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| 1 | Buttercup Rag | | | | 2 | Egypt | | | | 3 | January Later | | | | 4 | Grace | | | | 5 | Right Angle | | | | 6 | Emily | | | | 7 | Song to the Season | | | | 8 | Bird Man | | | | 9 | Comfortable Ground | | |
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Serge_A_Storms
 qualitative enjoyment
[Rating18732150]
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I'll save you the drama coz I have no real words for this. This reviewer can only confirm that "Egypt" is all that its cracked up to be. Go on lollipop, give it a listen. |
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sixstringeddie
Digital
[Rating12282158]
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I found out about Pickering Pick quite soon after joining RYM and have dipped into his albums now and then as they appear on shuffle. But while on a coach trip through the rainy flatlands of Northern France I decided to turn on 'The Attic Tapes': I had forgotten what a piece of brilliance it is.
The bareness of the guitar coupled with a fragile voice gives this debut a maturity and strength that rivals the "best" of acoustic artists (the likes of Damien Rice, Jose Gonzalez and David Gray). However at the same time there is an inquiring youthfulness in the lyric, a daring poetry particularly in 'Egypt' and excellent imagery in 'Right Angle'. Those two, along with 'Song to the Season' are my favourite on the album.
Musically this album is also very impressive. 'Buttercup Rag' is wonderful, and really upbeat instrumental intro to an essentially reflective group of songs. The rhythmic singing in 'Emily' (another lyrical gem) is brilliant and the finger-picking in 'January Later' rivals Paul Simon (indeed that song has many Simon-esque quirks but with original twists).
The only track on here that I was originally dubious about was 'Grace' purely because of its message. For a long time I have been of the opinion that God and guitars should be distinctly kept apart from each other. Then, on discovering Sufjan Stevens, I realised that the two could be coupled in a really touching and sensitive way rather than the Evangelical triteness of middle-America or the unnecessary noise of the likes of P.O.D or Lamb of God. Here Pickering Pick has taken that idea of sensitivity and genuineness that is missing from so much modern religious "pop" music. It in fact has the best guitar part on the album and is now one of my favourite tracks.
This album has the feeling of a 'live' album most of the time which gives it an intimacy and an openness, something I cherish about it. For someone of my age (almost the age Sam was when he recorded 'The Attic Tapes') this album resonated with me in a very profound way. It speaks of a young man on the edge of freedom, fearing it, loving it and writing what he feels. Although this sounds very worthy I would say that at this moment in my life this album has had an extremely deep effect on me. After various inquiries I discovered that Pickering Pick (originally Sam Pick) attended the same school as I do. With myself being a singer/songwriter (A shameless plug: Dusty Colours) I was intrigued to see how the same institution influenced acoustic music, similarities with my work and Sam's.
To all who love acoustic music: listen to this.
To all teenage boys: listen to this.
To those who want to discover more about themselves: listen to this.
If you don't know Pickering Pick, download his albums NOW. They're free and really are some of the best acoustic songs you'll ever hear.
An album to rival the best. |
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Choutas
 Riley Evans, Vivian Schmitt, Anita Dark
Digital
[Rating7292474]
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I decided to give PP a chance.
I've can not understand why artists like Cat Power or Damien Rice can get so famous while PP while far superior he is still unnoticed.
The acoustic music is simple but very soulful and melodic.His vocals are very passionate and the lyrics have pretty themes.
Highlights:Egypt |
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runn123
CD-R
[Rating10015210]
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I suppose I would be better off moving chronologically when exploring an artist's work (especially when there's no monetary cost to obtain the music), but I rarely do that. I go first for the album I expect to enjoy most and based on the listening experience, I move on from there...or not. The music of Pickering Pick is no exception.
Some of Sam's later albums had more intriguing themes or concepts and so I went to them first. After hearing three of them, I decided it was worth my time to download everything and burn four CDs to hold the eight releases and I've been listening to a lot of this music at work, in the car and on the iPOD for a couple of weeks now. Anyway, I haphazardly made my way back to the debut after hearing at least five other Pickering Pick releases. To my surprise, I like The Attic Tapes almost as well as any of the others.
As expected, this album is somewhat less polished than the rest from a production standpoint but certainly not from a songwriting standpoint. Nothing about cosmonauts or epic naval battles here (that comes later), but rather thoughtful observations about relationships of all kinds. The instrumentation is basic folk acoustic guitar and the playing is quite good. The style reminds me of James Taylor with a touch of Nick Drake at times, but that generalization oversimplifies things. Truthfully, the lyrics are the most impressive part here and fortunately there are often compelling folk melodies to keep the music interesting enough. There's nothing anyone with a taste for acoustic folk should dislike here and you should enjoy "Egypt", "Grace", "Emily", "January Later", "Bird Man" and "Comfortable Ground" a great deal. They're all terrific songs.
In the end, The Attic Tapes isn't as ambitious or initially impressive as some of Sam's other albums, but the strong songwriting and honest sincere feelings conveyed with earnest vocals ensure that this release has a place among Pickering Pick's best. |
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cherryeater
 Wolf Blass Shiraz
CD-R
[Rating8558691]
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Normally I do not like this style of music. Yes I can see the beauty and simplicity of it, and occasionally I will find a track which really appeals – Ralph McTell’s “Streets of London” or Jim Croce’s “I Have To Say I Love You”. But no, generally, after listening to a few tracks of one man and his guitar, I switch off and yearn for something more fulfilling. I do not mean that to denigrate the singer-songwriter and his lone guitar, but it’s like eating a salad without some meat.
When this album was recommended to me by its composer, I therefore approached with some trepidation. The opening track, the quiet instrumental “Buttercup Rag” did nothing to dispel that. Then came “Egypt.” I stopped in my tracks. I sat down and tried to silence all other aural distractions and listened to it again, very carefully, word for word. Yes, it is true, it is as I thought the first time – outstanding. A personal description (though it cannot possibly be autobiographical) of a platonic relationship between an older man and a younger woman where the man wistfully wonders, well, if…. On a personal level, it is something I can relate to directly.
The album as a whole revolves around the theme of relationships, but it is not a concept album. Relationships can be platonic like “Egypt”, more than platonic like “Emily” or between man and God like “Grace”, another outstanding track. As with other Pickering Pick CD’s I have downloaded, what strikes you first and foremost is the quality of the lyrics. Sam as a wordsmith is up there with the best. People here mention him in the same breath as Nick Drake. I will not disagree, but I feel his music stands comparison with anyone who picks up a guitar and sings. If reputations were built on the strength of one track, then this one should have seen Sam get a Grammy. If albums were sold on the strength of one track, The Attic Tapes would have gone double platinum.
Sam has done everyone on this site a favour by letting us share his music. In spite of the fact that I still hold this is not my type of music, it is some of the finest of its style I have come across. It is a privilege to be able to listen to it. |
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BradL
CD-R
[Rating6097146]
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RYM's very own troubadour, Pickering Pick makes bittersweet music that's situated somewhere between Laurel Canyon and Bleeker Street. (Which I suppose actually places him somewhere in Montana, but never mind.) He's a good singer, with a voice that evokes both Neil Young's fragility and James Taylor's warmth, and a great songwriter that manages to wring something new on the well-worn theme of Love And Other Catastrophes. As you might expect from a debut album, it's his most traditional-sounding and unadorned (a little too unadorned, maybe; on my third or fourth listen I found myself thinking "here's where I'd place the pedal steel ... this would be great with a rhythm section ..."). It's just one man and an acoustic guitar, him and you, babe, and it's to his credit that he establishes a bond with the listener right from the get-go. If this had come out in, say, 1972, it would had fit on the charts next to Paul Simon or Gordon Lightfoot. As it is, damn, it's nice to be reminded of just how good nine great songs performed well can be. |
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mitzzkai
Digital
[Rating5957331]
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Quite enjoyable folk music, a man with his guitar, no place to run, no place to... you get the idea. Pickering "cravenmonket" Pick makes a peaceful acoustic album, with his nasal high-pitched voice enunciating the lyrics. A good effort from one of RYM's very own. |
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JE_Androcoen
day of the dead
Digital
[Rating2637019]
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This is nice amateur debut. I listened 3 pickering pick albums, i think this one is the best. This man can write good songs. And he can sing very well. Egypt, Bird Man, January Later are great songs. These albums must be released.
This album good as kings of convenience albums.
Pickering Pick; surprise of the day. |
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DarkLegato
Digital
[Rating2162522]
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An excellent folk recording. |
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barlights
Worth Full Retail Price
CD-R
[Rating1979643]
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This is the third of Sam Pickering Pick's albums I've been able to obtain thanks to my friends on RYM and I didn't think it would be possible for me to like something much more than the first two I heard, but I have to say I am simply BLOWN AWAY by this all-too-brief album.
Every once in a while, something speaks to you so strongly that you can be literally stunned that someone could actually write something that you think could only come from your own head. It's really rare when this happens, and today, I heard the song "Egypt" for the first time. I've stopped the album twice already just to go back and listen to this song. The song is hard to describe, but it deals with a platonic male/female friendship and the complex emotions and feelings that can go along with that sort of relationship. Anyway, it just reminds me of my best friend. "You should have been my little sister/ little angel/or maybe I just want to be your dad./../Don't talk to me like that/I'm still older than you/And I didn't see you all day"
The rest of the album is equally stunning and expands on the theme of complex relationships. I really can't help but compare Sam favorably to Nick Drake here. He seems to have picked up where Nick left off, like a reincarnation (he was born just four years after Nick died...). Even his instrumental, "Buttercup Rag," is outstanding. In "Grace," Sam sings "I want to hear about things that you sing/Let me know when your world falls flat." Amen to that, Sam. |
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rym
