Search - Savoy :: Savoy Songbook Vol 1

Pretty good selection to catch you up on a highly underrated

Mr W. T. Reilly Jr. | Downingtown, Pennsylvania United States | 09/07/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"RIYL:Stars, eels, snow patrol... maudlin ballads done in an alt-rock style. Great use of male/female vocalists. A collection of songs from their five studio albums (some songs have been re-done) and a few new songs: "Best Western Beauty"(the best one, would love to see it get U.S. radio support), "Karma Boomerang"(pretty good, very reminiscent of their previous work), and "Barefoot in a Denim Jacket" (It starts off very promising but like the worst a-ha songs, repeats the title of the song so much(see "Minor Earth, Major Sky") you just wish they'd figure out how to write a full chorus).

I've been following them from the beginning and would love to see them live, but apparently you have to live in Norway to see a band based in NYC these days.

This is the band that the primary songwriter from a-ha made with his wife (the one he was "hunting high and low" for). This isn't a-ha, though a-ha is coming closer to Savoy's sound in it's more recent incarnations.

Their first album, Mary is Coming, was released here in the U.S. and was easily found in bargain bins shortly thereafter. It had a definite edge to it (he takes a dig at his a-ha frontman in "Daylight's Wasting") and is rather unpolished, but it has probably their most accomplished song in "Velvet". This guy is the master of the mid-tempo ballad. When they rock out, you really wish they'd do it more (Foolish, Unsound). "Lackluster Me" is from their second and most thematic album. Like a-ha's "Scoundrel Days" it's Pal at his bravest and best. I also loved their third album, "Mountains of Time". It's a shame that song isn't on here. Lauren began singing more (if not for the first time) on this album, and it's a refreshing change. When they both sing on the same song it becomes really magical.

Then came, "Reasons to Stay Indoors", which is probably the best production they've had, but the worst songwriting they've done. It's not terrible or anything, just not up to their best, I think most of the songs are about being new parents. Whatever, they picked the right ones from it to put on this retrospective.

Their latest full album, simply titled "Savoy" was awesome, and you should get it. I don't really get why they re-worked the songs from that record on this one... it's not like it's old and I liked the original mixes better("Whalebone" "Breakers"). The frontman from Madrugada produced it. Their a great band that if you haven't heard them, you need to. Go get "Industrial Silence" and thank me later.

I really hope they keep going. Just a couple of shows in NYC (or Philly, if you really cared) would be great."

Great Music!

Ferrin Sanders | 01/03/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's too bad that this is only available as an import--but it's worth the price because there are a lot of wonderful songs on here. Very good songs are Rain, Best Western Beauty, Reasons to Stay Indoors, Lackluster Me, Man in the Park, Foolish, Unsound, Bottomless Pit, and You Should've Told Me. Best of all are Tears from a Stone, Velvet, End of the Line, The Breakers, and Face. The last 5 I listed are so good that I feel compelled to listen to them over and over and over..... Oh, that dreamy voice of Paul's!"