First Impressions

Artist: Jim Matheos
Label: Metal Blade
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1

UPC: 039841401622
EAN: 0039841401622
ASIN: B000001C68

Release Date: 1993-06-01

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| New Age | Styles | Music

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Listmania:

Obscure Acoustic Guitar
lista m
25 New Age discs you must have

Tracks:

Remembering Rain
Winter's Thaw
Gay Head
Metaphysical Soup
Laurel Dawn
The Air Of Autumn
Three Wishes
Pause For Paws
Silent Snow, Secret Snow

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Customer Reviews:

Easily a favorite!.......2006-09-30

This CD quickly became a favorite of mine for guitar music. I love fingerstyle acoustic guitar and especially love it when I hear that it is a metal guitarist who has found the intricacies of the natural sound.

My only complaint it the lenght of the CD. It is so good, you just keep wanting more. Pick it up and see.

The Accoustic Matheos.......2006-03-28

I've been avidly listening to Fates Warning for the past couple of years and what got me hooked into that progressive metal band - the true brand of it, if I may add - was Jim Matheos' grungy guitar riffs, which somehow sound truly unique. I find that trait to be especially evident in the first iteration of the band, when John Arch was the one holding the mike and screaming his guts into it. In short, much of what attracted me to Fates Warning in the first place, I have Jim Matheos to thank for.

When a friend of mine got hold of "First Impressions", I was a bit taken by surprise. Despite enjoying Matheos' licks quite a lot, and knowing his collaborations with John Arch and Mike Portnoy (through O.S.I.), I had no idea he also had solo albums. Well, let's just give it a try, I decided.

I'm in awe. After recovering from the shock of learning that this album goes back all the way to 1993, I had to recover from another shock: there's no heaviness, no distortion, no great riffing. This is a completely mellow, acoustic and classic(al) album back to back. And, oh the humanity, it's so damn good.

Somehow this reminded me of "Hero" (aka "Ying Xiong"), the acclaimed 2002 Chinese stylish movie and the songs inside can at times be oddly beautiful nearly moving you to tears. The only complain is that sometimes it is so much into itself, blends so easily that it falls a little too much into the background.

But no matter. This is a truly brilliant album and proof that Jim Matheos is one of the most gifted - and underrated, why not say it - guitar players of our time. When an artist goes completely out of his element and still attains something like this, there's something very special to him. Matheos is one such case.

Gorgeous, meditative........2002-04-22

Jim Matheos is best known as the chief songwriter and guitarist of the metal band Fates Warning. This 1993 release reveals another side of Matheos' deep well of talent. First Impressions is a beautiful album of nine instrumental, new age style tracks consisting solely of acoustic guitar, violin, and cello. The most standout feature of this recording is its incredible "prettiness." All of Matheos' songs drip emotion, and are sure to be arresting for anyone with an ear for mellow, pleasant music. It's sort of like Jim Brickman for guitar. The songs generally capture intimate feelings and romantic imagery, although more specific qualities vary from song to song. For instance, "Silent Snow, Secret Snow" is a shivery piece that evokes someone alone in his cottage without a fireplace. The opener "Remembering Rain" is both sensual and mournful. For me, as I listen to this album, images are roused such as a walk in the forest, the bloom of spring, consummated romance, a sunset, and cats sitting on a fence. This album is extremely relaxing, in any case. Play this album while you get a professional massage -- it will be heaven, I promise you. Beat out the stress of losing money in the stock market, an Econ759 exam, or being attacked by Vikings.

The only real problem is that it's quite a short album. At just about 38 minutes, it leaves you aching for more. Fortunately, Matheos does have another solo album in the same vein called Away with Words. It adds drummer Mark Zonder to the mix, greater song diversity, and some more energizing melodies. Both First Impressions and Away with Words are very, very highly recommended.

metal rules...hehehe..........2001-04-29

I had to laugh. A few years ago I had heard that Jim Matheos had released a solo album, and being a long time follower of his full-time gig with Fates Warning (a progressive heavy metal band), I had to find the cd. I searched high and low, and couldn't find him. I was looking in rock and metal sections. A database search revealed, to my utter amusement, that it was listed under 'new age'. I had to laugh, not at Jim, but the label it was released under: Metal Blade. I never thought I would see a Metal Blade artist listed in the new age section.

This isn't really new age. It's beautiful acoustic guitar, with violin and cello accompaniment. It is a phenomenol album. Jim ranks right up there with the venerable Michael Hedges. Anyone familiar with Jim's work with Fates Warning will recognize the musical genius in this music.

I remember the first time I played it for my girlfriend, a classical musician. The music caused her to break into tears. Truly powerful stuff. This music will affect you, in the best way.

Acoustic Lovers Take Note!.......2000-02-17

With my first listen to this cd, I was completely mesmerized. Beautiful, powerful and original, would not be strong enough words to describe this masterpiece. Easily one of my favorite instrumental acoustic albums of all time. BUY THIS DISC!

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