- The Homeland
Infobox Album
Name = The Homeland
Type = studio
Artist =Bobby Conn
Released = January 20,2004
Recorded =
Genre =Pop rock Progressive rock
Length =
Label(s) =Thrill Jockey
Producer =John McEntire
Personnel =
Reviews =
*Uncut Rating|4|5 [http://www.uncut.co.uk/music/bobby_conn_and_the_glass_gypsies/reviews/6962 link]
*Playlouder Rating|2.5|5 [http://playlouder.com/review/%2Bthehomeland/ link]
* [http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/c/connbobby-homeland.shtml PopMatters link]
Last album = "The Golden Age"(1999)
This album = "The Homeland"
(1998)
Next album = "King For a Day"
(1999)The Homeland is an album by Chicago-based rocker
Bobby Conn and his backing band, the Glass Gypsies released on January 20th 2004 onThrill Jockey records. It is noteworthy for taking a more openly political approach than any of Conn's previous albums, being particularly critical of George Bush and the Iraq War. Musically the album focuses mostly on a number of 70s styles, from early-decade prog pseudo-symphonies to late decade disco-rock fusion and funk. The album was recorded atSoma Studios ,Chicago ,Illinois in 2003.Reception
"The Homeland" was met with mostly positive reviews. The Columbus FreePress gave it a glowing review, writing "It is rare when an album sets out to achieve such lofty goals as The Homeland. It’s even more rare when the artist actually hits the mark on all levels." [cite web
url = http://www.freepress.org/departments/display/17/2004/727
title = The Free Press: The Homeland Review
publisher = The Columbus Free Press
accessdate = 2007-10-06] Uncut magazine gave the album 4/5 stars, calling Conn "witty and sharp", and stating that he can "tell a tale with aplomb". [cite web
url = http://www.uncut.co.uk/music/bobby_conn_and_the_glass_gypsies/reviews/6962
title = Uncut Review - The Homeland
publisher = Uncut Magazine
accessdate = 2007-10-06]Mojo also awarded the album 4/5 stars [Mojo Magazine, February 2004 edition, p.98] , and Q Magazine awarded the album 3/5 stars, saying " [I] t's reassuring to run into the real McCoy. Chicago's Bobby Conn is just that." [Q Magazine, February 2004 edition, p.98]On the negative side, Dave Queen of
Stylus Magazine , stated that the album "fails" in comparison to its predecessor, criticising John McEntire's production and Conn's subject matter, stating "I [...] miss the dysfunctional coke-sex ballads [i.e. of "The Golden Age"] " [cite web
url = http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/bobby-conn-the-glass-gypsies/homeland.htm
title = Bobby Conn & the Glass Gypsies - Homeland - Review - Stylus Magazine
publisher = Stylus Magazine
accessdate = 2007-10-06] .Playlouder gave the album 2.5/5 stars, mostly criticising the album's political lyrical content, and asserting that "the results are anticlimactic"- however reviewer Jeremy Allen does admit that Conn "is clearly talented." [cite web
url = http://playlouder.com/review/%2Bthehomeland/
title = Playlouder Review - The Homeland
publisher = Playlouder
accessdate = 2007-10-06] .PopMatters criticised the political lyrics as "crude and oversimplified" but admitted that "there are still plenty of killer hooks, and John McEntire's expert recording job makes the most of them, giving the mix a crisp clarity that assures that these intricate arrangements never sound decadently bloated." [cite web
url = http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/c/connbobby-homeland.shtml
title = PopMatters Review - The Homeland
publisher = PopMatters
accessdate = 2007-10-06]Tracklisting
# "We Come in Peace"
# "Homeland"
# "Laugh Track (instrumental)
# "We're Taking Over the World"
# "Shopping" (instrumental)
# "Relax"
# "Home Sweet Home"
# "Style I Need"
# "Cashing Objections"
# "Doctor & Nurse" (instrumental)
# "Bus No. 243"
# "Independence
# "My Special Friend"
# "Ordinary Violence"The Japanese import contains one bonus track, entitled "Got To Get It."
Personnel
*
Bobby Conn -vocals ,guitar
* Sledd - guitar
* Monica BouBou - organ
* Pearly Sweets -keyboards
* Nick Macri - bass
*Colby Stark - drumsFootnotes
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