Reviews
Review of "Gracious Window"
As requested, I'm banging out a few comments on Peter's album, to which I have given a serious listen. I did have a serious concern as soon as I saw the digital time readout. As you know, I would happily support federal legislation to impose a mandatory maximum length of 39 minutes and 24 seconds for albums, and three minutes and 17 seconds for individual tracks. I haven't heard many non-Dylan albums or songs that justify an exception, so the 61-minute length of the album --- for me, at least --- is too much. If I had been producing, I would have saved a few tracks for an EP, or the next disc.
That said, though, I was quite pleasantly surprised. Most of the ridiculous volume of singer-songwriter albums I get in my line of work are pretty much landfill: i.e. no songs. In most cases, you could play the disc 20 times and still draw a blank when you look at the titles.
Not so with Gracious Window. The disc's big strength is that most of the songs have an individual identity --- and that's due, in large part, to some intelligent and creative arrangements. The violin playing is particularly effective. As for specifics, the subtle Middle Eastern riff that launches The Bells, and the song's faintest hint of reggae make it a standout. The following song is even better. Not only did I dig the way News From On High shifted between taut ballad and blues in its structure, but I appreciated its take-no-prisoners lyrics. That early one-two punch is a high point.
Other nice touches: the Al Kooper-ish organ that opens Dancing Thanks, and the organ/ pedal steel combo that drives the T-Bone Burnett-styled minor-key ballad Light Me Up. (Speaking of which, Peter's everyman, friendly vocals do remind me of T-Bone in a reflective mood.) I can also see why Christus Victor is his most requested song: it's a beaut; made me feel like I was at a 1967 folk mass.
The highest compliment I can pay the album is that it could cross over from the Christian rock ghetto if people in the music biz had any guts or brains.
Cheers
Bernie Perusse,
Bernie is a music writer at the Montreal Gazette
Review of "Gracious Window"
As requested, I'm banging out a few comments on Peter's album, to which I have given a serious listen. I did have a serious concern as soon as I saw the digital time readout. As you know, I would happily support federal legislation to impose a mandatory maximum length of 39 minutes and 24 seconds for albums, and three minutes and 17 seconds for individual tracks. I haven't heard many non-Dylan albums or songs that justify an exception, so the 61-minute length of the album --- for me, at least --- is too much. If I had been producing, I would have saved a few tracks for an EP, or the next disc.
That said, though, I was quite pleasantly surprised. Most of the ridiculous volume of singer-songwriter albums I get in my line of work are pretty much landfill: i.e. no songs. In most cases, you could play the disc 20 times and still draw a blank when you look at the titles.
Not so with Gracious Window. The disc's big strength is that most of the songs have an individual identity --- and that's due, in large part, to some intelligent and creative arrangements. The violin playing is particularly effective. As for specifics, the subtle Middle Eastern riff that launches The Bells, and the song's faintest hint of reggae make it a standout. The following song is even better. Not only did I dig the way News From On High shifted between taut ballad and blues in its structure, but I appreciated its take-no-prisoners lyrics. That early one-two punch is a high point.
Other nice touches: the Al Kooper-ish organ that opens Dancing Thanks, and the organ/ pedal steel combo that drives the T-Bone Burnett-styled minor-key ballad Light Me Up. (Speaking of which, Peter's everyman, friendly vocals do remind me of T-Bone in a reflective mood.) I can also see why Christus Victor is his most requested song: it's a beaut; made me feel like I was at a 1967 folk mass.
The highest compliment I can pay the album is that it could cross over from the Christian rock ghetto if people in the music biz had any guts or brains.
Cheers
Bernie Perusse,
Bernie is a music writer at the Montreal Gazette
All content copyright Peter Tigchelaar
