened to
the likes of Bach, Reveille, Beethoven, as they composed and preformed
their works. It was these people, these listeners, who then taught their
children what real music was. As it is with us. There are few maestros
in the world today, we are fans of one. In study I have come to realize,
that although Shawn's words are important and in no way take away from
the songs, his music stands alone without word. His voice is the
ultimate instrument. Not one that can be recreated and it will be lost
to time. But the music itself played by his voice and backed by
orchestration can be emulated by an instrument of choice and the music
will still be great in 200 years and beyond. "No Category" is a
recording that the music "industry" can not ignore. But lets leave them
by the wayside as they matter little to what is actually going on here.
Lets look instead at the big picture. If history is indeed a teacher,
long after we are all dead, the truth of Shawn?s music will still be. We
have had the honor to experience great music at it's birth and our
descendants will have the honor of respecting it as we respect the
greats of our past. Thank you Shawn for not giving up. I think your gift
is beyond what even you ever imagined. Blessings Mark S. Weller
Composer/Songwriter I received my copy of N.C. on Saturday. Listened
to it only once, so far, in the park next to home. It is a good
addition to the group of Shawn Albums I have. Thank You Shawn for this.
Thanks Arlo for the hard work. I' ve shown my daughter and son and any
body else who was within eyesight my name on a Shawn Phillips release.
I feel too good.
Bruce
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Listen to Sleep Pretty Baby
I
received my CD today...opened it and put it
on as soon as I arrived home from a more than long day at work...and it
came at a perfect time as Shawn always has somehow, in my life....when
the wounds life deals need a balm....
I cannot say enough about the outstanding quality, mixing, sound, sonic
delight that it gives. The lyrics as always, bathed me with comfort
somehow...please pass my love, congratulations, and heartfelt thanks to
Shawn...he has pulled me out of more holes from life than I care to
recall...I thank him (and you too for keepin' on) than words can
express.
The CD is a work of art and should be proclaimed a "Universal
Treasure." Shawn, who paints a musical tapestry like none other, should
be heralded from the very heavens....Again, his pure artistry has
smoothed the hangnails of life...I only hope it gets where it needs to
be...(everywhere)...to empower others to true musical enchantment and
the tranquility it provides....It's an honor to have helped... With
love, appreciation, thanks and respect, Jane
Listen to For the Lost and Lonely
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Regardless of how the critics, or anyone else for that
matter, reviews "No Category," this particular CD will always hold a
special place in my heart. Words can never describe the hard work and
dedication of everyone involved in this massive, magnificent piece of
art. Arlo, Maria, John R., Mark C. & Rochelle will relate completely
first hand.
Everyone will agree that Paul, Rick & Peter worked their magic and
totally outdid themselves to create, engineer & produce the brilliant
feeling & mood to Shawn's vision of these songs. Every song was
masterfully done.
That said, Thank you Suz and Jean B. for your great reviews and personal
comments. I too believe that a few tunes were overly produced &
arranged. Honestly, I personally don't care for a few songs on this
particular CD as they break the flow and don't mix well with the total
feel of the album. Moneydance, Free Samples & Sleep Pretty Baby are all
good on their own but, in my own opinion, didn't fit well with the other
mix of songs.
One particular song which has not been mentioned happens to be my
absolute favorite. "I Will Never Leave" is a true classic ballad.
Masterpiece here. "Most Of Us Don't Understand" is my next best,
followed by (these change frequently depending on my mood!!!!) "Calico &
Rainbows," "Fondest Dreams," "The Man"
(only time he used his double neck to rock out at the end....love it!!!)
"Try To Find A Way," "One Way Ticket" & "Power Of A Woman." "Moonshine"
goes without saying...........awesome....... Along with "Peace Song."
Brilliant pieces of work here. Again, words cannot explain all of our
feelings with these recreations. "Par For The Course" is the cutest
piece I've ever heard!! SOOOOOO true..........SOOOOOOO Shawn!!!!
Enjoy All, Margaret
 WOW! It’s a
little country, a little rock & roll, a little classical,
a little folk and a WHOLE lotta SHAWN!!! This is a CD that could
launch a career! The remakes of previously recorded material
is even better, because it’s done how the artist wanted it done!
This is the best ever of Shawn Phillips!
Colleen Patterson |
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Hi, Arlo.
No Category really is a masterpiece. Thanks for supporting it's unlikely
birth into these dark times! It really is Shawn's finest work to date.
It arrived as our (I have to say 'our') invasion of Iraq began, and
found me at my lowest emotional point in recent memory. A late night
huddling with
speakers a-thunder cleansed my dreams of their inevitable darkness: I
dreamed instead that Italy released a postage stamp in Shawn's honor
(see
artist's rendition attached.).....Keep up the great work.
Sincerely,
Paul Sonnenberg
If the word "beautiful" was not so overworked it would
suffice to
describe NC overall. The composition and arrangements are brilliant,
lush, mesmerizing. I rate this CD at or above Transcendence for pure
quality, both of arrangement and performance (given my bias as a
classical musician). Under the layers of melody and counterpoint I
perceive a person at harmony within life, a man both enthralled with and yet at peace with his wife, friend, lover.
Moonshine - Hypnotic, and sharp edged as though a raptor was sitting on
my shoulder. Or perhaps it is a rapper looking over Shawn's shoulder
saying "I wish I could sing like this guy and knew words with more than
one syllable" ;) Fondest Dream - Lovers sitting in a small cafe in
Spain (Portugal?).
Calico and Rainbows. Best arrangement and vocals IMHO.
Most Don't Understand - Most haunting and best guitar work. Free Samples - Rocks me out. Almost as much
as American Child. Sleep Pretty Baby - Been on a sand gig recently?
Reggae beat with the Shawn Phillips twist!!
Suz |
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Listen to Par For The Course
Mr. Hennings,
First and foremost my applause and thanks to you and Mr. Phillips for
producing such an excellent CD. When I mention to friends that I finally
got the CD I ordered a year ago the look at me rather strangely until I
play it for them. In fact when our choir director and long time music
teacher
listened to it her comment was that this proves the eclecticness of my
musical tastes. So to all involved in the production of the CD many
thanks
and keep up the wonderful work. I do have a couple of curiosity
questions regarding it. When I play it after track 14 I get a short
silent track
15 and 16 before the last song which shows up as track 17 all though the
cover lists it as track 15. Is there any reason or did I just get a
strangely created CD? The other question is that I noticed in the
pictures that Leland Sklar plays a 5 string bass. Is low string tuned to
a B or does he actually go lower. (it sounds lower but at that frequency
the drums can play
audio tricks.)
Thank you - Bruce Ludwick
There are few who knew, who were honored with the
knowledge, that they were in
the presence of greatness as they sat and listened to the likes of Bach,
Reveille,
Beethoven, as they composed and preformed their works. It was these
people, these
listeners, who then taught their children what real music was. As it is
with us.
There are few maestros in the world today, we are fans of one.
In study I have come to realize, that although Shawn's words are
important and in
no way take away from the songs, his music stands alone without word.
His voice is the
ultimate instrument. Not one that can be recreated and it will be lost
to time. But
the music itself played by his voice and backed by orchestration can be
emulated by
an instrument of choice and the music will still be great in 200 years
and beyond.
"No Category" is a recording that the music "industry" can not ignore.
But let's
leave them by the wayside as they matter little to what is actually
going on here.
Let's look instead at the big picture. If history is indeed a teacher,
long after we
are all dead, the truth of Shawn?s music will still be. We have had the
honor to
experience great music at it's birth and our descendants will have the
honor of
respecting it as we respect the greats of our past.
Thank you Shawn for not giving up. I think your gift is beyond what even
you ever imagined.
Blessings
Mark S. Weller
Composer/Songwriter
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Listening to it now, for the first time. It's great...classic SP
at his full-orchestration best. Wonderful to hear that familiar Peter
Robinson keyboard style again in a Shawn album.
Since I know most of the songs already, it flows (to me) more like a
Greatest Hits record, than a cohesive album. The new songs are nice too.
Calicos and Rainbows is really sweet.
Vocals are strong and don't show any strain, as they sometimes do in the
live concerts. No great vocal gymnastics, but some nice scatting in Free
Samples, and the range is still there throughout, though maybe not quite
as wide as in 'yesteryear'.
(The vocals could have been mixed a little more 'up front' in some of
the tunes...sometimes get a bit lost behind the instrumentation.)
The one thing that disappointed me was that One Way Ticket seems to be
the only tune on the whole album with backing vocals, where Shawn sings
harmony with himself...as he does so well.
The new arrangement of Moonshine is interesting. Lots of "ear candy" to
listen to, especially with headphones.
Peace Song came out great...nothing really different (style-wise) than
we've heard before, but superb instrumentation, very clean, and well-
(not over-) produced. The spoken "Star Trek"-type intro from TTIIK was
skipped this time around.
Power of a Woman is now kinda snappy.... jazzy...not the ballad it was
before.
Moneydance is really the rocker of the bunch. Sounds great...better than
on TTIIK. It's great to see Shawn's vision of recording the TTIIK tunes
with live musicians, as he originally intended, finally come true. This
tune really shows it.
Par for the Course was a great surprise! He said on the liner notes:
"Anyone who has ever played in a band, or been on a stage in a bar
filled with an apathetic crowd can relate to this". What he did was to
take the short trucker's "gettin too old for this shit" poem he has
recited before, and put it to music in a "local band in a noisy bar"
atmosphere, where he gets little to no reaction from the crowd. Ends
with a dejected, "yeah...thanks". (as a bar performer myself, I can
certainly relate!!!) Ronnee
Got the CD yesterday. wow. no. WOW!
Shawn has once again proven that he is a world class musician of
immense talent. from the vocals, the arrangements, the
production...et al, I am dazzled. when next you speak with him
(or e-mail) please let him know from me that his music only gets better
with age. as a musician myself, I have a deep appreciation for
the hard work he has put into all these years and songs and concerts.
God bless
Charles Dietzel
I just received my copy of
NC. I am so delighted with the arrangements and the recording
style of this CD. The clarity of the instruments and Shawn's
vocals are incredible. The cut of "most of us don't understand", I
feel should be on the air. It is to date, in my opinion, a
masterpiece. Every detail of this song is perfection. I sat
in bliss, listening to each note as if it were placed by God. I
can tell you, this one piece is worth the cost and more of the CD. Great
care was taken in the compositions and recording and Shawn as usual
sounds wonderful. I haven't had the chance as yet to sit in my
music room and absorb each song in it's entirety, but I look forward to
that this weekend. Kathy |
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Copyright Shawn Phillips, all right
reserved.
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