Search - Wayne Kramer :: Adult World

Adult Rock Masterpiece!

Donald B. Payjack | Calgary, AB Canada | 08/21/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Wayne Kramer returns on his own record label with a rich and rewarding song cycle that, in several ways, may be his best yet... as adventuresome as "Citizen Wayne" but with much more consistent strength and quality in the songwriting... not a clinker or throw-away in the lot here!Sonically, the production takes a bit of getting used to... with programmed drums used on several tracks and the vocals mixed way up front, the vicious "take-no-prisoners" attack of his first two Epitaph solo outings is somewhat missing... but make no mistake... these are still guitar-driven songs... just delivered in a slightly more focussed, purposeful, and dare I say, "adult" manner.If you've ever appreciated the insightful, literary quality of Lou Reed's best work, but wished that his music consistently rocked harder, then this is an album you should check out... compelling and righteous rock & roll designed for humans with a brain and the ability to recognize and appreciate great art!Stands up extremely well to repeated listenings."

Needs Work

SamIAM | United States | 06/27/2003

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I hate to give Wayne Kramer a bad review, but the songs don't seem finished. Great guitar, weakened by lack of effort in the other parts of the song. I like this guy and I'm all for supporting the underdog, but not when the effort isn't there. This album could have been a masterpiece. But it sounds like nobody in the studio disagreed about anything, leading to a lack of passion & tension. Everytime a song gets going, and sounds great, they do something silly to make sure it doesn't sound "commercial". Maybe Kramer is still concerned that he might be labeled a sellout. I also think he sometimes lets politics get in the way of his creativity. This album is going in alot of different directions. A song starts out sounding like a great Rock'n'Roll song and then the half-hearted vocals ruin it. It seems as if he feels everyone knows he's not a great vocalist, so he can get away with half-hearted singing and poetic mumblings. Trying to show he's cool by knowing something esoteric and irrelevant. With a title like Adult World I was expecting something more polished. I still love this guy, but he has potential he hasn't tapped."