Edie Brickell & New Bohemians - Ghost of a Dog

This album is really 18 years old???

I still remember when I purchased my original cassette tape at Rasputin's music store in Berkeley, Ca. I absolutely LOVE this album so much that I'm breaking down & downloading my faves. Being a rhythm & blues kinda person, Ghost of a Dog was one of my initial introductions to "folk music."

I didn't think anyone could get near K.D. Lang's tone & lyrics, but Edie certainly strikes a similar chord with me. When my son was a toddler, we used to dance to Carmelito, which just ROCKS with a Cajun tone. As exciting as Carmelito is, Times Like This will make you WISH for rain and a nice warm blanket, just so you can listen to this dreamy tune. Now that my son is a raging teenager, I'm sure he may finally be able to relate to "He Said." (he can easily change the He to a She to make it more relatable).

I'm tempted to get the cd, just so I can have the nifty words that have a letter missing from the titles (or is it just Ghost of a Dog that has letters missing). If my memory serves me, all of the missing letters spell the album title. Now, how's that for creative? May 20, 2008

Perhaps her weakest CD

I like Edie Brickell. No, really, I do. I've liked her since I first heard her eons (or so it seems) ago. Ghost of a Dog was the last of her CDs I acquired. Sadly, it's not one of her better efforts. I'm not saying it's horrible or anything, it's just not up to par with her other efforts. However, if you are an Edie Brickell fan as I am, you'll want it in your collection regardless. February 15, 2008

Rich TapeSry Woven in sound.

Edie Brickell and the New BoheMians (rich!)alwaYs manaGe (sound!)to find a way to make things (as a matteR of fact..)ClEAr (riCh!Awsome!..Paul Simon's wife..)aND (certain songs ((Oh oh not well..))arE hippieish themes..)prOductively so.. October 23, 2007

This album grows...and grows.... and GROWS on you!!!

"Ghost of a Dog" is the kind of album that you're not sure about at first, but the more you listen the better it gets. This is always a good sign since with many albums "familiarity breeds contempt". I agree that a couple of the songs sound a bit childish, but this is somewhat the essence of "in tune with her inner child" Edie. It is this quality that makes the other songs like "He Said" and particularly, "Stwisted" so poignant and compelling. For anyone who has ever been broken-hearted, these particular songs leave a lump in the throat. The musicianship complements Edie's delivery style perfectly. If you like music with some substance and emotional authenticity, then you'll appreciate this effort. July 8, 2007

For God's sake Edie, call these guys up and make another album already!

It's fairly hard to believe that this album only received tepid reviews when it was released - as a long time musician (drums), I can honestly say that this album has some fantastic group playing and the studio players behind Edie gel together wonderfully. There is also some great slide guitar work, excellent bass playing, and the production values are first-rate. This album is also a drumming tour-de-force, courtesy of one Mr. Matt Chamberlain (previously the house drummer for Saturday Night Live.) If you are a student of the drums, grab this immediately and hear a master at work. His drum sound is also incredible and I love the way that the drums on "Mama" are actually mixed to mono except for a single floor tom hit near the beginning of the last verse - genius. Listen also to how Matt and the bass player drive the groove during "Carmelito" by playing the downbeats together - I almost get goosebumps just thinking about it. How in the hell can any so-called music lover listen to this stuff and not like it?

I also think some of you other reviewers are too polite - this album actually blows "Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars" completely out of the water, as that album and it's pop sensibilities only hinted at the wonders which await here. This is a serious and determined effort and deserves a much better fate than the one it received.

Complaints? Yeah - the acoustic numbers aren't exactly earth-shattering (hence the 4 stars, I'd actually rate this 4 1/2 stars if I could) but ALL of the electric numbers are worthy of your attention. "Stwisted", in particular, is one of the most heartbreaking tales of lost love that I've ever heard and believe me, Edie certainly did not phone in her vocal track here. Stunning stuff.

So Edie, if you happen to read this (yeah right), you've created a wonderful album here and I'm sure that there are MANY of us out here who would love to hear a follow-up 17 years later.

I mean, I own about 2,500 CDs and still manage to play this at least a few times a year - it must be doing something right! May 22, 2007

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