MP Gallery "D"

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	Gallery D
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Thanks for all of your comments and for your support!

The most recent entries are posted at the top.

Name: Jason Hutchins
Date & Time: Fri Oct 24 15:43:53 EDT 1997
From: "hard core" Upper Darby, PA
Favorite song(s) from March ---No Myth, Half Harvest, Brave New World, Innocent One
Favorite song(s) from Free For All ---Long Way Down (Look what the cat drug in), Seen the Doctor, Drained, Now We're Even
Favorite song(s) from Resigned ---Me Around, Selfish, Figment, I Can Tell
Favorite line(s) (from "Long Way Down"): If I wear apathy's crown, don't call me highness, cause it's a long way down
Comments: The blend of guitars and keyboards kicks ass.
Name: [none given]
Date & Time: Thu Oct 23 01:58:32 EDT 1997
From: CA
Favorite song(s) from March ---Likes ALL of March
Favorite song(s) from Free For All ---Likes ALL of Free For All
Favorite song(s) from Resigned ---Try, Me Around, Like Egypt Was, Out of My Hands, All That That Implies, Selfish, Cover Up, I Can Tell
Favorite line(s) (from "Half Harvest"): "So move out of your bed of roses, now, I'm putting in a bed of nails"
Comments: Well, Michael Penn has been my favorite musician since I first memorized "March" when I was in 8th grade (I'm now a junior in college). I don't like Resigned as much as the other two, though. For some reason, the new CD is hard to keep at a constant volume level and it stresses me out. And I was dissappointed after seeing him open up for Sheryl Crow, but that could be because I'm used to seeing him in small bars and he seems more relaxed that he did in a huge arena where no one cared who he was until he played "No Myth" and everyone seemed to say, "Oh, he's the romeo in black jeans guy." But still, he is my favorite musician, Resigned hasn't changed that. But what I really want to know is, is the Patrick Warren now playing with Fiona Apple the Patrick of "Intermission by Patrick" on Free for All (as well as the one we hear on March?)
Name: Dan Parent
Date & Time: Thu Oct 16 22:23:05 EDT 1997
From: Bolton, VT
Favorite song(s) from March ---This & That, Brave New World, Bedlam Boys, Big House, Battleroom
Favorite song(s) from Free For All ---Free Time, Seen the Doctor, Drained, Now We're Even
Favorite song(s) from Resigned ---Try, Out of My Hands, All That That Implies
Favorite line(s) (from "Brave New World"): "and he would also like to know if I could just check around before I left this town for slow-mo footage of the tumble down so, This may not be my best day"
Comments: I bought Free For All when it came out and really liked it a lot. When my long relationship with my wife crashed and burned in August 97, I got back into Michael's music. I bought Resigned in September, and finally found March last week. His music is written in such an intelligent way, his lyrics never fail to amaze me as I see new meanings all the time. "Out of My Hands" bowled me over because I first heard it when I was coming to terms with my wife running away from our life together. Michael, if you should read this, your music has helped me keep my sanity and serenity, and I can never thank you enough for the positive impact you have made, I truly appreciate it.
Name: Erica
Date & Time: Wed Oct 15 13:25:46 EDT 1997
From: Toronto Canada
Favorite song(s) from March ---No Myth, Half Harvest, This & That, Brave New World, Innocent One, Invisible, Evenfall
Favorite song(s) from Free For All ---Coal, Bunker Hill
Favorite song(s) from Resigned ---Out of My Hands, Cover Up, Comfort
Favorite line(s) (from "No Myth"): don't send no private investigator to find me please 'less he speaks Chinese and can dance like Astaire overseas - OK!
Comments: Hello everyone! I must first say thank God for artists like Michael Penn. I have to admit that I am getting extremely tired of popular music in the 90s. It's a shame how talented artists such as Penn cannot receive coverage in the media. His music never leaves my cd turntable. As discouraging as the music industry may be, Michael please continue to release more of your songs! I can't wait for another album! By the way, terrific page Tom! Thanks! Erica
Name: Mary Stokes
Date & Time: Sat Oct 11 20:40:08 EDT 1997
From: Athens, GA
Favorite song(s) from March ---No Myth, Brave New World, Bedlam Boys
Favorite song(s) from Free For All ---Long Way Down (Look what the cat drug in), By the Book, Bunker Hill
Favorite song(s) from Resigned ---Out of My Hands, Figment
Favorite line(s) (from "Brave New World"): the tin man was inanimate; the lion lied
Comments: Anyone interested in starting an MP listserv/discussion group, e-mail mstokes@peachnet.campus.mci.net
Name: t.n.gregory
Date & Time: Fri Oct 10 17:40:40 EDT 1997
From: Saint Louis, Missouri
Favorite song(s) from March ---Invisible
Favorite song(s) from Free For All ---Long Way Down (Look what the cat drug in)
Favorite song(s) from Resigned ---Small Black Box
Favorite line(s) (from "I Can Tell"): "Out I never did figure it."
Comments: meeting m.penn at the saint louis show on his latest tour was truly a highlight of my musical life. i rarely get an opportunity to meet and talk to people who have influenced my music and he is certainly one of the few. i look forward to hearing his score on "Boogie Nights" and i hope to talk to him again sometime, possibly work with him. may as well think big, right? check out my bands if you like at:
http://www.anet-stl.com/music/Collaborateur/sanctum.html
or
http://www.anet-stl.com/music/Crushed/room.html
Name: Scott Tippins
Date & Time: Fri Oct 10 17:15:43 EDT 1997
From: Auburn, AL
Favorite song(s) from March ---No Myth, Brave New World, Bedlam Boys
Favorite song(s) from Free For All ---Long Way Down (Look what the cat drug in), Coal, Strange Season, Bunker Hill
Favorite song(s) from Resigned ---Try, Like Egypt Was, Cover Up, Figment
Favorite line(s) (from " "):
Comments: "Bunker Hill" has got to be one of the gretatest pop tunes of this decade. It's actually too bad that song and Penn himself haven't gotten more exposure (critically and comercially). I think all of his albums are incredible, but think "Free For All" may be his best. I was thrilled to finally see "Resigned" released this summer. "Try" has been in my head every single day since I first heard it several months ago on M2. I would love to see Penn live, but I don't think he makes his way down to Alabama that often. He is truly a brilliant singer/songwriter.
Name: Big T
Date & Time: Wed Oct 8 23:00:02 EDT 1997
From: Redmond, WA
Favorite song(s) from March ---Innocent One
Favorite song(s) from Free For All ---Bunker Hill
Favorite song(s) from Resigned ---Out of My Hands, Cover Up, I Can Tell
Favorite line(s) (from "Like Egypt Was"): I'm on a 3 day binge on the lunatic fringe
Comments: Listening to MP's most recent one can tell how much he has continued to improve his songwriting ability. March was terrific and fresh but he has continued to expand his boundaries and limits. I must say that there aren't many other songwriters out there right now with MP's intelligence. Which is why, regretably, his work has not found it's way into the mainstream culture. Yes that is a slam on the mainstream. It's great to see other fans out there that understand the importance of this amazing musician. Thanks!
Name: Matt
Date & Time: Wed Oct 8 16:56:06 EDT 1997
From: Chicago
Favorite song(s) from March ---Bedlam Boys, Invisible, Cupid's Got a Brand New Gun
Favorite song(s) from Free For All ---Free Time, Drained, Now We're Even
Favorite song(s) from Resigned ---Out of My Hands, Figment
Favorite line(s) (from "Drained"): "Sun comes up and it just dawned on me..."
Comments: I first heard Michael when they played "Seen the Doctor" on 120 Minutes. A friend of mine had Free For All, but he told me it wasn't that good, so I didn't think any more of it. Then about 2 or 3 years later, I was in college and had just discovered the internet and newsgroups. I was browsing through alt.music.alternative when I saw a thread about Michael. I think the person was asking when a new album was coming out. To my surprise, the response was from Michael himself! (using a friend's account, he talked about the problems he was having with RCA...) I was pretty impressed and remembered how much I liked "Seen the Doctor", so I went out and got Free For All. Of course I loved it, and bought March the next day (bought them both at a used cd store....no royalties, sorry Michael ;)
I've tried to find that post that Michael made, but without success. It was in the spring of '95 (May, I think). I don't know if DejaNews goes that far back, especially concerning the alt.* hierarchy.
As for Resigned, I think it contains his best and worst songs. Figment is excellent, but Comfort and Cover Up are awful.
Name: Francesca
Date & Time: Sat Oct 4 19:52:30 EDT 1997
From: Toronto
Favorite song(s) from March ---Likes ALL of March
Favorite song(s) from Free For All ---Likes ALL of Free For All
Favorite song(s) from Resigned ---Likes ALL of Resigned
Favorite line(s) (from "Figment"): Are you closing in? Come back / Are you still believing what you read?
Comments: I guess I'm new to the whole Michael Penn thing. I only just heard of him because M2 plays "Try" on my illegal satellite dish. I don't know how I could have missed March and Free For All. Anyways, I'm catching up. Michael Penn is a brilliant songwriter. I've never seen him live, but I can imagine it's just as good as his CDs - if not better. He is one of those musicians who can speak to you regardless of the mood you are in. That's talent, my friends. This site is wonderful!!!
Name: Mark Holland
Date & Time: Tue Sep 30 02:38:10 EDT 1997
From: Seattle, WA
Favorite song(s) from March ---Innocent One, Invisible
Favorite song(s) from Free For All ---Long Way Down (Look what the cat drug in), Drained
Favorite song(s) from Resigned ---Selfish, Figment
Favorite line(s) (from "Figment"): do you think that love is a figment of your imagination
Comments: His slower songs (Invisible, Innocent One, Figment, Long Way Down) sound to me like they were written with the most feeling, and so stand out. I think Drained and Selfish are his two best rock songs, even if some would peg Selfish as a "sellout".
Name: ryan goins
Date & Time: Tue Sep 16 22:42:22 EDT 1997
From: Austin, Texas
Favorite song(s) from March ---Likes ALL of March
Favorite song(s) from Free For All ---Long Way Down (Look what the cat drug in)
Favorite song(s) from Resigned ---Try, Out of My Hands, Comfort, I Can Tell
Favorite line(s) (from "Evenfall"): "I'm out of reserves; out of my wherewithal"
Comments: Michael Penn is a master at writing a great bridge. Listen to Bedlam Boys (Well its history my baby..) and you see what I mean. So catchy and so clever, a great bridge is the staple of a Michael Penn tune. How about "Try"?
Name: heidi blackwell
Date & Time: Mon Sep 15 23:55:43 EDT 199
From: georgia - i'm too embarrassed to elaborate
Favorite song(s) from March ---No Myth
Favorite song(s) from Free For All ---
Favorite song(s) from Resigned ---Selfish
Favorite line(s) (from " "):
Comments: raw honest emotions
Name: Judy Sweeny
Date & Time: Wed Sep 3 15:11:36 EDT 1997
From: Jersey City, originally, but now, D.C.
Favorite song(s) from March ---Likes ALL of March
Favorite song(s) from Free For All ---Likes ALL of Free For All
Favorite song(s) from Resigned ---Likes ALL of Resigned
Favorite line(s): All of his lyrics are incredible and so many of them touch me in so many different ways.
Comments: Ok, I just posted a message to you, but I wanted to say a couple of more things, after having read some of the other comments. I too fel that Michael Penn is a great poet of our times. I loved the extended metaphor in Cupid's got a Brand New Gun, and Battle Room gets me all the time. I also wanted to say, that all though I adore all of his songs, I feel that "No Myth" is just about THE perfect song. Love it!!! Love him!!!
Name: Judy Sweeny
Date & Time: Wed Sep 3 15:11:36 EDT 1997
From: Jersey City, originally, but now, D.C.
Favorite song(s) from March ---Likes ALL of March
Favorite song(s) from Free For All ---Likes ALL of Free For All
Favorite song(s) from Resigned ---Likes ALL of Resigned
Favorite line(s) (from "No Myth"): "What if I were Romeo in black jeans, what if I was Heathcliff, It's no Myth"
Comments: I just wanted to say that I love Michael Penn. I have ever since the first time I ever heard "No Myth"(when I was a sophomore in high school). His albums are refreshing, his lyrics are intelligent (love the allusion to Heathcliff) and his guitar is just wonderful. I catch my breath every time I hear the opening chords to "No Myth". It's rare that an artist can put out an album on which all of the songs are excellent--and Michael Penn has done it three times! He is just incredible and I look forward to hearing more from him for years to come!
Name: Steve McKay
Date & Time: Sun Aug 31 14:32:02 EDT 1997
From: originally Michigan but currently residing in Colorado
Favorite song(s) from March ---Likes ALL of March
Favorite song(s) from Free For All ---Likes ALL of Free For All
Favorite song(s) from Resigned ---Likes ALL of Resigned
Favorite line(s): An eye on the clock I don't talk much, when I'm running on the inside - out of my hands
Comments: Within the past two weeks I have had more luck in matters of Michael Penn than I would have believed possible. I would highly recommend anyone who isn't on his Epic mailing list do so immediately. In the past two weeks I have been fortunate enough to see Michael perform in a small bar in Boulder and meet him after his recent show in Denver. I feel like I could write a book about these two experiences. I don't think I could do them justice in a small space like this though. To be brief, those two experiences were nothing short of incredible. Michael is a *real* person and very friendly as well. He really went out of his way to show *me* appreciation for being a fan. I wish everyone as much luck I have had.
Name: Joan Campanara
Date & Time: Fri Aug 29 01:37:50 EDT 1997
From: Philadelphia
Favorite song(s) from March ---Brave New World, Invisible, Evenfall
Favorite song(s) from Free For All ---Free Time, Slipping My Mind, Strange Season
Favorite song(s) from Resigned ---Like Egypt Was, All That That Implies, Cover Up
Favorite line(s) (from "Cover Up"): Got no beer in my fridge, got no gold in my Knox
Comments: It's hard for me to pick particular songs because I like all of his songs so much. I saw Michael at the concert in Philly on 8/16. His live version of All That That Implies was awesome!
Name: nurseytoro@aol.com
Date & Time: Thu Aug 28 20:09:26 EDT 1997
From: new york city
Favorite song(s) from March ---No Myth, Half Harvest, This & That, Brave New World, Bedlam Boys, Battleroom, Evenfall
Favorite song(s) from Free For All ---Likes ALL of Free For All
Favorite song(s) from Resigned ---Try, Me Around, Like Egypt Was, Small Black Box, Likes ALL of Resigned
Favorite line(s) (from " "):
Comments: I really like all of Michael Penns songs from every album. I am very happy to finally find other people who appreciate him. Even in NYC, not many of friends/co-workers know who he is. Your web site is great too.
Name: Brian Whitman
Date & Time: Wed Aug 27 00:37:18 EDT 1997
From: new jersey and massachusetts, depending on the month
Favorite song(s) from March ---No Myth, Brave New World, Invisible, Battleroom
Favorite song(s) from Free For All ---Coal, Seen the Doctor, Bunker Hill, Likes ALL of Free For All
Favorite song(s) from Resigned ---Me Around, Like Egypt Was, Figment, Small Black Box
Favorite line(s): "we all need something to destroy" - from black box or "if i'm blue, i just held my breath too long" from free time
Comments: Me Around and Bunker Hill are some of the greatest songs I've ever heard. Resigned isn't as absolutely cool as Free-for-all, but it's close, and it beats up any other record I bought this past summer. I wish Michael the best and hope he gets his due respect some day!
-brian whitman - my homepage
Name: Mr. Dan
Date & Time: Mon Aug 25 23:03:12 EDT 1997
From: Tongue Zine
Favorite song(s) from March ---This & That, Innocent One, Invisible, Likes ALL of March
Favorite song(s) from Free For All ---Long Way Down (Look what the cat drug in), Coal, By the Book, Slipping My Mind, Strange Season, Likes ALL of Free For All
Favorite song(s) from Resigned ---Like Egypt Was, Figment, I Can Tell
Favorite line(s): "Should I remind you that this is the end / of Camel's and masking tape" -Slipping My Mind "Leave it for awhile... come back come back" - Figment
Comments: I went to the record store several times to get "Resigned", always too early. When the actual release date came around, it took me three trips before they got the shipment in and shelved it. (IN case you can't tell I've been a fan for a long time). I was and am somewhat dissappointed with "Resigned", the use of a steady band seemed off to me, and it wasn't what I was expecting (the quote from "Figment" is mainly there because of how it is produced). Of course that doesn't mean I don't think it's the best album I've bought in a number of years.
I was reading the older entries in the gallery and I came across one talking about "Long Way Down". I, like the writer, used to think that it was about a "sense of loss compounded by... paranoia and selfishness" then a friend pointed out something to me. While the above might be true as well, it's also about another topic. (If you watch Seinfeld there was an infamous episode in which the gang had a bet on who could go longer without doing this) And when I listened again, I heard exactly what she was saying, and I thought to myself, wow, how amazing that he could take a subject like this and put it to a song like this. All the other songs I ever heard about this were punkish crap, but this was a poetic song which easily comes across as is quoted above. It was then clearly obvious just how great a songwriter Michael Penn truly is. Amazing how people like Fiona Apple, Meredith Brooks, and Alanis who write blunt angsty songs get credit as being such. (I don't think it's just Chauvinism talking even though the above artists are all women)
Of course I want to plug myself again. You can read my column at Tongue Zine

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