Dan Fogelberg: Full Circle [2003] CD Track Listing

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Dan Fogelberg Full Circle [2003] (2003)
2003 Morning Sky/Mailboat Records Inc.\nOriginally Released May 20, 2003\n\nAMG EXPERT REVIEW: N/A\n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nWorth the Wait... and more!, June 10, 2003 \nReviewer: Christian Kuschel from Foehren, Germany \nIt's been almost ten years since Dan Fogelberg released his last "regular" studio album, and with "Full Circle" he more than delivers on his fans' expections.\n\nRecorded and produced by himself at his home in Southern Colorado, "Full Circle" turns out to be a wonderful collection of ten new songs and one hauntingly beautiful instrumental. The overall sound is light, airy and mainly acoustic; with some exceptionally poetic lyrics to go along with the wonderful tunes. Dan Fogelberg has recently found a lot of personal happiness and joy - and it shows both on this CD and live on stage during his current US tour.\n\nPersonal favorites on this CD are "Reach Haven Postcard", the country-flavored title track and "This Heart", which certainly has a lot of radio play appeal; let's hope this independent CD release will find its way to the stations nevertheless. Thanks to Amazon for having it in store so soon!\n\nThere's only one thing I didn't like on "Full Circle", which is the "fade" of the closing track, the very moving "Earth Anthem": It somehow seems to comes too soon and in the middle of the chorus at that. This great song could (and should) have gone on for a few more minutes.\n\nThen again, if you're into Dan Fogelberg's music or singer/songwriters in general, you can't do much better than "Full Circle". Get it now and treasure it for years to come, and make sure you get to see Dan and Band live when they're near you.\n\nLet's all hope it won't be another decade before Dan Fogelberg releases new music. \n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nFull Circle is complete, May 24, 2003 \nReviewer: lawrence ryan \nFor long time Fogelberg fans, "Full Circle" will be very hard to review and not instinctively compare to previous releases. For newer listeners, or even listeners who have never heard of Dans music at all, and want to hear about this CD...."Full Circle" doesn't belong to this new world of Pop. Dan actually has a brilliant touch in everything he has done in his 30 plus years in the music business. And to know that when Dan releases a project, he has put every ounce of knowledge and musical expression he could muster. And just like a true artist, it will not be released to the public until himself as his own worst critic is satisfied.\n\n"Full Circle" does not dissappoint.....It's like a gift to us long time Dan fans.\n\nThere are two songs not written by Dan here, them being, the title track "Full Circle" and "Earth Anthem"....both songs written over thirty years ago by two of Dans musical heros. To respect Dans decisions when he puts a song or two in his projects that he has not written is to give and take. But "Full Circle and Earth Anthem" are two very well sung and played songs and adds perfectly to this CD. I didn't take to this cd immediatly on first hearing, and I suspect you may not either.....But I now love it. I wished it were longer, I wish there were more songs, but thats true of every good cd. My favorite songs are "Icarus Ascending" a song similar in messege to "Don't Lose Heart" from Dans "Portrait Box set" "Drawing Pictures" a song Dan wrote directly after releasing "The Innocent Age" over 20 years ago....if you have The Innocent Age ...you will recongnise Dans musical vision in this song from way back then.....one that reminds me of "Mountains to the Sea" from "Portraits"\n\nI really like every song here...it took a few listens to appreciate it. And look foward to another Cd from Dan I hope in the next few years. \n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nA Return to Classic Fogelberg!, December 4, 2003 \nReviewer: magnumqt from Sacramento, CA USA \nI have always leaned towards Dan's earlier work...ever since Innocent Age my regard for his creations has gone up and down, but I must say emphatically that this is his finest CD in years!!\n\nI've only had it for 2 days, but I've played it about 10 times through and my conclusion: pure, unadulturated Fogelberg at his best! From his fine guitar picking and versatile instrumental skills to his gift of lyric and music writing, this is a complete work, both heartfelt and refined!\n\nIt is at the same time a throw back to the classic Fogelberg style ala Souvenirs and Home Free AND a fresh, unique sound. At no time does Dan depart from the genre he is master of. Not that I mind toe-tapping classics like "Mountain Pass", but the mellow bluegrass soul of this CD keeps the listener feeling relaxed and good through out. Each chart is distinctive enough so as to avoid the monotony of sameness that entirely mellow CDs often suffer from. Certain that is not the case with "Full Circle"!\n\nThis is a marvelous CD to listen to while working, writing or on long-distance drives...its MUSIC is endlessly thought-provoking (and I say that before I've even had time to read over the LYRICS!).\n\nThanks to Dan Fogelberg, the multi-talented artist, for sharing his rare gift with us in this rich, poignant and enjoyable collection of songs. \n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nIn a word: versatile., October 11, 2003 \nReviewer: A music fan from NC United States \nI don't know about others, but I don't expect, nor do I want, the same thing time after time with any musician. I have listened to and loved Fogelberg's music for 30 years. One of the things I have loved is his ability to surprise me. Even though he always sounds like himself, I never really know what direction he will take. He moves easily from rock to folk to blues to country (not a personal favorite, even from him) to classical, with jazz, Celtic, Native American and Latin elements thrown in on occasion. His latest album did not disappoint me. I loved it from the first listen. Whispers in the Wind is so beautiful, vocally, musically and lyrically. It has a tender, Mediterranean feel to it. Another personal favorite is Once in Love, one of those songs that just naturally lifts your spirits. The other songs are wonderful, too, from Half Moon Bay (a great instrumental) to Icarus Ascending. He goes a wee bit flat on Earth Anthem in one spot, but then picks it up again and runs with it. It's a beautiful song, especially in sentiment. If he should choose to leave the music industry behind him tomorrow (as I've heard rumored several times), I would be very disappointed, but I would also be very happy and grateful that we were given another fine album to take with us "along the road." \n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nDisappointing, October 9, 2003 \nReviewer: celtichris from Phoenix, AZ United States \nI was excited to find this CD. I figured it'd been long enough between studio albums, and a poorly-recorded live set just wasn't giving me my Dan fix.\n\nSo I bought it. I put it on. I put it back in its case and I doubt it'll ever come out again.\n\nThe songwriting is almost uniformly dreadful. The lyrics are either precious or inane, the melodies uninspired and at best reminiscent of other, better times. The arrangements are unimaginative. The drum programming is amateurish and plodding. I never thought I'd say this, being a full-time disparager of the music Establishment, but everything sounded a little better when he was with Epic.\n\nThe weird vocal mannerisms that've been creeping into his voice over the last 10 years are given full sway here, rendering him often almost unintelligible.\n\nPardon the lousy simile, but the whole CD is like a plane powering fast toward the ground. It does try to pull out of the dive with "Drawing Pictures" and especially the excellent "Icarus Ascending", but in the end it's not enough to save it.\n\nBOOM.\n\nIt makes me sad. \n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\na nice return to an earlier familiar sound, September 29, 2003 \nReviewer: jeff dykhuis from kalamazoo, mi \ni finally bought this cd after picking it up and setting it down a few times. i think its a very good new album. some one in a previous review stated that the songs were written in 1997 with the exception of two and is dated 2002, they also stated that it is released on an obscure label, well the label is dans own label named after a song on souvenirs called "morning sky" and the distributer is mailboat records which is owned by jimmy buffett (who is thanked in the liner notes). if the album packaging/artwork is lacking, maybe by big corporate standards its because dan and his family created it themselves. anyway i like this cd, its really grown on me, it has a sound that goes back to all of his best works like the innocent age. im glad that he's released something new. i allways liked hearing his songs on the radio when i was growing and when i lived in colorado, near his house and studio around nederland he came into an auto shop i was working at and was a regular customer and i really got into it then and have bought everything he's done and cant imagine not listening to him. this cd was recorded in his home studio "mountian bird" and hopefully we will get some more music from him in the future. my favorite off this cd is reason to run, which has a great guitar sound that sounds like older fogelberg and icarus ascending. the inspiration for most of these songs seem to be his homes in colorado and maine and his love of sailing and lifestyle. \n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nA return to form, July 11, 2003 \nReviewer: Joe Lee from Brandon, MS USA \nI really like this disc. I've been a Fogelberg fan from the very beginning and treasure his first half-dozen albums. He lost me for the most part in the late 1980's and 1990's, but "Full Circle" is his strongest studio LP in two decades and not far behind signature work like the "Souvenirs" and "The Innocent Age" albums.\n\n"Half Moon Bay" is a lovely, lushly-arranaged instrumental. It's brief (a minute and a half) and serves as in introduction to "When You're Not Near Me," which is a jangly, somewhat country-influenced tune. "Full Circle," written by Gene Clark a generation ago, gets the same treatment, and it's an excellent choice for Fogelberg--he's been at the top, and he's taken his lumps. \n\nThere are some lovely acoustic ballads on this disc. "Whispers In The Wind" is the best track, a haunting song that begs for repeated listening and holds up well in comparison to his very best work. "Drawing Pictures," written circa 1981, is equally strong. "This Heart" is another mid-tempoed, somewhat countryish number, although more lyrically upbeat than some of his more somber songs, and that's a nice change. "Icarus Ascending" is an interesting song, and Bill Martin's "Earth Anthem" is stately and a fine closer. The songs seems to fade out early, but that's a minor complaint.\n\nOnly ten full-length songs (not counting "Half Moon Bay"), and a total running time of about 42 minutes. But there's not an ounce of fat on this disc--not one mediocre tune. If you'd given up on Fogelberg 15-20 years ago, give "Full Circle" a chance. Lifelong devotees will be thrilled, as I was. Strongly recommended. \n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nDisappointed..., July 1, 2003 \nReviewer: debzz10 from Mt. Laurel, NJ USA \nSorry guys..but I have to agree with John (way down the list): Just because Dan finally released a NEW album after 10 years does NOT make it worthy of 5 stars. I found this CD to be a bit monotonous and unfortunately flat. Each song sounded like the next and I found the words to be lacking in any sort of depth. Is this the same man who wrote songs like Nexus and Wild Places?? His emotional attachment and need to express his inner most thoughts and feelings (his strength in his past albums)seem to have disappeared. What's left is a bit shallow and lifeless. SORRY to be so hard on ya Dan but I've been a fan since the very early days and really expected just a BIT more. I certainly appreciate his talent and will always look forward to anything he does but I've passed this album on to a friend who may like it better than I will. It has not made my collection. \n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nGood but Not Great, June 19, 2003 \nReviewer: John Loughnane from Hull, MA USA \nThis is a good but not great Fogelberg effort. Like all his music it is well crafted and shows that he is a very talented individual. However, most of the 5 star reviews seem grounded more in the fact that Fogelberg finally released new music.\nMy hunch is that anything would please die hard Fogelberg fans.\nA few points to ponder:\n\nAfter almost 10 years since River of Souls ( a better album) the CD contains just over 40 minutes of music. Songs such as A Love Beyond Time, Fire and Ice, Nature of the Game, and the 1970's What in the World would have fit nicely. Perhaps they will be on the long awaited solo live album but I would have like to see more music after such a long wait.\n\nAt times, Dans's fans seem more interested in his career than he does. Like most of us, as he has gotten older, the career seems less important. \n\nSo - I enjoyed Full Circle - but try to look at it realistically.\nIf it was released after the Innocent Age - what would you think? \n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nFunny how the circle turns around, June 8, 2003 \nReviewer: Andrew Butterfield from England.\nI didn't think I'd be giving a new Dan Fogelberg album five stars again. But I've got to hand it to him - this is a really good album whichever way you look at it.\nI'm sure all his fans will love it just because it exists, but I think it's a bit better than that and deserves attention from a wider audience.\nFirst, it's the best produced Fogelberg album of all. It is full of lovely acoustic guitars, intricate embellishments and manages to sound crisp and new while harking back to happier Fogelberg times too. \nIt's more than thirty years since the first DF album, and Dan's voice has changed quite a lot. The surprise is that he sounds perhaps sweeter and more appealing now than he ever has. On 'Full Circle' the thing that strikes you is the beauty of his phrasing and the simplicity of his vocal delivery. His previous tendency to 'over-sing' a song has gone, and it's refreshing.\nThere are several very good songs on 'Full Circle' and really none that make you want to hit the skip button. The title track is an excellent cover of The Byrds' song from thirty years ago, a strong song that fits in here perfectly, it seems like Dan wrote it himself. All but two songs are DF originals, from the haunting and beautiful 'Whispers in the Wind' to the perfectly-formed 'Reach Haven Postcard', and all are good or better than good, with strong melodies and wise, poetic lyrics. It's the softer songs that sound best, complete with Dan's trademark harmonies, and fans of Dan's earlier work will be ecstatic when they hear these.\nThis is by far the best Dan Fogelberg album for many years, and it might even stand comparison with his very best. Time will tell, but highly recommended for here and now. \n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nFull Circle CD, is Full Dan Fogelberg, May 31, 2003 \nReviewer: A music fan from Planet Earth, spinning round n round \nStirring, inspiring, heartwarming, and honestly insightful. None of those words completely define the project entitled Full Circle by Dan Fogelberg. To think many of these songs were passed up for this reason or that is something only Dan himself could possibly explain (which he does on his official web site, DanFogelberg.com) or come close to Drawing Pictures of just how outstanding this turned out. Dan Fogelberg will always be an artist that lets his work speak for itself, and allows the path through a project surface, grow, and become a monument to material he believes is of worth. If Dan isn't patting himself on the back after getting these songs out to his fans, he should be. Dan shows anyone who has doubts, he can compose as well as anyone in the business of writing songs, and his musicianship is still to this day pin drop silent in the venues when he does his solo portion of tours. I can assure you there are songs on Full Circle that can be used to show all aspects of Fogelberg the musician as well. Get ready to be entertained people, duct tape your socks on, because if you don't, they are about to get knocked off your feet. This is a proud proud moment for this Fogelberg fan, because people that hear these new songs as a first time Fogelberg fan will be instantly made life long Dan fans. Full Circle covers many aspects of music, and I'm so happy it's out! Buy it, and prepare to be amazed. \n\nHalf.com Album Credits\nDan Fogelberg, Producer\n\nAlbum Notes\nPersonnel: Dan Fogleberg (vocals, acoustic & electric guitars, guitar, mandolin, piano, keyboards, bass, percussion); Sven Birkebeiner (keyboards); Donny Traunt (bass); Roland Laboite (drums, percussion); Lee Mealone (congas, percussion); Kenny Passarelli, Jean Fogelberg (background vocals).\n\nRecorded at Mountain Bird Studios, Colorado.
This folk cd contains 11 tracks and runs 42min 28sec.
Freedb: 8809f20b

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