Circus Maximus - Circus Maximus (11 tracks) +Album Reviews

One Song Makes it All Worthwhile

Kurt Harding | Boerne TX | 03/31/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I almost never recommend an album on the basis of the strength of one song, but here I'll make an exception. "Wind" carries this album and completely blows the rest of the songs away. I first heard the song on Phoenix FM station KDKB, a station that was once in the vanguard of progressive music, back in the mid-70s. I suspected that the band received airplay only because of the Jerry Jeff Walker connection yet there is very little Walker influence apparent in its music. Without Walker, this album would likely have gotten no airplay and would have faced quick consignment to the cutout bins. When I bought the album in order to own a recording of Wind, I was disappointed in the utter lack of merit in any of the other songs. But I was pleased that I now owned a copy of that sophisticated jewel of a song I wanted - Wind - and that five-star, piano-driven jazzy tune is the one song that makes the album worthwhile. If you haven't heard Wind, you owe it to yourself to ensure that you do."

A must-own classic for one song

Michael J Edelman | Huntington Woods, MI USA | 08/23/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Most of this album is pretty forgettable 60s-era psychadelia, but there's one song- Bob Bruno's 60s classic "Wind"- that makes this an absolute must-have for anyone who grew up in the 1960s. I spent years tracking down this album in the late 1970s, so of course I was thrilled when it came out on CD.If you remember "Wind", you'll know why you need this album. If you've never heard it, get the CD and treat yourself to one of the great classics of that era."

Buy it for "Wind", listen to it for a delicious time warp

Moldyoldie | Motown, USA | 08/25/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"As have other reviewers; I, too, made a personal quest for this album just to have in my possession that delightful jazzy number titled "Wind". However, I was fortunate enough to find it on an original Vanguard LP pressing. Later, I would also pick up this CD release. Let me state flatly that the sound of the LP is warmer, not as compressed sounding, and devoid of a few technical hiccups found on the CD. Though slightly disconcerting, these few glitches wouldn't dissuade me from recommending purchase of this disc, mainly since its now the only available method of hearing this ingratiating album.

Yes, the bulk of the songs are mostly derivative in style and substance. Those tunes written by Bob Bruno (with that one fabulous exception!) will take you back to a time when jangle and fuzz guitar and organ were all the rage. It would make for good background music at a mid-'60s retro party. The tunes of Jerry Jeff Walker are played and sung in a disarming folk/pop manner with lyrics exuding a developing heartfelt cynicism. Present-day fans of Jerry Jeff would definitely get a kick out of this!

"Wind", however, is a tune that transcends everything else to be heard here. Why it strikes a chord with so many is difficult to pin down, suffice it to say that its charms are both true and timeless...and make the album well worth the purchase."

Great writing, playing and singing; superb lyrics

Phil Rogers | Ann Arbor, Michigan | 12/05/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The first few times you listen, some of you will probably think, like I did, how certain of these songs (2, 3, 6-8) could have come from a Byrds or Moby Grape album, or even 'Revolver'. And there is another song group that has a harder garage or punk sound to them (1, 4, 8, 10). And then there are the odd ones of the bunch, the long, beautiful early underground jazz-rock classic 'Wind', and the very slow, new American folk ballad 'Fading Lady'. But these early attempts at classifying mostly fade into uselessness the more you listen. The [4 and 5 star] songs here [the ones that keep getting better and better the more you hear them] are both rhythmically and melodically more inventive and complex than any of the models with which one wishes to compare them. This makes for more enriched listening the more you hang out with them. The lead singing (on all the tracks) is excellent and unusually varied from song to song; and the blend of harmony vocals are as good as anything the Byrds, Beach Boys, CSN&Y or even those 4 bright lads from Liverpool could muster during their much longer careers. Mind you, though that Walker's and Bruno's voices are definitely not as finely tuned individually as were those more illustrious (?) contemporaries. And believe me, these guys can really play their instruments!And I repeat, this is one of the only albums I have hung out with that continues to amaze me more and more with all its levels of sound interaction. This extends to the range of meanings given forth by the lyrics [once you begin to really hear the words and grasp these evolving messages]. One severe criticism, given how incredible many of the lyrics are, is that on a couple few of the more raunchy sounding tunes, it's extremely difficult to understand their words.In many ways, Circus Maximus' lyrics generally surpass most of what was being done at the time (as well as later on) - specifically in the manner they grab one's mind and/or heart. All of the song lyrics on the album are densely evocative! Even when I think they're trying to be obscure, I realize how amazingly intent both Bruno and Walker are as to the ever-present prospect of turning the phrase, re-inventing the language. Taken metaphor by metaphor, it's really not hard to grasp. They say things many others have said, but so often do it in a way that makes it into something utterly new, fresh and (get this!) - revealing, and psychologically invigorating. In other words, they'll get your head spinning, and your pulse might just jump, and more than a few times . . . To make for an easier entry to the intricacies that are contained herein, one might consider listening to the 5-star songs first (2, 7-8, 11) first, then the 4 star songs (4, 6), and finally 3 stars (1, 9) and 2 stars (5, 10). Then again, why not scrap this subjectively based strategy and just dive into it?There are abundant opportunities here to subject oneself to precious little rushes in the chest . . . taken all together, this music is of rare quality and of deep profundity, and is awesomely serendipitous throughout. But you have to listen to it rather intensively for awhile in order for its magic to begin to work properly."

Catching up with the Past

Geoffrey Huys | 01/29/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Growing up in Indiana during the 60's did not afford much opportunity to find music like Circus Maximus until I discovered I could listen to WBZ AM 1030 from Boston late at night. A whole new world of music opened up to me including bands like Ultimate Spinach, Strawberry Alarm Clock and Circus Maximus. I was able to purchase the original Vanguard LP and still have it safely stored but unplayed for lack of a turntable for many years.

Everyone remarks about the song "The Wind" which is certainly one of the highlights of this album. But if you take the time to listen to the other tracks you'll find some incredible music that is so emblematic of the era. Sure it sounds a little rough and edgy compared to many things we've heard since, but there is raw energy in this album.

For all the years I've had this album it was only with the CD release that highlighted the work of the previously unknown Jerry Jeff Walker that I connected the more recent work of Jerry Jeff with his roots. For a number of years I hosted a radio show and played a fair amount of JJW but never connected the young Walker with the one performing today.

But this album! You won't be sorry."

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