Let the boy Jam, just not SING!
Mark Savary | Seattle, WA | 06/12/2000
(2 out of 5 stars)
"This album is really annoying. The problem is not so much the guitar licks, song selection, or lyrics. The problem for me is the singing, or lack thereof.While many of the songs are clever and interesting, more often than not Binkley's voice disappears into an inaudible grunt halfway through a line. In some spots he seems to be hiding his voice behind the volume of the instruments, too. There's a lounge lizard quality to the singing a la Bill Murry's skit on the old Saturday Night Live.The trouble is, in the hands of a capable country/blues singer, the songs would be serviceable if not really cool. He can play alright, but Nick just can't croon. The end result is a frustrating experience. On the one hand, interesting songs and good guitar. On the other, bad vocals and every other word dropping into a black hole, never to be heard from again in this universe. If not for the printed lyrics, only some other-dimensional being on the other side of that black hole could tell what the missing words are. Maybe they would even consider it an attack from our universe, given the quality of the singing.Another problem is that the CD is apparently supposed to be some kind of retrospective, but only two of the songs were written before 1998-99. So what's up with that?And I'm sorry, but "Novi Mir" struck me as being very outdated and corny. The song is basically a call for peace between the US and Russia. I find I can listen to Sting's "Russians" and still appreciate the Cold War statement, but this tune is neither topically fresh or (unlike "Russians"), worth remembering.Sorry, Nick. But the boy in question should not only NOT be allowed to jam, he should be sent to bed without supper!"
Marvelous follow up to "Pin Striped Brain"
Michael Crowley | Arizona | 01/20/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
""Let the Boy Jam" is a dazzling continuum of instantly likable songs that sometimes sound very different but which are united by a set of themes Binkley wrestled with in his first album, "Pin Striped Brain." The first album took time to grow on me but I instantly loved many of the new songs, which are well produced, have hooks and entrancing layers of sound. Standout songs for me are "Fish Love the Sea" (an irresistible statement of loyalty that is reminiscent of George Harrison's catchiest work), "A Well Respected Man" (a wonderful, ironic and in some ways poignant song with an outstanding vocal by Binkley) and my favorite, "Novi Mir," the spirited and beautiful song that concludes the album.There is truly marvelous work on this album, which is confident, ecstatic and passionate proof that Nick Binkley has mastered the use of music as a vehicle to explore ideas in a unique and exhilarating way."