Search - Pat MacDonald :: Pat Macdonald Sleeps With His Guitar

Burn a backup copy and lock this album in a safe.

Greg Connell | Los Angeles, CA United States | 08/28/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For the last year or so, this first solo album of Timbuk 3 legend has been unlisted on amazon. I figured it unavailable. I wouldn't have even known, except it's currently in the possesion of my ex-girlfriend. I have been debating now for seven weeks if I should break down and call her in order to get it back. You see, the conflict lays out something like this: On one hand, I am missing my single favorite album in my entire collection. By collection, I mean 1000+ CDs. I listen to everything from Lhasa to Tortoise to Aceyalone and everything in between. Out of all of the beautiful music I own, this album has a penultimate position in my heart. I don't know why--it's just Pat with his wry lyric and punk-folk guitar. Is it the spectre of a divorce that charges this album? Is it climactic maturation of an artist who's been in the background since I was in fifth grade? I don't know, but there is magic here. NOW. THIS is the album that my once-upon-a-time-girl has floating around her collection. I ought to get it back TODAY. Now, okay, on the OTHER hand, though, she single-handedly introduced me to more music than I could ever name here. Had I not met her, I might have stopped right HERE with Pat. But interestingly enough, she never quite dug this record. To not call her is to increase the likelihood that someday she will stop sleeping on this joint. Despite its importance to me, to share this music with her would be worth my giving it up. So I don't call her and I continue missing this musical experience. Until today. I see the album is again available on Amazon. The debate is resolved. I'm ordering it right now. And if this drama hasn't convinced you, you should do the same. Also you can't get them over here in the States, but Pat has two albums AFTER this one that he released to a more receptive audience in Europe on a label called Ulftone. "Begging Her Graces" is the first, it's incredible, and the second, "Degrees of Gone" I do not yet have, as it was just released. ...."

MacDonald frets in public

Jon Hancock | Manchester, UK | 04/22/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"With his marriage and Timbuk 3 behind him it's hardly surprising that Pat MacDonald can be as cynical as ever. What is a surprise is that this first solo effort is so powerful with little more than the guitar of the title to drive it. Sadly the very best songs on the album, tracks like "Stupid Simple Song" and "Bone China," are not available on Amazon's sample list, but you'll still get a taste from what is presented. MacDonald can sing, he can certainly play and, above all that, he can write songs of remarkably high calibre. The sound may be pared down but that makes the whole thing sound more real than ever, intensely personal. Every time I play this album at work somebody asks where they can get a copy; and it just gets better the more you listen and leaves you eager for more. Luckily, his latest album "Begging Her Graces" is now out, although at the time of writing you'll have to order it from Amazon's British or German counterparts."

Cunning Linguist!!

Black Apple | Portland OR | 12/02/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a beautiful work of musicianship and wordsmithery. Pat has accomplishied so much since Timbuk 3 it's really astounding. His other records, "Beggging Her Graces", "In The Red Room"(Live) and his twist on Depeche Mode "PM Does DM" are all part of the southern gothic American landscape of our modern culture. Highly recommended!"