Search - Neil Michael Hagerty :: Neil Michael Hagerty

Coolness abounds ... an instant classic

Terence Burke | Norwood, MA United States | 03/27/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you are familliar with Royal Trux, then you know that you most likely either love them, hate them or sometimes both, depending on which album. Which is why after ten years of listening to their music, I now know NOT to have any expectations about what to expect, they always leave you guessing ... those wacky truxsters, I really respect them for that. Upon hearing the sad, sad news of the Royal Trux' unfortunate musical demise and personal split as well ... I really didn't know what to expect from "Neil Michael Haggerty" HOwever, I am really excited by this first solo Neil record. It really creates a mood ...I still can't quite put my finger on how to describe this mood.... but this record struck me so, that I ended up listening to it twice in a row, straight through, which is rare for me... This record is a bit "out there" at times, but in an OH-so-good way ... if you know what I mean... It's a bit heady and mellow, not so classic-rock as say, "Pound for Pound", the last Trux LP, yet at times still gets pretty "skronky free-jazz all falling apart" style too. Lots of classic Ol' Hag' guitar noodling, but some real melodic songs too, and everything really comes together when Neil does his cool soulful falsetto, it gets real smooth in that white-soul Stonesy way that the Trux had perfected and have expertly administered every once in a while. Simply Beautiful. Neil's vocal harmonies do rekindle some of that Jennifer/Neil feeling of the old records as well ... Plus did i mention the cheesey keyborad riffs through the whole record?? kinda reminiscent of the "Hero Zero" 7" Some of the stand out cuts are "Know That" "Repeat The Sound Of Joy" "I Found A Stranger" "Oh To Be Wicked Once Again" but its all good. For all Royal Trux enthusiasts, this is a must-have. Its a wonderfully natural progression of Neils music, and although I worry about Jennifer, and wish her all the best and miss her sultry/snotty snarl, ... other than her missing presence, this could easily be the next Royal Trux record. And like all the Roayl Trux records before them, it is an experiment, and some of their experiments work better than others. And this is one of the exceptionally more succesful ones. Really, Really good.And I hope that Neil and Jennifer can get over their "stuff", whatever that may be..."

The Soul of Rock with a Twist>>>

Michael W Carian | Glendale, CA | 03/26/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"No matter how I swing it. No matter how "new" it sounds. This record is a rock record. I did'nt know what the hell I was listening to my first time around. But after the new Synapses in the musical part of my brain connected. I cant put the damn thing down. In Short>>> Radomly yet timed rhythm's, and some of the most tasteful Rock guitar. It's an idea of where rock should be heading."

Hit or miss

Hippie Smell | Brooklyn | 01/22/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"First, off what this album lacks is a good rythm section. There's no real drumming or bass in this album. A lot of it is Neil's noodling guitar accompanied with an organ. The drumming that goes along with this is really faint or minnimalistic. So what you end up with is a bunch of hooks, or solos without the backbone structure. Minus this complaint I think there's some good stuff on here. I'm just left to think that they really dropped the ball with the drums thing."