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"The left-field winner of the year. . . . Combined with the sharp lead vocals it feels like one of those once-in-a-lifetime accidents of energy that just can't be manufactured."
"This band's acoustic folkie indie rock is a great vehicle for Dan Phillips's distinctive vocals. His voice is a bit denasal, plaintive, smooth, and expressive. It is suffused in sincerity that is perfectly blended with the gentle acoustic guitars and the invaluable contributions from Casey Riordan Millard on violin. . . . Zapruder Point is about right up there with R.D. Roth amongst Chicago folk-rockers, and this is a very solid collection." "As far as lo-fi rawk is concerned, Zapruder Point prime mover Dan Phillips may not pen excruciating despondent ballads, but his pensive muse is somewhat of a catharsis unto itself. Though I hesitate to make such a lazy comparison, Phillips has infinitely more in common with the whiskey-soaked Centro-matic and Iron and Wine than, say, Dashboard Confessional. It's offers its fair share of graceful genre-hopping, best exemplified by the rustic country/folk ballad “Johnny Without June,” loosely based around Mr. Cash’s final months without his erstwhile sweetheart spouse. Better yet, the swift, melodic clip of “The O.M.” and “The Idea of Having Children” recall Tobin Sprout-era GBV and early R.E.M. The formula for genuinely compelling homegrown music is 95% sincerity / 5% schtick, and with that makeshift guideline in place, Zapruder Point succeed quite well." "More goodness from the Collectible Escalators label and guy Dan Phillips (who essentially IS Zapruder Point).... IT’S ALWAYS THE QUIET ONES has a good mix of fast(er), slightly more rockin’ tune and slower, more acoustic-based ones. On the former is the Feelies-ish 'Jodi’s Fine' while on the latter you have the lovely acoustic tunes 'Johnny Without June' and 'Good as Gold.' The harmonica was a nice touch to 'West of Western,' while the grinding guitar of 'The Idea of Having Children' ... and its Mountain Goats-ish feel was all me. It’s nice to see Phillips in a new town and making some inspired, heartfelt music and I’m glad Collectible Escalators decided to release it." "In music it is possible, as Zapruder Point does, to realize that the sketch captures the mood better than the finished painting ever would." "The songwriting brings to mind the majesty of Leonard Cohen, but sweeter, in a cardigan-wearing, indie-rocker way. Much too good to remain overlooked and underheralded." Jim DeRogatis, Chicago Sun-Times "Imbuing their straightforward indie rock with a refreshing dose of sincerity, Zapruder Point have a way of molding time-tested themes into bittersweet bliss." Joseph Niemczyk, Illinois Entertainer "Really smart and heartfelt and thoughtful and clever and devastating. What more can you ask for?" WLUW’s Shawn Campbell back |
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