Unexpected brilliance
almosthappy | San Diego, CA, California | 03/15/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This album is excellent. I bought this CD back in 1999 and it's been travelling with me ever since. House's eerily twangy vocal, sharp and poignant lyrics, and dirty-sounding string instrumentations takes Americana to a new level. House's songs remind me certain scenes from the recent Coen brother comedy "O Brother Where Art Thou". House's songs, however, are anything but comical. They are often dark and groom against a "rural noir" background. The songs in this CD are "roots" recording in its literal sense: roots of human emotions. One thing I look for in music is that raw and unpolished sonic energy. I don't really care about form. To me, there's a commonality linking all my favorite artists like Tom Waits, John Cage, Sonic Youth, Billie Holiday, Brian Eno, Nine Inch Nails, Nick Cave, Yo La Tengo et cetra. When I first listened to Tom House's Neighborhood Is Changing, I found the same underlying quintessence. Highly recommended! I also own the other two House recordings, This White Man's Burden, Til You've Seen Mine. I suggest you start with Neighborhood is changing, his personal best in my opinion."
Diamond In The Rough
Lawrence Whitney Howland | Riverside, California United States | 05/29/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I got this cd on recomendation from Amazon.com. They said most fans of Chuck E. Weiss bought music by Tom House...it took a little getting used to...but now I can't stop listening...I don't know much about bluegrass, but I am sure a fan of the genre will find many influences in Tom's music...I am drawn to the lyrics and his sense of story...he puts me right in modern day hill country...I would recommend this album over White Man's Burden...In White Man's Burden he does a little self righteous preaching....IE "White Man"...But, on balance they are both good...however you will not regret getting this album...it gets better everytime I listen to it..."