Search - Gary Heffern :: Painful Days

A great CD from start to finish.....

Dreamin' | Rock City, USA | 02/24/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

".....and a damn shame that this CD is out of print. Gary is one of those talented songwriters who fall through the cracks. No format claims him and very few people know of the musical bliss that is Gary Heffern. He writes songs in the folk rock/Leonard Cohen style. I could highlight a few songs for you but it isn't that type of CD. Words cannot do justice to this man's music. This is a complete musical statement from beginning to end. You should be alone when listening, in a dark room with no distractions.The company Gary keeps is somewhat interesting. For an "unknown" musician such talented people like Peter Buck, Scott McCaughy, Glenn Slater, Victoria Williams and Marc Olsen guest on different songs throughout this recording. Even King Edward Vedder the first makes an appearance on the song "Passin' Through" (billed as Wes C. Addle....Get it West Seattle.....How clever). So if some one could get this puppy back in print and maybe let a few more people in on the talents of Mr. Heffern you will find this CD very hard to get out of your CD player."

Out of print? What a shame!

Curt Whitacre | Cincinnati, Ohio United States | 03/11/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This fantastic CD is a great companion to Victoria Williams' "Sweet Relief" with another great, folksy song by Ed Vedder and Williams, called "Passin' Thru". Though not quite as good as "Crazy Mary", it definitely shows a less often seen aspect of Ed's talent. Get this bad boy back in print.And thanks to the first reviewer. Can you believe I actually never got the "Wes C Addle" pun until he spelled it out? Boy am I embarrassed."

Country-Flavored Mope Music

Kurt Harding | Boerne TX | 08/06/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"If it had not been for the recommendation of an old school friend, I might never have heard of Gary Heffern. Judging by the volume of his output, his solo recording career was short and not particularly renowned. So the main issue becomes one of whether or not any of his recordings are worthwhile. That depends on what kind of music you like. If country-flavored mope music appeals to you, then Painful Days should be in your future.

Painful Days is an album that kind of lives up to its name. There is little upbeat about the music. It sounds like a series of dirges that might have fit well as soundtrack numbers in a noirish American gothic style of film. That's not to say there aren't any good songs, there are several I like quite well but there are others I find far too repetitious. My favorites are the depressing (Out on the Streets) Junk Is Still King; the narrative Living Is a Job Because Of People Like You; and the bluegrass flavored Torture Rack.

Overall, this is an enjoyable album but you have to be in the mood for it. You get just over three-quarters of an hour's worth of the kind of country-rock and folk of the kind that ushered in the 70's but with decidedly darker overtones. In addition, an insert featuring song info, pictures and the artist's heartfelt thanks to everyone this side of Port Angeles is included. If you had never before heard of Gary Heffern, here's a great opportunity to truthfully say that you now have."