Better than nothing but not nearly the treatment these album
Geoff Kessell | St. Louis, MO USA | 02/09/2007
(2 out of 5 stars)
"BEWARE: THIS ENTIRE SET IS TAKEN FROM NOISY VINYL, even the tracks from Golden Down and Places I Have Never Been, which were both previously released on much better CDs. In fact, there was a bonus track on the Razor & Tie reissue of Golden Down that is missing from this collection. Sadly, the aforementioned discs are both out of print, so this may be your only option, and the first album has not been on CD before (which is why I purchased this). Still, if you can find the other releases, they are infinitely better quality. If you can't, this is better than nothing, just not what these fantastic and criminally under-appreciated albums deserve. Also know that Nile continues to release consistently excellent material beyond these three albums. I wholeheartedly recommend his post-Columbia output, especially Beautiful Wreck of the World (1999) and Streets of New York (2006)."
Well worth the wait Willie
Mark C. Meyers | Phoenix, Arizona | 09/12/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"We finally have CD access to Willie Nile's early work. Covering a wide range of history from the Regean years to Clinton(Hard Times...), it is interesting to hear this work against the world events of the time. Aside from thoughtful and meaningful lyrics, songs like "Vagabond Moon" are just great rock songs with poetic and romantic sensibilities. On carefully listening, there are some really creative and interesting Buddy Holly-esque chords--just fantastic stuff. Other tunes like "It's All Over" are heartbreakers with romantic poetry: "In a church yard by the frozen shore"--a valentine for any Buffalonian.
Willie Nile is a troubadour in the best sense of the word. He has been a presence in the NYC for years and has some ties still to Buffalo. I often think about what is so appealing about his work. One is that it's true in rock and roll that sometimes you need to look backward to move forward.(Holly, Berry, Orbison) This CD set is a great example of that. The honesty of presentation in this complilation of tracks is moving and perceptive, and not too sound trite, but a statement of the human condition. They speak to the journey and the struggle--perhaps reflective of his interest in existentialism(Sarte) Not many poets/rockers can lead you to path of self-discovery. Nile's empathy and honesty do that. They make you think you were with him hitchhiking from Buffalo to NYC--steno notebook on the dash."
About Time
J. Stiene | PA | 08/03/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Willie Nile is one of the top 5 lyricists in the world. His music is amazing, and the fact that that these albums went out of print in the first place in unthinkable. I have everything but his first, and am going to get this just for that one, he's such a great artist."
Track Listings (16) - Disc #1