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Disc Info

March

March

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Customer Reviews

Michael Penn rocks

Rating: 5/5

Michael Penn's March rocks the neighborhood with his amazing lyrics which include references to literary characters and geographical coordinate locations. His music is entertaining and thought provoking.

Aged like fine wine.

Rating: 5/5

I'm sure every single one of us has music that we loved when we bought it as a teen, but fast forward ten-plus years, and now you can't bear to listen to one song, much less the entire album regardless of nostalgia value.

This CD has not been one of "those" disasters for me. It's been in my music rotation regularly since I bought it when it was released almost 2 decades ago. Some music you listen to for nostalgia value- this one I've listen to simply because it's a very sensitively molded piece of musical art.

I'm actually reviewing just March(I first bought this as a cassette tape)- this remastering include the second album, Free for all - a superb follow-up album which is darker, but never boring or stale. Long Way down in Free For All is a brilliant song, with hauntingly sad lyrics and heart wrenching melancholy by the bucketful.

For those who have struggled with relationships (who hasn't), the lyrics are sublime and gracefully restrained reflection of the quiet pain and turbulence. There's an honesty to it that allows the lyrics and music to shine through and not become pretentious or overbearing. No Myth captured public attention, albeit the album being a one-hit wonder chart-wise. Fortunately, this album is full of gems that dazzled critics and won him some very loyal and ardent fans. Half Harvest is a deliciously bitter and malicious brew with an undercurrent of resignation and despair. Invisible is spot-on, tinged with bewilderment and loneliness. Battle Room permeates with quiet desperation and anger. There's not a bad song on March or even Free For All.

The album has timeless appeal. There's nothing trendy about it- it's just a collection of very well-crafted, very personal music that speaks to the heart. This album was the beginning of an uncompromising career for Micheal Penn. He has not been prolific compared to many commercial artists, but his music has quality that more than make up for the quantity. Thank you, Michael, for a masterpiece. I don't consider it a drawback, but some may consider this album too subtle or lyrically to tortured for their taste. There's nothing brash about this one. Even upbeat songs like Evenfall have a glimmer of restraint that allows the music to be uplifting without upsetting the undercurrent of melancholy that flows through both albums. That's about the only negative comment I can make.

If I can compare this album to a movie, I would compare it to Wong-Kar Wai's gorgeous film, In The Mood For Love or Magnolia. Incidentally his wife is the very talented Aimee Mann, who composed most of the songs for Magnolia. If you love his work, check her music out (if you haven't already done so).

Superb Craftsmanship, Catchy Tunes

Rating: 5/5

Michael Penn, perhaps once better known as Sean Penn's brother, had a smash debut with March in the late eighties. What is remarkable listening once again to this gem of an album is how well it ages. There are other albums from the late eighties that one can listen to that identify themselves as artifacts of their time; not so March. Of course there was "No Myth," the signature tune that got so much airplay that everyone was asking "Who is this guy?" While "No Myth" is certainly a standout it is by no means the only good song on the CD. "Cupid's Got a Brand New Gun," "Long Way Down," and "This and That" are other favorites. There are some songs that are not as strong, but there is really no dud on the album. Check it out and rediscover the awesome talent that is Michael Penn.

Incredible

Rating: 5/5

I first heard Michael Penn when I was in college and this was the album that was out at the time. Penn is a fantastic song writer and musician. He is so underrated and that's ok. By far this cd is in my top 5 of favorite cd's of all time. He is incredible and I never get tired of hearing this cd. Listen to the lyrics and the music...you will be wrapped into the symbiotic genius that is Michael Penn. I have turned a lot of people on to his work but there are truly few that have experienced his genius. Thank you Michael Penn for producing such a moving and prolific first effort to keep me coming back for more. Bravo.

Definitely one for the collection

Rating: 4/5



"No Myth" hit me at just the right time. I was feeling sorry for myself and along comes this song which fit the mood perfectly. Well, things improved (Thanks for listening!) and I am happy to report that this still holds up really well after years of listening. There are a number of clever examinations of the pain caused by heartbreak. Each song has the right sound setting, the slow burn of "Cupid's got a Brand New Gun," the anxious pacing of "Big House," and the balance of gentle guitars and martial drum machines on "Battle Room" all work so well. As a singer Penn doesn't have a lot of emotional range, but he makes it work for him here, keeping just a touch of emotional distance works on these songs. With a different reading they easily could have been overwhelmingly dramatic; instead they convey the emotional depth found here with clarity. If you're a fan of the singer/songwriter genre, this is definitely one for your collection.