"Once in a blue moon a recording comes along that really surprises me. So many young singer/songwriters these days try to emulate Steve Earle and his predecessors ... and almost all of them fall short. Way short.This guy, however, has the goods. Every song hits its mark ... well, with the exception of "Kalifornia," which I felt was contrived. But that's a minor quibble.Songs like "When I See Jesus" and "Two Boys From Creagerstown" MORE than make up for one bad idea. Those two songs are so REAL you can feel what the characters are feeling. While those two songs are the highlights of the album, almost every other song hits its own emotional mark just as hard. Even a "lightweight" song like "She's The Girl For Me" holds some surprises for anyone willing to listen to it a couple of times and really find its meaning.And whatever you do, be SURE to stick around for the hidden track (13). I don't know the title (I'm guessing it's "Caroline" or "Green Like The Grass") but it's awesome. It deals with how drug abuse has robbed the main character of a relationship with his one true love. It's shattering. An instant classic.You'll never hear any of these songs on radio, because none of them fit into the current "country" template. That's radio's loss. Don't let it be yours."
Grab you by the throat and shake you honesty
wbynum5230@aol.com | 08/23/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I received this CD by accident and after I listened to it I realized that there are no accidents. I didn't hear this CD, I saw every person in every song come to life every time I listened and I played it again and again."
A Secret Gem!
William Bynum | Pearl Harbor, Hawaii | 02/06/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This guy should have been a huge star. This first album is incredible. Totally original, totally cool. But it wasn't a hit, and the studio steered him toward more "commercial" fare for his next album ... and it was a flop, too. So he faded away. But this album ... oh, gosh. Sublime perfection. Highly recommended for any fan of Steve Earle, or any "roots" or "alt" country fans. Incredible songs."
Not country, not rock, somewhere in the middle
R. Atkins | Greenbelt, MD | 06/24/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a great disc; it really grows on you. I find myself humming parts of it even when I haven't listened to it in a while. My favorite song is "Heaven in the Dark."In the interests of full disclosure, I went to college with Neal and heard his sound evolve over those years. "Heaven in the Dark" was a hair-metal power ballad at one point in its history, but it's still a great song.If you give it a chance, you might like it..."
Great New Artist
Sue Mueller | Maryland | 12/16/1999
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This Album is exciting! The music really hits the heart. Neal's voice gave me chills. This is by far the best CD I've bought in a long time. I highly suggest this CD if your ready for a new sound. This new artist was on "Conhan O'brian" and sang his song "Tainted". What a GREAT SONG!"