Gloom, despair and agony on me!

[Tom]

being a fan of Starflyer 59 when you live in a cultural abyss (Arkansas) is sometimes hard. case and point: the past 4 releases by Starflyer 59 have been nearly impossible to get on the release date out here. it maketh me angry.
i've called every store around and the closest store that has it is 35 miles away!
they did have 1 copy in one store nearby, but SOMEBODY else bought it before i got there today! the fact that there is another Starflyer 59 fan lurking nearby is proof in itself that the world will soon end. forget the rabbit in Donnie Darko, THIS is the proof you seek!
in normal times, a 35 mile trip would be a no-brainer. but with gas costing a king's ransom these days... i may just have to wait.

did anybody here get to buy Starflyer 59 - Talking Voice vs. Singing Voice today?

it is fantastic isn't it? i wouldn't know, living as i do in the land where the music gods smile not.

ok, sorry, i just had to vent. but now this can be the thread where we all talk about SF 59's "TV vs. SV."

[Brenden]

I've only heard two songs, and they were excellent, so I'll probably buy the album eventually. But like you, I can't buy albums on release dates.

[Tom]

i finally got a copy. yes, i drove a long way to get it. but it was SO worth it. and now i must jump on a mini soap box.

Jason Martin (aka SF 59) IMO is THE most criminally overlooked songwriter out there. (side note: Sam Phillips is the 2nd most overlooked, but at least she gets props on NPR for crying out loud!)i like to say Over the Rhine & The Innocence Mission are, but they DO get props all over the place.
let's break it down. he's released 9 albums and at least 5 EP's since 1994.
ALL of them. i mean ALL of them contain fantastic songs, arrangements and artistry. Most of them are what i was would consider essential listening. Several are works of genius and are modern classics.

his growth and evolution as an artist is remarkable. from his early My Bloody Valentine (nobody else other than Slowdive came as close as he did to the chaotic beauty of My Bloody Valentine) inspired shoe-gazing to his current ultra smart, hook laden alternative rock he has been the most consistent songwriter i've heard. yes, even more consistent than Over the Rhine!!!

i just had to rant because i think his music should get more recognition than it does. Tooth & Nail sure could do a better job at promoting the band they claim to know is one of their most talented. i'd say SF 59 is the best thing T&N ever had, and they don't deserve to keep him when they do so little to promote his music. but i digress.

anyone else here share the love of SF59? let me hear you.

[Aaron]

I love SF59.  My favorite disc is the recorded-in-mono Leave Here A Stranger followed by I Am The Portugese Blues.  I am a fan of the gritty rock stuff but for some reason the sonic pleasures of an album recorded in mono sound such as LHAS does something for me.  I haven't bought the new album yet.  I might buy it in a couple months....after i pay some more bills.

[Wildcatblue7]

I've only heard a song from Talking Voice (Good Sons, I think the title was) but I LOVED it.

[Tom]

it is not easy to pick a fav SF59 album, but i'd say this is pretty close to how i'd rank some of them:

1. Leave Here A Stranger (i'm with TheWanderer here)
2. Old
3. Everybody Makes Mistakes
4. IATPB
5. Silver
6. Gold


{Talking Voice Vs. Singing Voice is too new to rank}

[Aaron]

Quality-wise, silver and gold are down near the bottom but as far as appealing my musical senses, I love the rawness of them, especially Silver

[Josh]

I wouldn't call myself a fan, really, but I do enjoy some of their music. My favorite is also Leave Here a Stranger, followed by The Fashion Focus.

[Josh]

AMG gives the new album high marks.

[cbluejays]

Could someone pub some Starflyer songs?

I'm sad to say I haven't heard any of their music.

[Brenden]

They have some stuff on purevolume, you could check that out too.

[danny316]

I couldn't find the new album in fricken' Seattle! The hipster kids are all shocked that I don't have it yet.

Oh, and for the people who wanted to hear an intro to them, go to SF59.net

[dgp11776]

Well, I have heard this album now.  Man, oh man...this is incredible!!  I haven't heard a ton of SF59's stuff.  In fact, this is only the fourth.  I have Leave Here a Stranger and Old, and I've heard I Am the Portuguese Blues.  In my worthless opinion, this tops them all.  I listened to it pretty much all weekend, and I'm settling on an A.

[Tom]

hey dgp11776, i can easily see how you might like this one best. it truly is growing on me too. i'm still not sure how i'd rank it overall yet, but suffice it to say this is one of SF59's very best albums.

[Jon]