Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Richmond Fontaine Just Got Better, 27 May 2005
An awesome album from a band that just gets better. Eleven songs of stunning beauty and eloquence that after several outings grow and grow on the conciousness. Songs that evoke the stark reality of downtrodden America with such vividness that you could almost immerse yourself in them. From stunning acoutic tracks to electric songs that invade your mind and make you want to play them again and again this album takes over your musical life. Highlights include Disappeared, The Janitor and Wellhorn Yards- three beautiful tracks that deserve to be heard. Comparisons are meaningless - no one tells stories like this and the musical integrity is stunning. Please go see this band live - it is an experience you won't forget. A nicer bunch of guys you couldn't meet and I can't wait for album number 7.
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13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Haunting beautiful tales., 21 Jun 2005
Okay... sorry to be so predictable and award 5 stars, but this is a truly astonishing record. A masterpeice that just gets better and better the more you listen to it.
The alt. country scene is saturated and quality control seems to be non-existent, but amongst the rubbish there is inevitably a few jems, and Richmond Fontaine are a band who have delivered consistently since their forth LP, 'Winnemucca'.
But 'The Fitzgerald' is clearly their best yet. A set of downbeat songs, that, like artists such as Tom Waits, have the magical ablitity to take the listener to the heart of the song. The lyrics are key here, and Willy Vlautin tells dark, and beautiful tales, punctuated with moments of sadness and despair which paint a rather bleak, and hopelessly romantic picture of small town America. 'The Janitor' is a classic example, although unlike many songs, ends on a high note as the hospital patient, a battered wife, is saved by the hospital janitor who had fallen in love with her during her recuperation. It is genuinely touching.
Just don't expect anything above mid-tempo, as unlike previous releases, this is mainly acoustic and keyboard driven. But like all the best records, it has you coming back for more and more, again and again. The stories are intoxicating and fascinating. And the forthcoming Willy Vlautin novel should also be well worth tracking down.
This band deserves your attention, and 'The Fitzgerald' is a great place to start.
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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best So Far ?, 20 May 2005
This is the record that they've been building towards over the last few years - a masterpiece . Lyrically and musically the band excel on this one and it's very much a quiet , delicate sound with acoustic guitar to the fore. I still have a love for certain tracks on Winnemuca and Post To Wire but i think that over all , as a piece , this is their best effort so far.
I'd compare it to "dark" classics like Nebraska and Tonights The Night ,its got a similar late - night feel.
Can see me playing this one forever.........
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