CD Reviews On Line
Under The Radar
September 2006 Featured CD
Substantiated Sighting Review
Fred Stanton's
There Goes The Neighborhood
"Eighteen more songs of hope, intellect, humor, anger, passion and of course politics from a little known American Treasure"--Rob Lincoln, cdreviewsonline.com
I know I am not the only one who in the last few years has wondered what it would be like if Phil Ochs was still alive writing songs. What would he write about? Would he still be singing for peace and justice using his humor, anger, rightiousness and poeticism to call on us to be better than who we are...or at least to wake up from our stupor? If only he was still alive....
Well his spirit lives on in the form of Fred Stanton, who in my opinion is simply the best "under the radar" political songwriter in this country today. Fred Stanton is no clone of Phil Ochs. His voice doesn't sound anything like that 60's troubadoor. Stanton's voice is gruff and weathered, while his 12 string guitar playing is strong and steady. But it is his songs that have the emotional and political power of his contemporary Ochs. For Fred was also writing in the 60's along with the original wave of political troubadors. Stanton even released a vinyl LP (remember them?) entitled Hey Hey LBJ in 1967. He has been agitating and writing ever since, and has sometimes played at political song festivals. For the last decade or so he has released a new hefty CD of 15-20 songs every two years. Prolific, poetic, stoic yet funny, Fred's songs blow people away wherever he appears. He just doesn't appear nearly as much as he should. It is important then that you hear his CDs. He really has something to say that others may only dare to think. All of his CDs are of equal quality. The latest contains 18 songs of all types, not just political, but they all have a certain maturity and forcefulness rarely heard with songwriters today. The favorite cuts are:
1) There Goes The Neighborhood- This title track is also one of Stanton's most touching songs. It serves as a poignant reminder of what the government of the new immigrant "settlers" in the 18th and 19th centuries did to the Native Americans and a segue into the new immigrants and how they are being treated by the government of the descendents of some of these same former immigrants. It is a very beautiful melody as well.
2) Vodka & the Pope- This is not only one of Fred's funniest songs, it is also one of the most lyrically creative songs you will ever hear by anyone. He manages to bring Einstein and "key lime farts" wifting into Port Au Prince, Haiti into the same song, and as the chorus declares "Only vodka and the Pope are absolute." The song ends on the night before creation. You really have to hear this to believe it.
3) Train of Thought- A rare personal introspective song shows just how strong and multifaceted a songwriter Stanton is. Another memorable melody with some great lines. The song follows a train metaphor, but it is not about trains.
4) Plutonium Police- I've been wondering myself what gives us the right to dictate how other countries develop their nuclear capabilities other than the fact that we are stronger. (It's interesting that we still remain the only country in the world that has ever stated that we are willing to use them first- the so called nuclear "option.") Oh and by the way Stanton reminds us that we are also the only country ever to actually use nuclear weapons. And did I say the song is funny too...
5) Soldier On--This song really could have been written by Ochs in his heyday. Like Ochs, Stanton forces us to think while we are being entertained. This little song encapsulates all of what it means to be a soldier when it says "Blessed are the obedient/Shut up and soldier on."
6) Decaf World--Stanton has a number of fine songs about the environment on this CD and his other CDs. This particular song is quite striking because it really points to a possible reason why we have increasing rates of cancer even though it should be declining. Yet it's a really fun song with a great melody and Stanton's voice is in top form here.
Every song that Stanton writes has a reason for being written and every song in its own way needs to be heard. That is why I strongly recommend you check out Fred Stanton. The man has no manager and he is not playing out a lot (though he's probably available if someone contacts him). His cds are all self produced with simple guitar/vocal arrangements. These songs should be heard and performed. You need to go to him, as he ain't comin' to you. The man is no spring chicken. Check him out now and become a fan. I am obviously. His music is only available from his own website. This is a true "under the radar" find!