The Restless Stranger

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
It's hard to see why American Music Club disavow this album. Though not as sterling as their later work on Mercury and Everclear, it towers over the plodding and monotone Engine. Originally recorded in 1985 and rereleased in 1998, it sounds remarkably prescient, evoking the moody rock of their last album, San Francisco. "$1,000,000 Song" features Eitzel at his staggering best, crooning over a martial beat and road-trippy guitar, "I'm a good man / I'm a bad man!" The breathy and dark opening of "Goodbye Reprise #54" finds Eitzel in full beautiful-loser glory: "I only know how to lead with a losing hand." Though lacking the multi-instrumental eccentricities of Bruce Kaplan, who would join the band in later years, Restless Stranger is worth reassessment and should gain a stronghold in the band's impressive discography. --Tod Nelson

The Restless Stranger
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • A Promising Beginning
  • Not bad for the time.
  • Have Fun...
  • All over the good, sad place
 The Restless Stranger
American Music Club
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | American Alternative | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
Indie RockIndie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
Folk RockFolk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Engine
  2. West
  3. Songs of Love
  4. 60 Watt Silver Lining
  5. Everclear

ASIN: B000002NGZ
Release Date: 1998-03-10

Tracks:

  1. Room Above The Club
  2. $1,000,000 Song
  3. Away Down My Street
  4. Yvonne Gets Dumped
  5. Mr. Lucky
  6. Point Of Desire
  7. Goodbye Reprise #54
  8. Tell Yourself
  9. When Your Love Is Gone
  10. Heavenly Smile
  11. Broken Glass
  12. Hold On To your Love
  13. Restless Stranger
  14. How Low
  15. I'm In Heaven Now

Amazon.com

It's hard to see why American Music Club disavow this album. Though not as sterling as their later work on Mercury and Everclear, it towers over the plodding and monotone Engine. Originally recorded in 1985 and rereleased in 1998, it sounds remarkably prescient, evoking the moody rock of their last album, San Francisco. "$1,000,000 Song" features Eitzel at his staggering best, crooning over a martial beat and road-trippy guitar, "I'm a good man / I'm a bad man!" The breathy and dark opening of "Goodbye Reprise #54" finds Eitzel in full beautiful-loser glory: "I only know how to lead with a losing hand." Though lacking the multi-instrumental eccentricities of Bruce Kaplan, who would join the band in later years, Restless Stranger is worth reassessment and should gain a stronghold in the band's impressive discography. --Tod Nelson

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars A Promising Beginning.......2005-11-05

Due to its relative rareness and its inability to stay in print, here's a record that you'll probably never hear. If you're unfamiliar with American Music Club, this isn't necessarily the best means of introduction anyway, but it still has its moments, and it qualifies as a reasonably solid first album. The Restless Stranger sounds exactly as you might imagine a San Francisco-based band to sound in the mid-eighties, full of angular, wrenching arrangements and analytical, self-deprecating lyrics that are more than a step or two removed from the mainstream. It also displays the diversity of the band's range, veering from the melancholy sadness of "Room Above the Club" and "Away Down My Street" to the wrenching catharsis of "$1,000,000 Song" and "Mr. Lucky." Singer Mark Eitzel remains interesting throughout, whether he's sympathizing with the losers who populate his songs ("Yvonne Gets Dumped") or flagellating himself over some self-perceived shortcoming ("Point of Desire").

Despite the subject matter, Eitzel never sounds as though he is ranting uncontrollably, since his words are usually well grounded in intriguing melodies, while the band arrangements remain simultaneously understated and provocative. At times, the band sounds a bit like early-eighties Cure, with lopsided chords echoing behind a forlorn melody, but ultimately, the American Music Club is too original to retain anything quite so derivative. Any such comparison is thoroughly trashed by the inclusion of the acoustic blues of "Heavenly Smile" and the ethereal energy of the title track (actually, a bonus track on the CD release). To hear the band at its most original and expressive peak, pick up a copy of Mercury. If you appreciate that, then search this out; it will be worth the effort. B+ Tom Ryan

4 out of 5 stars Not bad for the time........2002-11-17

There are some good songs here. A little over produced for my taste.

4 out of 5 stars Have Fun..........2001-10-25

'When Your Love Is Gone' is possibly the archetypal AMC song : it is ostensibly about loss,somehow manages to crystallise what you already knew but hadn't quite been able to express or put into words("...you'll see her in everyone")and yet is just massively,unbelievably uplifting and inspirational.
The rest of the album almost follows suit.'Yvonne Gets Dumped' is a hypnotic rocker and there are more up-beat numbers than on later releases(this is not 'Caught In A Trap...')so overall it is possibly a good introduction.But then there's the majesty of 'Everclear' and the blistering return to form of Eitzel's 'Invisible Man' so who am I to tell you where to start...Okay then,just buy everything!!!If you've ever been in love and thought 'I will lose you,I will forget you...',then this album and this band are for you.Have fun...

4 out of 5 stars All over the good, sad place.......1998-09-29

I have worked my backwards through the AMC catalog since I bought _SF_ about 5 years ago and have been amazed to have never gotten down to anything I would have considered juvenilia. This album contains some incredible gems, shiniest (if darkness can shine) of which is "Tell Myself", which simply one of the best songs Eitzel has ever written. Some of the songs are a bit grating, especially in the context of what immediately precedes them, which is something a little creative CD programming can fix. The Eitzel funny bone is present in the form of "Mr. Lucky" and the more subtle "How Low", one of the extra tracks on this re-release. This latter song is to my ears a listenable satire of the tide of early 80s electronic pop that was ebbing when _Restless Stranger_ was released. I wish I had known about this album when it came out.
Stranger Than You Think
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Meet the Vibro Champs
  • Breathe Hard Baby, Buy this CD
  • Skanky, Swanky, And Smarmy...
 Stranger Than You Think
Vibro Champs
Manufacturer: Restless Group
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000004A0B
Release Date: 1996-02-27

Tracks:

  1. She Just Wants To
  2. Are You Getting A Dog
  3. Nashville
  4. Breathe Hard
  5. Place In The Sun
  6. Here's To The Woman
  7. Someone Watching Over You
  8. Shout Bamalama
  9. Just A Dream
  10. Born To Love One Woman
  11. Twister
  12. Better Red Than Dead
  13. Rust Part
  14. Drink Drank Drunk
  15. Mule Skinner Blues
  16. Bonus Track 1
  17. Bonus Track 2
  18. Bonus Track 3
  19. Bonus Track 4

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Meet the Vibro Champs.......2003-05-07

The best unknown rockabilly band around. These guys are a local group here in MN, but everyone should hear these guys rip up the music. Vibro Champs have alwase dug deep to find rare and obscure old rockabilly tunes, as well as the sharply written tunes of the band. If you like the Revrend Horton Heat, Carl Perkins, Deke Dickerson, Ray Condo, Link Wray Etc. Ect. Check em out.
Named for the vintage Fender amp, the Vibro Champs sport all vintage insturments and amps, and they make em sing.

5 out of 5 stars Breathe Hard Baby, Buy this CD.......1999-08-20

I would have to call this band a rockabilly band, but don't let that scare you. They ain't the Stray Cats, Elvis wannbes, or Carl Perkins rip-offs. They do it in their own style. One of the greatest strengths of this band is the that they have to two singers, Dave Wolf, and Alan Subola. It allows to switch gears with ease. I love this CD, I love this band, I only wish I got to see them more often, because I every time I listen to this CD, I remember how much fun I have at their shows.

4 out of 5 stars Skanky, Swanky, And Smarmy..........1998-06-22

How can you not like Minneapolis' Vibro Champs? Cute boys with good hair and too much attitude, what can any sane girl do to not swoon? If you listen closely, you'll realize that these boys sing about something near and dear to all of our hearts - sex. They do it with balls, too. "Breathe Hard" makes you giggle in between gasps, and "Drink, Drank, Drunk" is someplace we've all been, all too often. The only thing keeping this reviewer from giving this album the magical fifth star, is the garbled, twisted, crap at the end, that makes no sense and annoys the hell outta me and everyone I know. Although getting to it is way cool. Jackie Rocket - Billygirl True Stories
Restless Stranger (+3 Bonus Tracks)
Average customer rating: Not rated
    		Restless Stranger (+3 Bonus Tracks)
    American Music Club
    Manufacturer: Wb
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | American Alternative | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
    Indie RockIndie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
    Folk RockFolk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music
    Alternative RockAlternative Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
    ASIN: B0000084UK
    Release Date: 1998-03-25

    Album Details

    Japanese Reissue featuring Three Bonus Tracks.

    Music:

    1. The Sway Machinery
    2. Think Tank [Import] [Limited Edition]
    3. This Island [Import]
    4. Vertical Medleys, Vol. 1
    5. Victory Hardcore Summer Tour 1998 Limited Edition [Explicit Lyrics]
    6. Vienna [Import]
    7. Above
    8. All Destructive Urges Seem So Perfect
    9. All Live & All of the Night [Live]
    10. American Dreamlife

    Music

    music

    Music

    Family Jams [Import]

    Liszt: Hungarian Fantasy/Orchestral Favorites

    Lysight: Oreades; Trois Croquis

    Memories of the Range: Standard Radio [Box set]

    40 Watt Fade

    Relaxation & Healing Meditations

    Movin' Out (Based on the Songs and Music of Billy Joel) (2002 Original Broadway Cast) [Live] [Soundtrack]

    Little Robbers

    Never Apologize Never Explain [Import]

    Johannes Brahms: Symphonies Nos. 3 & 4

    Live at Jazz Standard [Hybrid SACD] [Live] [Import]

    Live & Still Jumping [Live] [Import]

    La Unica

    Inexpressible Joy

    In Flight