from Maverick Magazine / By John Brindle This superior solo debut, from award winning songwriter, hits the spot with intelligent lyrics and gritty, memorable melodies. The opening number, ?Hard Country?, with it?s pleasan... more »t acoustic guitar, surprising organ fills and plaintive vocals is a knockout and lays out the farmers dilemma; love for the land versus the need to make a living: ?The price of fuel went up, corn went down and I don?t think we?ll be seein? Bobby again?. ?Father?s Day?, co-written with friends Craig Bickhardt and Helen Darling also hits the spot. A touching tale about an annual visit to celebrate the ?finest man I?ve ever known?. He avoids sentimentality but hits the mark: ?I bought a tie he won?t wear, a silly card to make him laugh?. Other highlights include the Poco styled mandolin driven ?Taste for Life?, with Rusty Young?s fine dobro (and backup vocals by Young and fellow Poco member Paul Cotton), while ?Soul Searching? and ?Noonday Sun? reveal the rocking side of Sundrud?s writing. ?Modern Day Blacksmith? examines the loss of traditional crafts and harks back to a more innocent time with Jack playing some very tasteful acoustic guitar. The title song, ?By My Own Hand?, with its contemporary feel suggests this music could appeal to mainstream music buyers besides a more niche country-rock format. Every musician has influences and bands they admire. Jack Sundrud is no different; in his case it is clearly the Beatles. The closing ?Living My Dream? is a really moving tribute to the ?Fab Four? and how he was inspired to make his life in music: ?I had a dream the other night, I was out front running lights for the Beatles?. Jack Sundrud is characteristically modest about his music, as he says in the liner notes: ?This thing is a gift to myself, really, to mark the fact that I?ve somehow managed to stay afloat with music ?? Highly recommended!« less
from Maverick Magazine / By John Brindle This superior solo debut, from award winning songwriter, hits the spot with intelligent lyrics and gritty, memorable melodies. The opening number, ?Hard Country?, with it?s pleasant acoustic guitar, surprising organ fills and plaintive vocals is a knockout and lays out the farmers dilemma; love for the land versus the need to make a living: ?The price of fuel went up, corn went down and I don?t think we?ll be seein? Bobby again?. ?Father?s Day?, co-written with friends Craig Bickhardt and Helen Darling also hits the spot. A touching tale about an annual visit to celebrate the ?finest man I?ve ever known?. He avoids sentimentality but hits the mark: ?I bought a tie he won?t wear, a silly card to make him laugh?. Other highlights include the Poco styled mandolin driven ?Taste for Life?, with Rusty Young?s fine dobro (and backup vocals by Young and fellow Poco member Paul Cotton), while ?Soul Searching? and ?Noonday Sun? reveal the rocking side of Sundrud?s writing. ?Modern Day Blacksmith? examines the loss of traditional crafts and harks back to a more innocent time with Jack playing some very tasteful acoustic guitar. The title song, ?By My Own Hand?, with its contemporary feel suggests this music could appeal to mainstream music buyers besides a more niche country-rock format. Every musician has influences and bands they admire. Jack Sundrud is no different; in his case it is clearly the Beatles. The closing ?Living My Dream? is a really moving tribute to the ?Fab Four? and how he was inspired to make his life in music: ?I had a dream the other night, I was out front running lights for the Beatles?. Jack Sundrud is characteristically modest about his music, as he says in the liner notes: ?This thing is a gift to myself, really, to mark the fact that I?ve somehow managed to stay afloat with music ?? Highly recommended!
CD Reviews
Terrific Example of Unexpected Brilliance from a Band Bass P
T. Zylstra | Sammamish, WA | 07/09/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Ok, Sure that almost everyone has never heard of Jack Sundrud, I knew him prior to Summer '05 as the long time bassist for the great seminal country rock band Poco. Saw Poco live in Summer '05, bought the two solo CD's being sold by the band members after the show (Paul Cotton's CD "When The Coast is Clear" which Sundrud actually produced was the other CD on sale). Met the guys with my wife, they don't get any more down to earth and humble than these guys. Jack thanked me for buying his CD and asked me to listen carefully on the way home to the song "Fathers Day". Was crying by the end of the song, this is an artist with something to say that we all would really benefit from listening to with an open mind. Can't recommend strongly enough the equally beautiful "Forty Again" from another very underated Country artist, John Berry. I find it impossible to listen to these two songs about our Father losing his battle with old age and it's devastating effects without openly crying, because I understand this is how it will end with me as well, except that given a painful 5+ month divorce/seperation proceeding it is possible my 3 children will not be around to say goodbye as I have tried to be there for my father. Is every song perfect? Nope. Is every song unique and great? Nope. Is this a CD with a half dozen gems I will be playing for the next 40 years? Yep! "Hard Country" "Fathers Day" and "Modern Day Blacksmith" are truly exceptional craftmenship from a soulful mind previously limited to playing/singing over and over the hits built by the most famous succession of band Bass Players in rock history - Randy Meisner and Timothy B. Schmidt to be specific, who both were called up the big leagues - The Eagles. Final point listen very carefully to the plaintive counseling offered in "Humility" it is a message we should all heed and benefit from understanding. The Title track "By My Own Hand" will, if you let it, deeply humble you when the song and it's beautiful Piano intro then Hammond B3 organ lead combined with Jack's emotional vocal compels you to reflect upon both key disappointments those you care about have leveled against you and even more powerfully those mistakes you have made which are completely your responsibility, you want so badly to repair/undo/minimize, and come to realize you cannot, Jack speaks to what must be an almost universal truth regarding our wish to "takeback" some key self-imposed mistakes that hurt those we love the most. That is a very powerful impact from a "sleeper" solo album crafted by a replacement bass player in a legendary band long overlooked by critics, music fans and the music industry - Purchase this CD, listen intently and be thankful for the gift you have had the vision to recieve. Regards, Tom"
Melodic, peaceful album
Kenneth J. Zach | Butler,Pa. | 02/23/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The bassist for Poco,continues the tradition of being a Great Singer,Songwriter.This is a peaceful,melodic cd.."Soul Searchin" does rock out."
One of my favorite cd's
James W. Brandt | Arkansas | 10/07/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I really love this CD. One of my favorite CD's released in the last few years. Jack's voice is incredible. "Hard Country" and "Fathers Day" are very special songs. I also really like "Noonday Sun". Good CD, beginning to end."
You Can't Go Wrong
M. Ness | Chicago, IL United States | 11/07/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This to me is one of the most honest recordings I''ve heard yet. Jack has been writing memorable music for as long as I've known him (1969), but this is the best yet. I can listen to him and have my soul soothed and remember the many phases of my own life in Northern Minnesota with family & friends. As stated not every song a gem, but virtually every song does move me and reemind me to look around myself and love life. Thank you Jack Sundrud for a beautiful addition to my music collection."
Track Listings (11) - Disc #1