Search - Good Ship :: Good Ship

Subtle and Majestic

02/08/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The rumors are true: on their first nationwide tour to promote this and their other band's CD (Lovers' "Starlit Sunken Ship") the Good Ship lost every piece of band equipment, and most of their personal belongings, when the axle on their RV broke, unloosing a tank of propane into a spark field that combined to engulf the vehicle. The band escaped without injury, and they continued on, borrowing equipment and fulfilling their obligations to clubs across the country. Their decision to make the best of a horrible situation is no surprise. In the band's music, beauty often unfolds alongside desolation; the mundane is given color, shape, and life. Whatever the subject, the music just makes me feel good.Beyond surviving their first tour, Good Ship's main achievement is not giving over the band's sound to easy pop tastes or to their obvious instrumental talents. Good Ship's two guitar virtuosos, Jesse Flavin and Daniel Rickard (wunderkind of Viva's Blanksidesongs) are studies in discretion, guys with rock chops whose strings sing like cellos. Their prudence pushes Rob Lomax's songwriting to the fore, his dusty voice sketching sympathetic portraits of an array of characters-mythical military men, secretaries, storybook characters, a drive-in movie employee. One of my favorites here is "Dream #4" a tale of hope lost in the New South that demonstrates Lomax's talent for melody (if not prophesy, given the political overhauls of recent months). The real shining moment, though, is the lovely "Eggleston Guide," a song inspired by the famed photographer's book release of the first color photography show at the Museum of Modern Art. This song finds Good Ship firing on all cylinders, as a memorable guitar/keyboard riff anchors an adventure through the lives of the book's subjects. This plush song is the perfect companion statement for Eggleston's groundbreaking work. "Birthday Suit" and "Sugarcane" fill out the core of a really strong first recording.This is one new band well worth checking out. I'm glad I did."

Fantastical Album!

jeremy sellers | Savannah, Ga | 02/10/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album is great. The musicianship is top-notch and the sound is awesome. The Good Ship's album is definitely one of the best collections of songs that I've heard in a long time. Probably if you like Will Oldham-type stuff, you'll probably like it. All in all, a fine effort."