Edgewise

Edgewise

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
If James Taylor is a watered-down imitation of Paul Simon, and Graham Nash is a watered-down imitation of Taylor, and Dan Fogelberg is a watered-down imitation of Nash, and Lowen & Navarro are a watered-down imitation of Fogelberg, then Vance Gilbert is a watered-down imitation of Lowen & Navarro. Gilbert's new album, "Edgewise," is an unasked-for revival of that late-'70s genre, fern-bar folk. It's hard to say why Philo Records picked Gilbert out of the thousands of guitar-strummers who sing Crosby, Stills & Nash songs in restaurant-bars across America (perhaps they held a lottery), but this Boston-based singer-guitarist has mastered all the elements: the whining self-pity, the cloying sensitivity, the Casio-like rhythms, the relentlessly cheerful major-chord melodies. --Geoffrey Himes

Tracks:

When Jimmy Falls in Love
Your Train
If These Teardrops Had Wings
Country Western Rap
Good Cup Of Coffee
Seamless Life
Witness To Joy
Lyin' Eyes
Slip Away
I'm Watching My Heart
Rocket To The Moon
King Of Rome

Amazon.com

If James Taylor is a watered-down imitation of Paul Simon, and Graham Nash is a watered-down imitation of Taylor, and Dan Fogelberg is a watered-down imitation of Nash, and Lowen & Navarro are a watered-down imitation of Fogelberg, then Vance Gilbert is a watered-down imitation of Lowen & Navarro. Gilbert's new album, "Edgewise," is an unasked-for revival of that late-'70s genre, fern-bar folk. It's hard to say why Philo Records picked Gilbert out of the thousands of guitar-strummers who sing Crosby, Stills & Nash songs in restaurant-bars across America (perhaps they held a lottery), but this Boston-based singer-guitarist has mastered all the elements: the whining self-pity, the cloying sensitivity, the Casio-like rhythms, the relentlessly cheerful major-chord melodies. --Geoffrey Himes

Customer Reviews:

Dissenter.......2007-01-21

There is undoubtedly a bias in these reviews for those who are pro. I am not. The guy looks nice enough, so I don't begrudge him a buck or two, but this music is inane and virtually unlistenable. Ask me again after I turn 70.

Good, but there is better.......2005-03-26

This guy is phenominally talented. I have seen him in concert on multiple occasions and each time I am more impressed than the last. His mastery of the fretboard, diverse and elegant vocals, and overall entertainment value are second to few. Go see him in person. You will not be disappointed. That said, this album is very good as well, but cannot compare to his live performances. Something is lost when you take a real, honest, gritty performer like Vance and try to smooth the edges and "plasticize" him in a recording studio.

I could not imagine my life without this CD!.......2001-04-13

Amazon review is way off. This album trembles with passion and heart. Yes, "country western rap" is a dumb folk song crowd-pleaser (but at least it rhymes). The rest of the record goes from raucous celebration to heartbreaking introspection with lyrics that are poetic in their nuance and observation. This is all just a fancy way of saying that this has become one of my very favorite albums, and it introduced me to one of my very favorite artists. I couldn't recommend it more highly.

Talent and hard work pay off.......2000-12-30

Having done some stage and studio work with Vance Gilbert years ago, I was eager to hear his first "official label" effort. And what a joy it is! As always, his voice can deliver bell-clear tenor tones or R&B growls...not to mention the occasional yodel, as "County Western Rap" demonstrates. His guitar picking is sophisticated without any flash-for-flash's-sake pyrotechnics -- just check out his instrumental break on "Watching My Heart" -- and he deftly weaves jazz harmonies into a folk framework without daring listeners to play Guess That Chord. And his lyrics manage to cover familiar topics from unfamiliar perspectives: give an ear to "Good Cup of Coffee" and tell me who else has sung about racism through the voice of an African American long-haul trucker? At any rate, I would urge potential listeners to take the (inexplicably harsh) editorial review with a grain of salt, and purchase "Edgewise." It isn't Vance's latest or best-produced effort, but it contains some of his most powerful and durable material. Then catch him live and really get your socks rocked.

Amazon review is way off.......1999-08-18

Vance is a very talented singer and a lyricist with wit! His version of Lyin' eyes is great, and his a-capella interpretation of King of Rome is beautiful. The lyrics in Rocket to the Moon tell an interesting story, and his vocal range in I'm Watching My Heart is great. On Country Western Rap, his wit shines through, and Good Cup of Coffee tells of still-existing racism. Highly recommended album.

Average customer rating:

Edgewise (2-cd set)

ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Alternative Folk | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Alternative Folk | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00005LB7X
Release Date: 2001-05-01

Tracks:

buckledown
odd man out
what were you thinking
riverboat
time losing
for whoever, i want to...
plot device
go look the moon
clumsy
olden rose
loose change
whiskey in the morning
solstice 1829
promise me
stop at the light
now you know
choosing cliches
only half awake
the highland

Tracks:

heartstrings
hideaway fair
how this was
caravan
for want of a better word
the love you send
torn and tattered
simple as falling
whistles
tryptic
picturing anywhere
person inside
picadilly circus
driftwood
cliches
king day
away

Album Description

an eclectic blend of modern folk/acoustic alternative with elements of progressive rock, jazz and celtic; akin to a cross between tori amos, cat stevens, old genesis/yes (albeit played acoustically); some pieces sound as if from the early 70's singer/songwriter genre, others are multiparted w/several key and time changes. Some guitar passages are akin to a celtic Leo Kottke. Primarily guitar/vocal w/effects, though there are some piano/vocals and keyboard interludes. This album, unlike his first, is a 2-cd set (for the price of one!) and has a "theme" to it; it paints a portrait of a person who is seemingly in a state of constantly being displaced in space and time...various reasons for this emerge and some pieces are written from different perspectives (outside observer, inside main characters' mind, etc.). While there are also a large # of "just songs" and lighter pieces, much of the album ties to the theme. Overall it is lyrically more advanced but the sound of it is similar to the first album (if you like "Breezes" you'll like this & vice-versa).

Average customer rating:

Very impressive!

Edgewise
Edgewise
Manufacturer: Gain Ground
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Hardcore | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00005MJWC
Release Date: 2000-02-29

Tracks:

Angel Face
In My Hands
Crime Pays
In The Past
Orange
Virgo
Lost In Space
Cardinal
Piss & Vinegar

Customer Reviews:

Very impressive!.......2001-10-01

This CD really rocks. It breaks right in with Angel Face. The whole CD is heavy and tight. Stand out songs are Angel Face, Piss & Vinegar and In My hands. This is a must for anyone into NY style hardcore.

Average customer rating:

Silent Rage
Edgewise
Manufacturer: Gain Ground (Ger)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00000210E
Release Date: 1996-01-18

Tracks:

Even The Score
Caught
Long Run
Silent Rage
Stance
Harsh Reality
In The Past
Tolerance (Remastered Version '95)

Average customer rating:

Edgewise
Edgewise
Manufacturer: Gain Ground (Ger)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00000210G
Release Date: 1997-08-20

Tracks:

Angel Face
In My Hands
Crime Pays
In The Past
Orange
Virgo
Lost In Space
Cardinal
Piss & Vinegar

Average customer rating:

Complete Discography
Edgewise
Manufacturer: Thorp Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00007KSAC
Release Date: 2003-01-28

Average customer rating:

Silent Rage Ep
Edgewise
Manufacturer: Gain Ground
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00005MJWD
Release Date: 1996-07-10

Tracks:

Even The Score
Caught
Long Run
Silent Rage
Stance
Harsh Reality
In The Past
Tolerance (Remastered Version '95)

Average customer rating:

Edgewise
Rob Schneiderman
Manufacturer: Reservoir Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

Hard Bop | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Modern Postbebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000056NMB
Release Date: 2001-01-30

Tracks:

Cleopatra's Dream
Edgewise
Just One Of Those Things
I'll Keep Loving You
What Is This Thing Called Love
Bud Powell Boulevard
In Walked Bud
Blue Pearl
Blues In The Closet
I'll Remember April

Average customer rating:

Edgewise
Edgewise
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Hardcore | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0000563FA

Tracks:

Angel Face
In My Hands
Crime Pays
In The Past
Orange
Virgo
Lost In Space
Cardinal
Piss & Vinegar

Average customer rating:

Can't get a word in

ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00005UN0Y
Release Date: 2001-10-26

Tracks:

SOLAR
SIDEWALK
FLYING SOLO
BY MYSELF
PRELUDE TO A WORM
ALRIGHT
WALK ON WATER
HELLO
SUNNY DAY
WINDOWS OF THE WORLD
TEMPORARY FRIEND
CAN'T GET A WORD IN

Music Review:

Music Review

music review

Recommended Music:

Bravo the Hits '98 [Import]

Great Violin & Cello Music

I Virtuosi, Volume I

Breakthrough

Hey Girl [Import]

Midnight Mover: The Bobby Womack Collection

Laffin' out Loud with the Lord

Georges Bizet: Carmen And L'Arlésienne Suites

In My High School

Huracanes en la Luna Plateada [Limited Edition] [Import]

Live at the Brixton Academy [Import]

Garden [Import]

Music: Artic Circles, Vol. 2

The Complete Masterworks Recordings, Vol. 4: The Legendary 1968 TV Concert

Wink