[FM] review of Terence Martin's CD "Sleeper"

[celtic-folk@surfnetusa.com]

Below is my review of Terence Martin's CD "Sleeper".

To see the review nicely formatted in your web browser, please view
the version at:

http://www.surfnetusa.com/celtic-folk/fr-TerenceMartin2.htm

To to go the folk and cletic CD review index:

http://www.surfnetusa.com/celtic-folk/index.html
-------------------------------------------------------------------
                            A Review of the CD
                                 "Sleeper"
                             by Terence Martin
-------------------------------------------------------------------
"Sleeper"
by Terence Martin

copyright 2002 gd0004
Good Dog Records
P.O. Box 364
Montvale, NJ 07645
ph: (201)573-0718
http://www.martinsongs.com and
http://www.goodacoustic.com and
mailto:acoustic@nac.net

This review is written by Kevin McCarthy, 1/03
"Kevin's Celtic & Folk Music CD Reviews"
http://www.surfnetusa.com/celtic-folk/index.html
mailto:celtic-folk@surfnetusa.com

Replicating his earlier release and title cut "Waterproof," Terence Martin
opens his latest CD with the song, "the way it didn't go," and immediately
lets the listener know something special is about to proceed. The question
is begged: how many other singer-songwriters would have the courage to put
the best song first, for fear of never matching such artistry with the
remaining cuts?

As for the rest of the offerings, listeners will be amply rewarded with the
literate lyrics that abound in each of his remaining 11 songs. Currently a
teacher of  English literature and a published poet, Martin displays a
remarkable talent to view a situation through a unique prism and then turn
a phrase and paint a picture that other songwriters can only wish for and
dream about.

His songs here are about relationships, primarily between people but with a
few depicting the connection between people and places. And none more so
about the former than the aforementioned "the way it didn't go."
Reminiscient of Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken" and its concluding
lines "...I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the
difference," Martin employs the same theme of choices and pathways:

     "where is the life
     the life we might have led
     it started on the corner
     where we never met
     I nearly turned to you
     you nearly turned to me
     at the intersection
     of what is and what could be..."

Traveling about in "sleeper on a westbound train," he sings of a
relationship's remnants: "...I was one step ahead of the weather, one step
behind your memory, it looks like freedom but I know better..."

In "23rd street runs into heaven," Martin sings of another broken coupling:

     "...23rd street runs into heaven
     you can see the sunset from the roof
     out where the river draws a crooked line
     between my memory and the truth..."

Continuing his theme of faded love, in "Steel Rail Nightingale, he sings,
backed by wistful mandolin: "...the world's always flat out here, it's all
horizon nothing bends, I watched you fade into a dot, somewhere at a
sentence end."

"Wooden Nickels"is akin to prime time John Prine. Martin closes with:

     "...put a pair of quarters in your shoes
     when you go downtown
     you can use them not to call me
     when you don't want me around
     but if you need to telephone
     be sure to call collect
     and I'll be sure not to answer
     out of self respect..."

Martin closes with the quietly powerful "Evening Sky," a fitting flip side
from his opening selection. This bookend, backed by accordion, mandolin and
guitar, opens with:

     "Love and lust lie down in our bed
     they sleep somewhere in between
     the heart and head
     they rub together
     creates the sparks and glue
     that holds you to me and me to you.

The last verse provides this truth:

     "...the eyes of those you love
     will remind you
     what is real and what is true
     and nothing really matters anyway
     but who is there at the end of the day..."

For those who are elated by the magic conjured up by wizards with words,
Terence Martin and this CD are for you.

Martin, on vocals, guitar, harmonica and keyboard is backed by Jim Allen on
mandolin, guitar, accordion and vocals; Dan Bonis on lap steel guitar,
12-string slide and dobro; Cadence Carroll on djembe, percussion and
vocals; Dennis Hrbek on keyboard, percussion and guitar; Charlie Karp on
electric guitar and vocals; Brian Nesgoda on drums and percussion and
Gordon Roehrer on bass

Track List:

   * the way it didn't go - (4:23)
   * sleeper on a westbound train - (4:50)
   * all the bricks in baltimore - (4:36) with Lisa Grey
   * 23rd street runs into heaven - (6:40)
   * steel rail nightingale - (3:45)
   * a story that could be true - (2:32)
   * a sky the wrong color - (3:44)
   * anothe rname for gone - (3:37)
   * wooden nickels - (3:01)
   * interstate - (4:29)
   * bethlehem - (3:51) with Gregory Hicks
   * evening sky - (4:19) with Gregory Hicks

All songs written by Terence Martin, unless otherwise noted.

Ownership, copyright and title of this folk music CD review belongs to me,
Kevin McCarthy. Ownership, copyright and title are not transferable or
assignable to you or other parties regardless of how or if you or other
parties use, copy, save, backup, store, retrieve, transmit, display,
publish, modify or share the CD review in whole or in part. Please read the
"Terms, Conditions and Disclaimer" section on my web site for additional
information about using, quoting, or reprinting this CD review.

Send inquiries to: celtic-folk@surfnetusa.com