Search - Barry Reynolds :: I Scare Myself

The "Irony" Of It All!

Ralph Quirino | Keswick, Ontario Canada | 12/05/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Reynolds achieved a little notoriety as a session player for Marianne Faithfull on her Island albums, most notably BROKEN ENGLISH (a song Reynolds wrote). This first solo album (originally released in 1981) shows off his talent as a superb songwriter. From "Times Square" (where the song's hero checks into a hotel with a "pistol in my suitcase") to "Irony", "Bold Fenian Men" to a great remake of Dan Hicks' "I Scare Myself", this neglected album blended singer-songwriter, reggae and new wave styled pop effectively and enjoyably. Big thumbs up to Edsel U.K. for FINALLY releasing it on disc!"

Singer/songwriter on a reggaebase, top-level!

Bart Timmers (btimmers@worldonline. | 's-Heerenberg, Netherlands | 01/23/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As a music seller, amazone won't like that I tell you i bought this record in a sale for the price of a pack of coffee. But that was my first encounter with "I scare myself" by Barry Reynolds. Ofcourse I should have heard of him because he wrote great songs for other people, especially Marianne Faithfull, who also contributes to this album. So maybe it's the cheapest album I own, but it's also one of the best! If I write down the genre you probably will think: well, not my cup of tea, but singer-songwriter, or reggae, or ballad are just keywords, not genre. There is no genre for this music, just a rating: The highest rating I have in my music collection. I've listened to this record hundreds of times (I own more than 2000 titles and are always in lack of time, so it's not because I don't have anything else to do!) and it's always nice to hear. Songs, sometimes very slow ballads sung with a barely heard voice, sometimes with a reggae-rhythm (Sly & Robbie!)on which it's hard to stand still, but always songs with a high craftmansship (if that's the correct word in English) for songwriting. Well, the conclusion is obvious. You don't know me, so you don't know who to believe, but I can recommand this album to you with my heart and soul."

A Must-Have

Wendy C. Jones | 07/24/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Often the best music goes unpromoted and therefore unnoticed by music lovers; this is the sad truth for Barry Reynolds' "I Scare Myself." Reynolds is a superb songwriter, having written tunes covered by Marianne Faithfull, Grace Jones and Joe Cocker. Check out these artist's releases in which Reynolds was involved and you'll hear the signature Reynolds rhythm that will hook you every time. "I Scare Myself" contains some of the best-written pop songs ever. Reynolds is a minimalist: the lyrics are deep while being spare, the melodies get the job done without filler. Listen to Reynolds'guitar solo on the single "I Scare Myself" for a good example of this; the man says more with a few notes than other guitarists have said with thousands. While some of the songs contain the infectious Sly and Robbie Jamaican beat they are not necessarily dance songs. Wouldn't you feel silly dancing to "Broken English?" This collection of tunes will transport you to a place inside yourself that needs visiting. And you will wish Barry Reynolds had recorded again despite the lack of commercial support. Buy this disc."