The Village Gorilla Head thread (was: Just got Tommy's solo record!)

[AxlsMainMan]

I'm think it has sold about 100,000 at the most, which is a shame cause it's a great album

I think that figure is very optimistic.? In all honesty I'm thinking less than 10,000 sold worldwide.

Wow, thats not alot of copies at all if thats true. I couldnt even get it in HMV or sunrise because they said it was such a small release it isnt delievered in bulk quantity so your probably right.

[jarmo]

Tommy Stinson. "Village Gorilla Head" review in Classic Rock magazine
4/5

Unless you're Axl Rose, it must be a pretty crashy number being in Guns N' Roses these days.

Imagine it: you're probably on a hefty retainer, on paper you're in one of the biggest rock bands of the last 20 years, and yet the reality of it is that you've got plenty of down time to spend working on your own projects until you "get the call" from Mr Rose.

Which is how it must be for former Replacements bassist Tommy Stinson.. And "Village Gorilla Head" is what he's been getting up to while his boss is been tinkering in the studio.

Stinson is much more than a bassist, and takes on the roles of songwriter, singer, rhythm and lead guitarrist, bassist and ocassionally drummer on this record.

Those expecting something GN'R sounding will be disappointed. Those who remember The Replacements' glory years, however, will find much to enjoy here. "Somethings's wrong" is full of ramshackle guitar and hoarse vocals that that band's Paul Westerberg would be proud of, while closer "Someday" is a beautiful, mid-paced ballad

If this is the stuff Stinson is capable of making on his own, hopefully Axl never makes the call and his bass player can go on creating music as enjoyable as this.


Thanks Graciela!?




/jarmo

[Christos AG]

Ok, that was one cool review... except from the last part... Don't give Axl ideas.

[AxlsMainMan]

Ok, that was one cool review... except from the last part... Don't give Axl ideas.

Yeah that review is pretty precise when it comes to the situation of downtime these bandmembers probably have. I can only imagine one day though, Tommy will be in the bathtub as the phone rings..."Hello?"..."Tommy...its done, pack your shit, we've got a world to dominate!"

[sweechile]

i would have to say, that after hearing some of the cuts of this crap, i can only say that i truly hope this is nothing to expect
from chin demo.    this is hayseed midwest music similar to those bad 80's bands out of the midwest,  which i guess is probably what
the replacements were, of the few tunes i heard.     i hate how his voice is a bad imitation of bob dylan on his worst hangover.

can anyone truly hope for this crap for the new GNR?     

i have just been reintroduced to the GNR legacy thru the greatests hits album,  and there are truly classic songs there.

im not bagging on this guy cause im hoping for some stupid reunion of the old multi-millionare has-beens,   but just crossing
my fingers that with axl's incredible voice,  that there might be someone in his new band that can write a memorable song.
  the madagascar mp3 is the only hope that i have heard of yet, the blues as well,  and that doesn't even sound remotely what this hayseed
record sounds like.

this record is as equally bad as any ex-members solo records.   zero interest,   zero sales.      next!

[Pandora]

can anyone truly hope for this crap for the new GNR?     

Judging from all the positive reviews this album has gotten here so far, I'd say yes   
 And THIS won't be what the album sounds like since Tommy is not the only songwriter. But after hearing what he can do on his own, I definitely hope he will bring something to the table in GN'R.

[Christos AG]

i would have to say, that after hearing some of the cuts of this crap, i can only say that i truly hope this is nothing to expect
from chin demo.? ? this is hayseed midwest music similar to those bad 80's bands out of the midwest,? which i guess is probably what
the replacements were, of the few tunes i heard.? ? ?i hate how his voice is a bad imitation of bob dylan on his worst hangover.

can anyone truly hope for this crap for the new GNR?? ? ?

i have just been reintroduced to the GNR legacy thru the greatests hits album,? and there are truly classic songs there.

im not bagging on this guy cause im hoping for some stupid reunion of the old multi-millionare has-beens,? ?but just crossing
my fingers that with axl's incredible voice,? that there might be someone in his new band that can write a memorable song.
? the madagascar mp3 is the only hope that i have heard of yet, the blues as well,? and that doesn't even sound remotely what this hayseed
record sounds like.

this record is as equally bad as any ex-members solo records.? ?zero interest,? ?zero sales.? ? ? next!

Great review... A real critic...

Have you even listened to the whole album? Did u even buy it?

[sweechile]

<Great review... A real critic...
<Have you even listened to the whole album? Did u even buy it?


yep, did listen to it,  and nope would never buy this.   just an honest opinion here.    like others im intriqued by
what chin demo might sound like, so ive had to try to stomach what the other guys might contribute.   i had bought
several bucket records,  and though he is a monster guitarist,  there is not one song near the caliber of a guns song,
just mindless noodles of finger exercises.  i already traded in those cd's.    the tommy record much the same as a gilby,
izzy record,   mediocrity,  bad vocals and very polished over 80's music.

sometimes people are glazed over by the guns personalities,  but in the end the songs always have to be there,   and can
you honestly say there is anything on this record near the caliber of a classic (i mean good) guns song?    not one of their
filler songs like its so easy, rocket queen.     sorry but i wasn't a fan of the replacements midwest 80's sound, and even if
it is glossed over by famous musicians and producers,   someone needs to give this village gorilla some head!

rated  c-   for mediocrity

[Christos AG]

<Great review... A real critic...
<Have you even listened to the whole album? Did u even buy it?


yep, did listen to it,  and nope would never buy this.   just an honest opinion here.    like others im intriqued by
what chin demo might sound like, so ive had to try to stomach what the other guys might contribute.   i had bought
several bucket records,  and though he is a monster guitarist,  there is not one song near the caliber of a guns song,
just mindless noodles of finger exercises.  i already traded in those cd's.    the tommy record much the same as a gilby,
izzy record,   mediocrity,  bad vocals and very polished over 80's music.

sometimes people are glazed over by the guns personalities,  but in the end the songs always have to be there,   and can
you honestly say there is anything on this record near the caliber of a classic (i mean good) guns song?    not one of their
filler songs like its so easy, rocket queen.     sorry but i wasn't a fan of the replacements midwest 80's sound, and even if
it is glossed over by famous musicians and producers,   someone needs to give this village gorilla some head!

rated  c-   for mediocrity

I'm not glazed over by the fact that he's playing in GNR. I bought the record, listened to it and loved it. That's it.

It never happened with an ex gnr member, like Izzy, Duff, Slash...

I guess I didn't expect GNR material there. That's why I liked the record...

[jarmo]

Funny, I wasn't expecting anything and just listened to it.

I still enjoy the album a lot.

It's not a substitute for GN'R, it's just a great record.

Too bad it seems like a lot of bands get a lot of hype from the press and sell because of that. While this album is almost impossible to find for some people.



/jarmo

[PhillyRiot]

I refuse to give his album a chance until the new GNR releases Chinese Democracy.  I am not going to get it just because he is in the new GNR and played a dozen or so shows with Axl.  I am sure many people bought Buckethead's solo works because he was in the new GNR, and looked what happened with that.

[jarmo]

I refuse to give his album a chance until the new GNR releases Chinese Democracy.? I am not going to get it just because he is in the new GNR and played a dozen or so shows with Axl.

That must be the funniest reason I've heard for not buying Tommy's record.?



Why not get it because it's just a great record?

I had no expectations about this album when I got it, turns out I've listened to it more than I've listened to "Contraband". And "Contraband" isn't a bad album.....




/jarmo

[Pandora]

  I am sure many people bought Buckethead's solo works because he was in the new GNR, and looked what happened with that.

Yeah, tell me, what happened? Lots of people have discovered a great artist that they wouldn't have known otherwise. Personally, I don't care much for instrumental music, but my boyfriend has almost all Buckethead albums, and he's not gonna put them in the trash can just because the guy has left the band. It's called broadening your horizons. Sheesh....

I'm with Jarmo on this one. If you don't want to buy this album, at least find a good reason. You could also shut up, but I guess that's just wishful thinking on my part. 

[Sukie]

Yeah!  I finally got VGH today!  Listening to it now...I'm so excited.   

[PhillyRiot]

I'm not trying to be an a-hole, it is just that I am not going to support new GNR members solo projects until they are part of a GNR officially released album.  PANDORA - Buckethead played a lot of people so they would buy his solo stuff.  EVEN AXL WOULD AGREE WITH THAT!

[jarmo]

I don't understand that mentality. It's a great album in its own right, your loss.



/jarmo

[Booker Floyd]

I bought the album about a month ago...

Its a decent album.  A couple very good songs.  I cant say it was worth the $16, but a decent album regardless.

[Pandora]

PANDORA - Buckethead played a lot of people so they would buy his solo stuff.  EVEN AXL WOULD AGREE WITH THAT!

Yeah, well, we got no proof of that. It might be true, or it might not. Anyway, it doesn't take away the quality of his solo stuff (if you like that style).
Are you trying to punish them for not releasing C.D by not buying their album? The only person you're punishing is yourself IMHO.  (btw, isn't that what your sig says?  )

[axlsalinger]

Just checking in to say that I finally got around to picking up this album about a week ago. Wasn't expecting much, but I really like it a lot and have been listening to it every day. Fave tracks are "Without a View", "VGH" and "Motivation". I am also very pleasantly surprised at the variety of styles on the record, and with Tommy's voice.

Great stuff!

[anythinggoes]

well im happy ive just ordered VGH and OTTTAM from USA for $25 inc P&P so ill look forward to getting them in a week or so heard Light of Day ( i think that was what it was called) and although not blown away i still enjoyed it Roll on Next Year maybe well see CD