Search - Saints :: Prodigal Son

"I could fill a palace with lost ideals"

leoparddog | Dallas | 05/04/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a great album by the latter-day version of the Saints. The music (guitar, bass, and drums, with strings or horns complementing a few tracks) is very straightforward and infectious, and the lyrics, while philosophical, are very concise as well. Chris Bailey is the only founding member of the Saints at this point, but he has the distinct voice of the Saints. He sounds not unlike Them-era Van Morrison at times, and his spirited vocals are the perfect compliment to these soul-searching tunes.The songs: "Ghost Ships", "Stay", "Massacre", and the opening track "Grain of Sand" are imbedded in my long-term memory. Like the reviewer below, I was glad to rediscover this in CD. There is nothing really musically groundbreaking on "Prodigal Son", just great, memorable songs. It's important to mention that this version of the Saints defers greatly from the late seventies version of "I'm Stranded" fame. While the earlier version produced an adrenaline rush via fast-paced, punk-energized songs driven by Ed Kuepper's distorted guitar stylings, this latter incarnation focuses on introspective pop utilizing jangling electric and acoustic guitar, strings, and horns. Not the best summary of the two styles, but I think a distinction should be made. Take a listen."