Precious

Artist: Ours
Label: Dreamworks
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Format: Enhanced
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1

UPC: 600445037328
EAN: 0600445037328
ASIN: B00006WKY0

Release Date: 2002-11-05

Precious

Related Categories:

General

| Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Emo

| Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General

Indie Rock

| Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters

| Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock

| Pop | Styles | Music

Adult Alternative

| Pop | Styles | Music

General

| Rock | Styles | Music

Tracks:

Kill The Band
Realize
Leaves
Places
Outside
In A Minute
Femme Fatale
Broken
Chapter 2 (Money)
II Flowers Turn
Disaster In A Halo
Red Colored Stars

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Distorted Lullabies
Heroes and Villains
Polichinelle
Breathe
Between the Senses

Amazon.com

If Ours's 2000 disc, Distorted Lullabies, was notable for singer-songwriter Jimmy Gnecco's vocal similarity to Jeff Buckley and his fluent command of tortured pop-rock (hardly groundbreaking traits, but serviceable), then Precious makes the case for Gnecco as genuine-article artist. There's a truckload of emotion here and while Gnecco is more screamer than crooner, his viewpoints linger long after the final chords. Opening with the spiky--and cheeky--"Kill the Band," Precious segues into "Realize," a straight rock tune with a pealing guitar lead that solders the chorus to the bridge. Paler shades are explored later in the disc; "Broken" begins as a dirge before erupting into a musical firestorm with Gnecco's howls at the vortex. "If Flowers Turn" is wistful pop abetted by tambourine and do-do-do vocals, while "Red Colored Stars" trades muscular electric guitar for acoustic and octave-defying vocals. --Kim Hughes

Customer Reviews:

Shattering glass.......2006-11-09

This album has been in my collection for awhile and rightfully so. This man has an incredible voice. Even if its not your cup of tea, you gotta give the man his dues. Very good songwriter also.

Jeff Buckley NOT greater than Jimmy Gnecco.......2006-07-29

I must agree with Chad from Texas. From a technical standpoint, Jimmy has a much wider range of vocal techniques than Jeff ever had (or at least greater than Jeff ever recorded). Jeff's falsetto is much more nasally in tone than Jimmy Gnecco, who learned so well from his mentor that his falsetto far exceeds Buckley's. Moreover, Jimmy Gnecco has a much greater range of emotions that he can, and more importantly, is willing to deliver than Buckley.

Going a bit further, I think that Jimmy's willingness to reach deeper into his psyche and dredge that up into his writing also makes him a much better lyriscist than Buckley. Buckley is only willing to go near certain lyrical subjects - basically more tranditional masculine blues based idioms - women, lost highways, drinking and vague insanity. By comparison, when you listen to 'Meet me in the Tower' by Ours, you get the distinct impression that Jimmy is actually talking about laying a ghost to rest between him and a person which caused him some great amount of personal disturbance. Buckley never disturbs me - much in the same way that Robert Plant never disturbs me. Jimmy not only disturbs me at times, he touches me, soothes me and allows me to identify with parts of myself that Buckley cannot.

I think it's a very TIRED comparison, and note that I am a huge Buckley fan as well. I like the cereal comparison (see above). That being said, I think we are lucky to have BOTH artists - so if you haven't bought Grace, I'd say buy both Grace and Precious - you'll love them both.

Besides, isn't the real question do you like them both - Gnecco and Buckley? Does it matter that Jimmy Gnecco has some Buckley-like characteristics? Not really.

And if you've ever seen Jimmy Gnecco live, you'd know that he is an imitation of no one - that guy is totally alive and original. The main reason Buckley is so huge is that he is dead, which is a stupid reason to exhalt anyone. If he were alive, the same people who don't want Jimmy Gnecco to get any credit for his unqiue talent would most likely also be complaining about the quality of Buckley's latest album.

There was a time when we all just liked music, instead of pretending to be arm chair Rock Critics. Rock Critics aren't very much fun - just ask Chuck Klosterman. In fact, go buy all of Chuck Klosterman's books too while you're here buying Jeff Buckley Grace, Ours, Precious and maybe pickup Oceansize "Everyone into Position", or "Effloresce".

Good Stuff.......2006-07-14

When I first got the album, I quickly set it aside as a waste of money without even hearin ghte whole thing.

Went back a few months later to find it is actually good stuff.

#1 fault to this CD, is that the very first track is pretty terrible...
I got around that by not including track one in my Ipod.

Otherwise, this CD is really pretty good. Interpol, Beck, Stills fans will like this one, but I have to advice for the bands previous release, the samples on this site don't make me want to gamble on it.

A great CD even for this metal head.........2005-08-12

I admit it, I love about 6 songs on this disc. My main genre is heavy/hardcore rock, but Jimmy Gnecco writes great songs and is one of the best singers I've ever heard. Red colored stars is now one of my favorite songs of all time. A little more user friendly then his previous effort (which Jimmy basically played every instrument on, a true work of genius that album), I'd seriously hesitate to call this Emo. Alt rock for sure.

I Came For Jeff Buckley & Found Jimmy Gnecco.......2005-07-17

I only listened to this CD because of all the rumors I had heard about this singer who sounded just like Jeff Buckley. Of course I was excited. But let's face it; there will never be another to fill the Jeff Buckley void.

Perhaps going into the CD expecting Buckley is not the most appropriate for one who tries to be unbiased. However, it tends to make one the most critical especially as an obsessed Jeff Buckley fan; any recognition of similarities simply relays the severity of Jimmy Gnecco's impressive vocal talent and grasp of technique. And he demonstrates this not only through his back-of-the-throat screams and sweeping falsetto but through his similarities to a variety of artists including Switchfoot singer Jon Foreman in "Outside," a softer Deftones' Chino Moreno type sound in songs like "Broken," and the sporadic harsh Buckley-isms throughout the CD. His lyrics are more sophomoric, but he certainly shows promise as a musician.

The opening song "Kill the Band" displays tinges of emo; the band was obviously influenced by such music judging by the lyrics on the CD. However, it is not too obvious and can easily be passed off as pop-rock.

"Realize" is a standout song because of its in-your-face likeability. It sounds great played loudly and is definitely one to sing along to. The bright guitar sounds similar to a simpler, less funky Red Hot Chili Peppers.

"Places" shows off Gnecco's accomplished vocal range. The lyrics are simple but could be perceived as holding a deeper meaning that what shows on face value.

The guitar in "In a Minute" sounds like something from a Quentin Tarantino movie. It's a really fun song.

"Chapter 2 (Money)" also has waves of Tarantino throughout. It is one of the best songs on the album because Gnecco seems the most emotionally involved in the words. However, it does not have the most original structure.

"If Flowers Turn" is also a beautiful song with plain lyrics but one with a deeper personal meaning.

"Femme Fatal" is the only song whose lyrics are not included in the liner notes. Perhaps this means that the band thought it most important and wanted the listener to really pay attention and not simply read along. Or perhaps it was too personal for Gnecco to openly display the lyrics.

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