The Year Of No Returning

This was Ezra Furman’s first 'solo’ album (after his spell with the Harpoons and prior to teaming up with the Boy-Friends) and it has much to commend it. In comparison with his two Boy-Friends albums, this is more of a 'singer-songwriter’ album in the Dylan-Young-Waits mode, lacking the (quite frankly, amazing) diversity of Day Of The Dog and Perpetual Motion People, but still showing enough embryonic signs of the inventive, exuberant genius of what was to follow. The prevailing mood of the album is obvious from song titles such as Sinking Slow, Down, Cruel Cruel World, Are You Gonna Break My Heart?, Bad Man and Doomed Love Affair, but (as ever) Furman’s lyrics are witty, perceptive and poetic, whether it be dealing with his own multi-faceted, idiosyncratic character, with its Jewishness, sexual fluidity and vulnerability, or in his 'state of the nation’ social commentary.Kicking off with the superb Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde, the tone of much of the album is set – a haunting melody, complemented by Furman’s impassioned and fragile vocal and the nicely judged use of baritone sax and clarinet (instrumental invention is one of Furman’s watchwords). Similarly, great use of strings is made on the two outstanding ballads, Sinking Slow and Down. And (for me, at least), it is the ballad-like songs where Furman particularly excels here, each of the Neil Young-like Lay In The Sun and Are You Gonna Break My Heart? providing irresistible moments, whilst Bad Man evokes (Closing Time-era) Tom Waits with its haunting piano, not quite a Kentucky Avenue, but a hugely atmospheric effort, nevertheless. The rockier numbers don’t quite match the quality of the ballads, American Soil providing Furman’s take on the American Dream, That’s When It Hit Me showcasing Tim Sandusky’s multi-talents with an impressive guitar solo, and (probably best of all), the bonus track Doomed Love Affair, with some nice Ezra falsetto vocals.A different type of album from the following Day Of The Dog and Perpetual Motion People, for me, not quite on a par with their inventive genius, but still containing enough promise to be well worth a listen.

I caught Ezra Furman live in London's 100 Club in May. I was extremely impressed. He's a star. Full stop. And one with an agenda beyond hair wax and converse. On the night he played a number of songs from TYoNR. It is a fantastically mature record, one with some serious poise, passion, punch and heart - from the sublime opener,'Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde', the garage rock abandon of 'That's When it Hit Me', to the sweet and darkly amusing ballad 'Bad Man'. Thoroughly recommended.

Ezra's first solo album. I absolutely love this album. More quiet and subdued than Day of the Dog, perfect for people whose favourite track on DoD is Cherry Lane. Stand out tracks include the misleadingly cheerful That's when it hit me, and the visceral American Soil. A good range of styles (one song sounds so much like Suede that my eleven year old noticed!). Descends almost to self parody on Bad Man but the lyrics throughout are so intelligent that you willingly go with it.

This is my favorite of all the solo albums by EF. Its more laid back . Most of the songs are of a slower tempo. As usual great lyrics, and songs that draw you in after listening a few times, my favorite artist at the moment . Check him out on YouTube ( Later With Jools Holland is a good place to start ) , you may be a little suprised if you never seen him before.

this is dead good with lipstick