From Amazon.com
Banned by iTunes???
Album Rating: (5 of 5 stars)
Review Comments: I have been listening to John Gorka for the last 20 years. His rich baritone, spartan accompaniment and thoughtful lyrics have been endearing. Suffice to say that when I discovered my favorite CD was missing when it came time to transfer songs onto my new iPod, I was sick! I went to the iTunes store and... no TEMPORARY ROAD could be found! All his other work was there and I purchased WRITING IN THE MARGINS which I had missed when it was released 2 years ago.
So why is TEMPORARY ROAD missing from iTunes? There can be only 2 reasons. Reason 1 (and my hoped for explanation) is that there is some sort of copyright dispute. Reason 2 (my sneaking suspicion) is the song "Brown Shirts."
In the last 8 years of political right wing Nirvana known as the Bush Years, "Brown Shirts" is a shoe aimed squarely at the President's forehead. It's original inspiration came from his father's administration: George Herbert Bush's use of the words "new world order." But the song finds its fulfillment in Bush 43 and here are the lyrics to tell you why:
Brown shirts here in the White House
Brown shirts up on top of the Hill
Brown shirts can you hear them marching
I swear they are marching still
Brown shirts for the good of the country
Brown shirts pride all over the land
Brown shirts give us law and orders
You'll know when you raise your hands
Brown shirts is this how it all started?
Brown shirts oh no worse than their kids
Brown shirts sure they're tough on the bad guy
Though they made him what he is
Bridge:
Brown shirts
Brown shirts
They're a little more subtle now
Brown shirts than the "house painter" man
Brown shirts speak of God as their witness
But they would kill Jesus again
Brown shirts here in the White house
Brown shirts in their black limousines
Brown shirts over here in the New World
With fresh red unspeakable schemes
Hmmm... so thinking Amazon customers... decide for yourself. You think something like this might have gotten Gorka's CD banned?
John Flaherty
Grand Island, NE
[...]
Probably his strongest recording to date.
Album Rating: (5 of 5 stars)
Review Comments: Top to bottom, front to back, this has to be the strongest John Gorka recording ever. I just "rediscovered" it after having lost my copy years ago. Unusually upbeat, supported by a super-solid bevy of backing musicians, and there is not a weak track on the disc. Superb.
Honesty and Compassion Show Through
Album Rating: (5 of 5 stars)
Review Comments: If you want a musician who exudes honesty and does a great job of capturing some of life's greatest struggles and pleasures in his music, John Gorka is the one to check out. I saw him live in Oshkosh in 2001. He put on a wonderful show and he is just a regular guy, no false pretenses...it's just John and his guitar. I wish more musicians were that way, unaffected and genuine. He had a great dialogue with the audience and he was truly enjoying himself. "Feel Like a Train" is the best track on the CD.
A Most Excellent Songsmith
Album Rating: (5 of 5 stars)
Review Comments: Gorka is the poet of my heart and soul...he writes music that may not be the story of my life, yet tells my story implicitly. His rich baritone voice and beautiful guitar make his lyrics even more incredible. Gorka also has an incredible ability to tell a whole scene in a few words, using strong descriptions and subtler puns to round out the emotion of every song. Don't just buy this cd...go check out his others...
So lyrical even my 2 year old loves it !
Album Rating: (5 of 5 stars)
Review Comments: There is nothing like a child singing "grand larceny" to really take note of the power of Gorka's writing. There is a poetry and elegance to every line, even the hard luck tunes. I bought this when it came out and it has stayed within the family as you can see. A true classic.
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