Ezra Furman & The Harpoons
The album starts like this: The drums beat out a rolling and tumbling train-like rhythm. The singer says: "Hello. This song is called Mother's Day. It's about a whore that I knew in Chicago. Here it goes...goes..." And within seconds Chicago's Ezra Furman & The Harpoons instantly have you hooked. And it reminds me of that very exciting, very first and very nervy Violent Femmes album that was so sure of itself. And in that same way Furman's got some of that early Jonathan Richman thing going on as well. Okay - Furman comes on like an indie-rock Gordon Gano with a bit of that shrill Alec Ounsworth vocal thing. But what's clear is that Ezra & The Harpoons debut album, Banging Down The Doors on Minty Fresh is one of the most dynamic debuts this year. The band swings with just enough rock & roll looseness and grittiness balancing the intensity that Ezra himself brings to the table. He's maniacal and crazy, tender and endearing and his over the top confidence just bursts from every note played on every song on this record.
While the intensity of Furman's singing style reminds me of the Femmes/Lovers, it also reminds me a lot of the brilliant debut from Steve Forbert called Alive On Arrival, a record that came out in 1978. And as Forbert owed much to Dylan (what singer-songwriter doesn't?), Forbert took the language of the same old song and crafted some incredible music with it. Lyrically there was a highly developed sense of story-telling, and musically Forbert's youthful delivery and passion for finding "the truth" was delivered with incredible genuineness.
Maybe Steve Forbert is completely of the wrong era for me to use as context for Furman. But it's the qualities of the music that ties the generations together. I sure don't wish to blow whatever indie-cred or rock & roll buzz Furman's trying to create by comparing him to some classic rock era singer-songwriter like Forbert, but I gotta give it up to Furman for - intentionally or not; directly or not - making a record that sounds as if it's the last most important record he's ever gonna make. Of course, I hope not. Because Furman is nothing less alive on arrival himself.
How Long Diana - Ezra Furman
I Dreamed of Moses - Ezra Furman
Head over to Ezra's myspace for more music. And buy the album.
Music MP3 music
While the intensity of Furman's singing style reminds me of the Femmes/Lovers, it also reminds me a lot of the brilliant debut from Steve Forbert called Alive On Arrival, a record that came out in 1978. And as Forbert owed much to Dylan (what singer-songwriter doesn't?), Forbert took the language of the same old song and crafted some incredible music with it. Lyrically there was a highly developed sense of story-telling, and musically Forbert's youthful delivery and passion for finding "the truth" was delivered with incredible genuineness.
Maybe Steve Forbert is completely of the wrong era for me to use as context for Furman. But it's the qualities of the music that ties the generations together. I sure don't wish to blow whatever indie-cred or rock & roll buzz Furman's trying to create by comparing him to some classic rock era singer-songwriter like Forbert, but I gotta give it up to Furman for - intentionally or not; directly or not - making a record that sounds as if it's the last most important record he's ever gonna make. Of course, I hope not. Because Furman is nothing less alive on arrival himself.
How Long Diana - Ezra Furman
I Dreamed of Moses - Ezra Furman
Head over to Ezra's myspace for more music. And buy the album.
Music MP3 music
posted by Bruce at 8:18 PM
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