The Fine Print

The Fine Print

ASIN: B00005JA5U

Track Listings

1. Gold Enough

2. That Restless Feeling

3. Invisible Girl

4. We Might Fall In Love

5. Drift Apart

6. Treading Water

7. Poor Little Rich Kid

8. Trick

9. The Well of Loneliness

10. He's Got a Life

11. Slip Away (But Not Before You Say Goodbye)

12. Natural Causes

Editorial Reviews
Billboard, April 14, 2001
"...well-crafted songs, delivered in a rich, empathetic baritone voice...He's quite a charismatic, endearing performer."

Product Description
For his second album, performing songwriter Mark Islam once again demonstrates that he is part journalist, part introspective troubadour. He is by his own admission "first and formost a songwriter. I'm the guy who observes with pen in hand, recording my perceptions." The Delaware native serves up 12 songs, which he either wrote or co-wrote, based on his observations of life in Los Angeles. Like F. Scott Fitzgerald, who chronicled the golden era of Hollywood's Jazz Age in the 1920's, Islam spins engaging yarns about the denizens of La La Land: the upstarts, the scions of the celebrated, the fallen stars, and, on a more personal note, the quest for love in a transient culture with a diminished attention span.

Once again working with Edward Tree ("a producer's best friend"), Islam has recorded in analog to capture a warm, organic sound for his hybrid of country, rock, and folk. For the sessions, Islam & Tree assembled veritable legends, who, between them, have recorded and/or toured with the likes of Dwight Yoakam, James Taylor, Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt, the Byrds, and Beck. And that's just the short list.

The Fine Print

Tracks:

One Time
Come Try Again
New Deal
Skaboobidibobidiska
Did I Stoop Ya?
My Game
Mocos
Ssdd
Would I Still Smile?
No Fiction
Attack Of The Killer Rollerbladers
Float
Get It Right
Mr Man

Customer Reviews:

Spitvalves do it again.......2003-11-13

I love the Spitvalves. I love a lot of ska, but I have to say that Spitvalves, Save Ferris and Dance Hall Crashers are my favourites. This is another great release, packed with energy and blending hardcore punk and ska seamlessly. You have to
get it!!!!!!

There is no better ska core.......2003-10-27

Spitvalves are the best plain and simple. From begging to end this album is agressive as hell. Spitvalves rivals thier influences such as the bosstones. You cant like ska and not like spitvalves. If you get a chance go see one of thier shows thier garunteed to make you move like you never had. So stop read and BUY THIS ALBUM.

Skacore played by the finest.......2002-07-06

Plain Incredible CD with nonstop upbeat rythims. I tried to go and see them at the new CD release concert but when I searched for tickets they were already sold out.

THE ENERGY TURNS ME ON.......2002-01-13

I recently had the privilage of meeting the band. The show was running late, and the true fans were seperated from the wannabies when the first song was being played, and the crowd couldn't have been more than 30 (when earlier it had been hundreds). The mood was more of a practice for a bunch of friends rather than a show. Everyone was singing along, punching the air to the beats and the whole crowd was moving (Thanks to the Spitvlaves abiltiy to rock so hard it's impossible to be within earshot and keep standing still). After their set, I walked up to the lead singer to thank him for rocking. He was the single most down to earth person in the scene that I've ever met. We talked about Orlando, my plans on moving there and college. He offered me free tickets to a concert in Orlando the next day. This band is going places. With their talent and drive, they're sure to make more fans....

Oi to the Spitcrew.......2001-12-19

Living in Orlando myself, I'm used to sucky pop or punk wannabes. I was so stoked to get turned onto the Spitvalves a year ago. The CD is totally awesome, it is skacore at its finest. All of the guys are great, and it comes close to capturing that live show raw energy. So, be brave and give them a listen, I'm sure you will not be dissapointed

Average customer rating:

A fine singer songwriter
depressing, twangy & full of contempt
A gorgeous album

The Fine Print
Mark Islam
Manufacturer: Noble Savage
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Country | Styles | Music

General | Country | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Country Folk | Country | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00005JA5U
Release Date: 2001-04-24

Tracks:

Gold Enough
That Restless Feeling
Invisible Girl
We Might Fall In Love
Drift Apart
Treading Water
Poor Little Rich Kid
Trick
The Well of Loneliness
He's Got a Life
Slip Away (But Not Before You Say Goodbye)
Natural Causes

Album Description

For his second album, performing songwriter Mark Islam once again demonstrates that he is part journalist, part introspective troubadour. He is by his own admission "first and formost a songwriter. I'm the guy who observes with pen in hand, recording my perceptions." The Delaware native serves up 12 songs, which he either wrote or co-wrote, based on his observations of life in Los Angeles. Like F. Scott Fitzgerald, who chronicled the golden era of Hollywood's Jazz Age in the 1920's, Islam spins engaging yarns about the denizens of La La Land: the upstarts, the scions of the celebrated, the fallen stars, and, on a more personal note, the quest for love in a transient culture with a diminished attention span.

Customer Reviews:

A fine singer songwriter.......2002-03-11

I have to take issue to the review by James Calamera. He starts his review already stating that he does not like country music or anything twangy. So this great collection of work already has no chance of surviving in his eyes. He does a great disservice to James Calamera and those in the country genre. Now that this out of my system let me tell you this album is steeped in socially conscious lyrics and does not back off from real problems. Just as Dylan, Haggard, Lucinda Williams and Alanis Morissette, James writes and sings for the common folk. He has a haunting voice similar to Vince Gill that blends well with the lush steel guitars, and a solid rhythm section. This album is not for the faint of heart but it is worth listening to.

depressing, twangy & full of contempt.......2001-08-17

Let me first say that I am not a huge fan of country music. That said, I'll admit I found it hard to warm up to this album. I found the lyrics a bit self-righteous, and the music frequently very twangy and at turns extremely slow and depressing. There's Invisible Girl -a tune about an overweight girl... "In a crowded club / she knows she don't stand a chance / so she watches the purses / while her girlfriends get asked to dance." We Might Fall In Love starts as a gentle lullaby, but with painful rhymes like "Sinatra and Ella / Much more than nostalgia" you'll start wondering when the song will end. Then there's Poor Little Rich Kid, where we hear Islam's contempt for a Hollywood kid's life. If you can imagine Phoebe and Ross from the hit TV series 'Friends' collaborating on a country song, this would be it! "Sent to the most exclusive private schools / Where all he learned was that sour look / Poor little rich kid, miserable rich kid / Choking on that silver spoon he's fed with." The lyrics are tortuous, the tempo is painfully slow, and it's chock full of twangy country licks. There's also contempt in Gold Enough- about a successful woman whom apparently Islam has some grudge against. "Is the gold ever enough? / Does the cup ever hold enough? / Is it the Midas touch? / Or is it gilded rust?" If you can even make it to the end of the album, Natural Causes will leave you wondering how this guy got a recording contract, and why your pet rock did not. "He was found face down on the bathroom floor / Of his canyon house; he was 54 / Natural causes was the coronor's report / Natural causes was the coronor's report / Quoth the uber-diva du jour, nevermore..." I found this album almost painful to listen to. For myself, the best thing here is the Steve Walker painting on the cover. (Love the painting, but does it invoke the mood of the album?) I'd recommend avoiding this album unless you crave depressing music and vitriolic verse.

A gorgeous album.......2001-06-01

What a gorgeous album this is! I can picture so many of these songs finding their way into various movie soundtracks. Mark has such a poetic way with words, and complemented by Edward Tree's stellar production (including a who's who of veteran studio musicians), this album is just one beautiful moment after another. I had trouble getting past the first 5 songs, cause I just wanted to hear them over and over. My personal fave is "That Restless Feeling" - the melody just lilts and lingers on your mind. You just can't help but sing along. I would recommend this CD to anyone interested in hearing what a complete album should sound alike. Congrations to Mark on a wonderful project. :)

Average customer rating:

The Fine Print EP
The Print
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000FTKINK
Release Date: 2006-02-21

Average customer rating:

The Fine Print Upfront
Nate Schierman
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000GETYHA
Release Date: 2006-04-18

Average customer rating:

Fine Print
Mark Islam
Manufacturer: Noble Savage
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Country | Styles | Music

General | Country | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00005JCI0
Release Date: 2001-11-14

Album Review:

Album Review

Album Review