The Canadians seem to like Folker

[imwesley]

The Toronto Sun gives it 4 out of 5 stars...http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/TorontoSun/Entertainment/2004/09/05/616674.html

This also includes a review of Matthew Sweet's new record released today...another must purchase for me.

The Ottawa Xpress has incredible high praise for Folker and Paul in general...http://www.ottawaxpress.ca/music/music.aspx?iIDArticle=4040


"This is the last songwriter to make an album as good as the Stones Exile On Main Street, and that was 2002's Stereo/Mono. Simply put, there is no songwriter even close to old Westy other than Jeff Tweedy of Wilco and even he is miles away. Since disowning any affiliation with a major label, Westy has been recording in his basement, cranking out riffs that would make Keith Richards and Jimmy Reed proud, all the while maintaining his swagger in the face of commercial failure which has dogged him since leading the legendary Replacements in the '80s. While people like Ryan Adams and the Goo Goo Dolls have made money lifting his lines, Westy has the last laugh with Folker, the most essential and most honest album of 2004.'

Couldn't have said it better myself.

Wesley

[imwesley]

Another Canadian review I forgot to mention...this time from last weeks online edition of Now Toronto.

"Folker is exactly what one expects from a record of folkish songs by Paul Westerberg at this stage. A wry and endearing collection of tunes with as much humour as sadness, Folker has hints of Dylan at times, and a poppier jangle in others. Still, it remains recognizably Westerberg throughout, with lyrics ranging from the personally revealing My Dad through the nonsensically cute to the narrative of $100 Dollar Groom. The production is loose, and the years of wear and tear have just added character to Westerberg's voice, supporting the romantic notion that destroying oneself adds to one's appeal. Some of the tunes are annoyingly long, some lyrics self-indulgent and bitter, but tracks like 23 Years Ago make up for it."

[A Regular]

imwesley said:

Some of the tunes are annoyingly long, some lyrics self-indulgent and bitter, but tracks like 23 Years Ago make up for it."

I think some would argue that 23 years IS one of the tunes that is annoyingly long, self indulgent and bitter.

[scoOter]

A said:

I think some would argue that 23 years IS one of the tunes that is annoyingly long, self indulgent and bitter.

true 'dat!

(but i am warming up to it)