Search - arco :: coming to terms

Amazingly Gentle.

Eric Swanger | Chicago, IL USA | 08/03/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I cought a listen of this album on a listening station at a record shop in my neighborhood just today. I was pleasantly suprised! They are really fantastic, and I think better than most acoustic-driven bands out there. Much of the music has the feel of 1970's ballad, complete with introspective lyrics, warm strumming guitars, and soft vocals. Even though I hate comparing bands to other bands, I think it would be difficult to describe their sound without saying that they are reminiscent of Low, or Mojave 3 especially. But different enough to make the experience interesting. Chris Healey's voice wraps around you like a blanket, or a boy you've always secretly wanted to kiss. The music is always very gentle, but sometimes escalating into a little electrified tangent, with drums, plugged in guitars, strings, and hey-even a horn or two. The song "into blue" is haunting, reminding me of Cat Power in the melancholy department. My other favs are "speak," "driving at night," and "movie." If you like music in the genre of Low/Mojave3/Cat Power, then you will likely enjoy this album. It is slightly less morose, and more melodic than the forementioned. A great CD for a grey day."

Acutely heartbreaking

Eric Swanger | 12/12/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I first heard Arco when I downloaded an MP3 from a Web site. I think the track was "Driving at Night," a song which has been in heavy rotation with me for months. "It's like driving at night / when the illusion / I'm going somewhere / keeps me alive / Driving at night / in this confusion / better to travel / never arrive." Sure, it sounds depressing, and quite a few of his songs ultimately ARE, but Arco's songs and lyrics are so finely crafted and poignant, you almost can't help yourself. Others will see similarities to East River Pipe, Red House Painters or Mojave 3, and those comparisons are warranted, but Arco is by no means an also-ran or copycat. Other standout tracks on this too-short LP include "Alien" and "All This World.""

Arco - just buy it before it's gone

geoffbuckley | Rochdale, England | 09/06/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Probably in my top 10 all time albums (& I'm an old scrote) - an album of both bleak futility and genuine truth. Plus (in the UK) it's on Dreamy Recorders, who are top.
Don't think about it - you'll grow to love this more than most if you like your music simple and affecting"