Search - Tom Cochrane :: Ragged Ass Road

Concise, arena-ready rock with a personal touch

02/15/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"You may already be more familiar with Tom Cochrane than you are aware. His band Red Rider had a huge AOR hit with "Lunatic Fringe" back in '81, and Tom struck gold on his own with the oft heard, early 90's staple "Life Is A Highway." Now don't get me wrong, those are fine examples of Cochrane's abilities, but are by no means representative of the complete breadth of his talents. And while many a consumer shamelessly handed over the necessary cabbage for a copy of "Jagged Little Pill" by fellow Canadian Alanis Morrisette (read Glenn Ballard), they would have been far wiser to take a little side trip down the "Ragged Ass Road" instead. Not only is this disc far superior to such calculated, production line crapola, Cochrane wrote every song save one, and his personal interest is evident on every track. Beginning with the emotional up tempo outpourings of "I Wish You Well" and ending with the somber lament of "Song Before I Leave," Cochrane reaches down and delivers from the heart and soul. And with gems like "Wildest Dreams," "Paper Tigers," and "Dreamer's Dream" nestled neatly in between, this is truly an unheralded recording deserving of a much wider (and don't forget wiser) audience"

One Awesome Musician

Harry Hollingsworth | Indianapolis, Indiana United States | 05/03/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Tom is one of my all time favorite singer/songwriters. I've enjoyed his music ever since he started out with his group Red Rider back in the early eighties. Songs like Lunatic Fringe, Human Race, Can't Turn Back, Napoleon Sheds His Skin & White Hot through the late eighties with songs like Young Thing Wild Dreams(Rock Me), Boy Inside The Man, The Untouchable One, Big League, Whipping Boy, Among The Ruins(I'll Be There) to his solo songs like Life Is A Highway, Washed Away & Sinking Like A Sunset. Tom's music to me is as good as John Mellencamp(which is also one of my favorite singers too). I Highly recommend this and any of Tom's solo cds or Red Rider cds. Highlights are I Wish You Well, Wildest Dreams, Just Scream, Paper Tigers, Ragged Ass Road & Best Waste Of Time."

Overlooked to the max

hans11822 | Oosterbeek Netherlands | 01/05/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I got this CD when I was in Toronto, fittingly. It's a masterpiece, as much for its songwriting as for its production. Reminiscent of Mellencamp, yet very Canadian (whatever that is) and able to mix hiphop-like rhythms into his rock. Alex Lifeson guests on a couple of songs, that doesn;t hurt either. If ever I want to be back in TO, I put on this CD. Best cut: Just Scream!"