Search - Gino Vannelli :: Storm at Sunup

Beautiful Music, Beautiful Arrangements, Beautiful Man

Nannette Matthews | S. California | 09/27/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have been listening to Gino since his first album and was so fasinated by his music and poetry. His songs go beyond his wonderful voice and arrangements. If you listen closely you feel what he feels, the passion and the pain. I just lost all of my Gino CD's and am slowly replacing them.. I must. Listen to his music. You won't be disappointed."

A TRUE musician in every way!

K. Meier | Dallas, TX | 02/19/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Good music is Gino and Gino is good music....real music. Since 1978 I've been listening to Gino and I wake up every day to "Where Am I Going." That song is brilliant in every way--the lyrics, the rhythms, every thing about that song is off the charts awesome...why don't people make real music like that anymore? Put this on, turn out the lights and let your mind wander. This is the most brillant singer/songwriter of my era and these songs will never be written again."

A Masterpiece Of A Different Color

Andre S. Grindle | Brewer Maine | 03/29/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"'Storm At Sunup' may be the followup to Gino's amazing Powerful People but musically the feeling could'nt be anymore different. As evidanced on the title song this album showcases Gino's musical ability more then it does his sense of melody and songcraft;those are important factors too but there is a stronger emphasis on keyboard solos rather then melodic textures and the drums often have a more hyperkinetic feel in parts,but (unlike what often happens with fusion based music) never cross the line into self indulgance. "Mama Coco" is the funkiest tune here,a silly tune about a white man freely admitting to indulging in a very politically incorrect "chocolate fantasy" and the song most people dislike here,although I am not one of them. The songs are also longer here,with broader instrumental passages that owe as much to classical music as jazz but again never get over the top. As far as the personality of this album the lyrics are almost too up close and personal at times-almost to the point of being mildly voyeuristic;particularly Gino's "let it all hang out" sense of self expression that lead him to throw out that he "doesn't get stoned to get high" on the funky closer "Gettin' High"-that like Stevie Wonder Gino is one of those people who already thinks somewhat abstractly and doesn't need a chemical,assuming I am reading the the lyrics write.I've heard it said that Gino's lyrics are cheesy to some people but,of course the most personal lyrics are often seen that way.In music many people,especially rock and pop fans usually prefer lyrics to be as mindless and dumb as possible-the age old quarrell between "smart" and "dumb" lyrics. Where self indulgance exists on both sides of the coin Gino avoids it from where I sit. And whatever you think of the spacious "too close for comfort" nature of his emotionally naked lyrics one cannot deny this man's musical brilliance. And this album has that in spades!"