AOW - Wk 7
Francis Dunnery - Let's Go Do What Happens.
Francis Dunnery is a transplanted Brit, now living on a farm somewhere in Vermont. In his early days, he fronted a Prog Rock band called "It Bites" (which apparently were a UK success); as a solo act, he's known for his guitar skills (backing up Robert Plant and Carlos Santana, among others), and an attachment to Astrology (apparently once wrote an astrology column for Billboard)
Let's Go Do What Happens (1998) is his fourth solo release -
Some things I like about the album -
First - FD has an unabashed sense of spirituality and optimism in humanity that come out in his lyrics. Sort of reminds me of a movie I saw with the kids this weekend - Elf - wide-eyed wonder in a cynical world.
Second - Has some pulsating, guitar-and-drum driven power pop, especially "My Own Reality" which had some radio play, "Sunflowers" "Crazy is a Pitstop", "I-95" (great driving song, like you'd expect), and the closing piece of rebel rock - "Give Up Your Day Job" - lyric excerpt below:
"Children has society got you by the scruff of the neck
Have they got you all pumped up on prozac
Has the government got you thinking that they really care about you
Have you stopped listening to your own inner voice
by watching all that disaster TV
Well I have a message for you, well I have a message for you amen
Tune in, turn on and smash it all up, because nothing really matters
Like you think it does anyway"
The album certainly mellows out a bit - "Perfect Shape" and "Crazy Little Heart of Mine" are mid-tempo jaunty love songs. At its most stripped down ("Home in My Heart" and "Revolution"), it's just the plaintive voice of FD and an acoustic guitar.
Another tune "Riding on the Back" (a song about destiny) is jazz tinged - with flute/flugelhorn/trumpet/trombone/sax and hammond organ. Great stuff.
On a twilight zone personal note - just happened to see that the backing trumpet/fluegelhorn player is Barry Danielian, whom I went to HS with. All-Eastern HS musician then, well-respected NY session man now (lots of work with Tower of Power, Spyro Gyra, and more).
Francis Dunnery - Let's Go Do What Happens.
Francis Dunnery is a transplanted Brit, now living on a farm somewhere in Vermont. In his early days, he fronted a Prog Rock band called "It Bites" (which apparently were a UK success); as a solo act, he's known for his guitar skills (backing up Robert Plant and Carlos Santana, among others), and an attachment to Astrology (apparently once wrote an astrology column for Billboard)
Let's Go Do What Happens (1998) is his fourth solo release -
Some things I like about the album -
First - FD has an unabashed sense of spirituality and optimism in humanity that come out in his lyrics. Sort of reminds me of a movie I saw with the kids this weekend - Elf - wide-eyed wonder in a cynical world.
Second - Has some pulsating, guitar-and-drum driven power pop, especially "My Own Reality" which had some radio play, "Sunflowers" "Crazy is a Pitstop", "I-95" (great driving song, like you'd expect), and the closing piece of rebel rock - "Give Up Your Day Job" - lyric excerpt below:
"Children has society got you by the scruff of the neck
Have they got you all pumped up on prozac
Has the government got you thinking that they really care about you
Have you stopped listening to your own inner voice
by watching all that disaster TV
Well I have a message for you, well I have a message for you amen
Tune in, turn on and smash it all up, because nothing really matters
Like you think it does anyway"
The album certainly mellows out a bit - "Perfect Shape" and "Crazy Little Heart of Mine" are mid-tempo jaunty love songs. At its most stripped down ("Home in My Heart" and "Revolution"), it's just the plaintive voice of FD and an acoustic guitar.
Another tune "Riding on the Back" (a song about destiny) is jazz tinged - with flute/flugelhorn/trumpet/trombone/sax and hammond organ. Great stuff.
On a twilight zone personal note - just happened to see that the backing trumpet/fluegelhorn player is Barry Danielian, whom I went to HS with. All-Eastern HS musician then, well-respected NY session man now (lots of work with Tower of Power, Spyro Gyra, and more).