Search - Eugene Kelly :: Man Alive

Man Alive
Eugene Kelly
Man Alive
Genres: Alternative Rock, Folk, Pop, Rock
 
  •  Track Listings (14) - Disc #1

Man Alive by Eugene Kelly

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Eugene Kelly
Title: Man Alive
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Sympathy 4 the R.I.
Original Release Date: 1/1/2005
Re-Release Date: 9/13/2005
Genres: Alternative Rock, Folk, Pop, Rock
Styles: Indie & Lo-Fi, Singer-Songwriters, Folk Rock
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 790276076327

Synopsis

Album Description
Man Alive by Eugene Kelly

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CD Reviews

A great record from a music deity
JohnELaw | Indianapolis | 05/13/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)

"It was 1992, when Eugenius released Oomallama, that I was first introduced to Eugene Kelly. I'd known of Eugene's first band, the Vaselines, from friends who worked with me at the radio station (WBOR in Maine) and SubPop's "The Way of the Vaselines" gave me a decent taste of that early stuff. And then all the hoopla of Cobain calling the Vaselines his favorite band, the Vaseline's reunion to open for Nirvana, etc. But it was "Breakfast" on Oomallama that caught my attention and sucked me into that record - which remains one of my favorites now 15 years later.



The second Eugenius full length, Mary Queen of Scots, was a decent effort but it fell well short of the strengths of Oomallama. I saw Eugenius as they supported that record - in Atlanta, opening for, of all bands, Urge Overkill (I think I was the only one there to see Eugnius, and they were head and shoulders better than Urge). But then Eugene disappeared. That was 1994.



I'd heard rumors that Eugene would be releasing a solo record, but I am well outside "the scene" these days and just learned of the release recently. After getting the run around from teenagers at the local indie record shops, I decided to hit Amazon and thank goodness they got it to me.



Man Alive is a really charming record. Straight ahead guitar pop of the Scottish variety (think Teenage Fanclub, not Belle & Sebastian) with hints of the Byrds. The records is largely without the fuzz of his Eugenius records, but it's still clearly Mr. Kelly making wonderful pop music with a dash of cynicism. And while it is largely a lower-key affair, he still knows how and when to give it a kick. 'Stop the Press' and 'Older Faster' stick out every time I listen, and I unexpectedly find myself humming 'Dear John' or 'You're Having My Sex' at work or on the drive home. But top to bottom, this record has no duds, and my neighbors at work are starting to inquire about this pleasant albeit cynical music they hear sneaking from my office. Given their tastes in music, that says a lot about Eugene's latest...



It's 2007 and I've just discovered my favorite record of 2005. The Scots consistently make the best indie pop you'll find - and Eugene Kelly re-established himself as a deity of the genre-

"
Not His Best Work
Brian J. Greene | Durham, NC | 07/28/2008
(3 out of 5 stars)

"Fans of the Vaselines and Eugenius must have been excited to see this come out a few years back. But the mood might have dampened a bit when they started hearing the record. This is not BAD music by any stretch, but it's just not prime Eugene Kelly. He still shows a great wit here, and once in a while hits a nice melody line, but overall the material falls flat. Not enough hooks, not enough memorable lyrics, not much of a sense of a gifted songwriter and performer on a roll. No, better stick with The Way of the Vaselines and Oomalama and hope for a return to form at some other time.

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