Presents Author Unknown

Amazon.com
Jason Falkner established his pop credentials as guitarist with the briefly fashionable San Francisco-based Jellyfish. He brings a similar musical sensibility to Author Unknown, balancing 1980s American new wave and 1960s British pop while dispensing with the spangled flares and silly hats his former group favored. Such modesty is his solo debut's greatest strength and weakness. Falkner is a capable singer and a proficient songsmith, and the better moments here, such as "I Go Astray" and "She Goes to Bed," evoke fond recollections of the first Smithereens album. Unfortunately, too much of the rest of the record errs on the side of earnestness. A little of the gaudy exuberance of Jellyfish's "The King Is Half Undressed," for example, would have been welcome. --Andrew Mueller

Presents Author Unknown,Jason Falkner,Elektra / Wea,Adult Alternative Pop/Rock,Alternative Pop/Rock,Chamber Pop,Indie Pop,Pop,Pop Underground,Popular Music,Power Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop

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Presents Author Unknown

Average customer rating: Jason's a Genius Pop/Rock/Songwriting at it's finest in the 90's The beat(les) goes on upending a negative first impression proves more important Jason Falkner's masterpiece

Presents Author Unknown Jason Falkner Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Chamber Pop | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Power Pop | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Pop General | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Pop Rock | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Pop Rock | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Oldies | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Alternative General | Alternative Rock | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music 4-for-3 Alternative Rock | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Rock | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Can You Still Feel? Spilt Milk Bellybutton Bliss Descending Necessity: The 4-Track Years ASIN: B000002HN0 Release Date: 1996-08-13

Tracks:

1. I Live
2. Miracle Medicine
3. Hectified
4. Don't Show Me Heaven
5. She Goes To Bed
6. ...Nobody Knows
7. Follow Me
8. Before My Heart Attacks
9. Afraid Himself To Be
10. Miss Understanding
11. I Go Astray
12. Untitled

Amazon.com

Jason Falkner established his pop credentials as guitarist with the briefly fashionable San Francisco-based Jellyfish. He brings a similar musical sensibility to Author Unknown, balancing 1980s American new wave and 1960s British pop while dispensing with the spangled flares and silly hats his former group favored. Such modesty is his solo debut's greatest strength and weakness. Falkner is a capable singer and a proficient songsmith, and the better moments here, such as "I Go Astray" and "She Goes to Bed," evoke fond recollections of the first Smithereens album. Unfortunately, too much of the rest of the record errs on the side of earnestness. A little of the gaudy exuberance of Jellyfish's "The King Is Half Undressed," for example, would have been welcome. --Andrew Mueller

Customer Reviews:

Jason's a Genius.......2007-04-23

This is probably his best album(So far). If you're a fan of guitar pop music, you owe it to yourself to get this disc. Easily one of the best albums of the 90's. JUST BUY IT.

Pop/Rock/Songwriting at it's finest in the 90's.......2005-09-09

I got this album a few years ago and it's probably the single most played CD I have had in the past 10 years. My I-River MP3 player has given me many hours of pleasure with this CD. So first of all let's get this straight, all the instruments, voices, noises & Lyrics (as per CD's booklet) are by Jason Falkner himself which is almost hard to believe. I would be happy to pay good money to see a band that played as well as this. Above and beyond the musicianship on display here are the wonderful lyrics present on each and every song. Fabulous Pop/Rock riffs with hooks a plenty. To my ears it's a perfect mix of American/British Pop influence's both old and new. I can hear ("XTC" - Check `Don't show me heaven', "Beatles" - Check `She Goes to Bed' with it's background orchestration "Blur" - Check `I Go Astray' as well as people like "Cheap Trick", "Beachboys", "Kinks" & even "Robyn Hitchcock" on other tracks. As many influences as this guy may have he has certainly made this Album uniquely his own through his humorous & often thought provoking lyrics and natural pop-sensibilities. Thankfully his voice is a perfect accompaniment to the songs on the album. There is a good mix of styles on display here from fast pop-induced songs which share space with slow introspective songs without either seeming out of place. Everything compliments the album as a whole and this is to date probably his best effort I feel. Released 1996 it still sounds very current, especially amongst the British Indie Scene. If you're looking for great songwriting, catchy pop riffs & a range of styles then please pick up this CD, you won't regret it. Just ignore the lame Cover.

The beat(les) goes on.......2005-06-24

Jason Falkner is one of the torch carriers of the Beatlesian pop ethic crafting clever, sophisticated nuggets in the tradition of Paul Mccartney and Elvis Costello - a far cry from the back-to-basics, amps-up-to-11, trash 'n roll that is in the ascendant. Classically-trained JF left cult combo Jellyfish to go solo. Which he's done with convincing results, not least on Presents: Author Unknown which is a more grown-up, expensive-sounding affair than previous hi-octane workouts Bliss Descending EP, for instance, which has the wonderful They Put Her in the Movies. With his last few records, Jason Falkner is, one senses, trying to bring this kind of pop aesthetic to the mainstream audience (I'd rather listen to him than Bryan Adams, for example). He certainly has all the tools at his disposal to carry it off. Talent seems to ooze from his every pore. His main weak selling point is his self-effacing profile; his records lack the kind of homogeneity that all major-selling albums are expected to have. It's top-of-the-line music but doesn't scream `Choose me!' when you browse through your CDs.
Typically with an artist like JF, you immediately try to spot the influences. His is a slick mid-Atlantic sound, not at all like the jangly but shambly Brit indie bands. Highlights include Miracle Medicine and She Goes to Bed but the whole record is pretty good. The key word here is quality: it gleams with sheer quality - the songwriting, the arranging, the lyrics, the tunes are all quality personified. But trying to find the JF personality or soul in the music is a frustrating endeavour.

upending a negative first impression proves more important .......2005-04-03

You've all had it happen; you've disliked an artist or a CD and then given it another chance a little bit later and it blows your mind.
Being a former guitar snob (in college), I couldn't stand Jason's uncomfortable work on Jellyfish's "Bellybutton" and my 2nd impression of him was "Can You Still Feel" which never did reel me in despite giving it multiple chances (I think Falkner should always produce himself). This basically self-produced and singlehandedly-played debut album has a unique vibe that for some listeners may require more than one listen. For those who "get" Jason Falkner immediately, this record is a classic. For those like me who took some convincing, this album has grown from "I like a few songs" to "gosh, this is really good" to finally being the benchmark by which other self-made "pop" albums are judged. The opening track, "I Live" is indeed a classic and admirers of Jason's guitar work on this CD (besides myself) include the intimidating Dave Gregory of XTC. His lyrics, while rarely profound are pleasantly free of pretention and seem to give insight into Jason's candid nature. I'd rather hear a good writer speak plainly and Jason does just that. Jason's impressive bass work floods "Author Unknown" with an attention to detail rarely felt on most records nowadays and his drumming is neither simplistic nor flashy; they serve all of the songs perfectly.

Fans of The Zombies, Kinks and early solo Rundgren will find "Author Unknown" to be familiar ground without being derivative. For those who love "Author Unknown", I reccommend either of Jason's 4-track CDs (Necessity / Everyone says it's on) and the new "Bliss Descending" EP, as they all present a similar aesthetic. Fans of Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich should check the highly-lauded (except by me... for now) "Can You Still Feel" instead of these more home-grown-sounding efforts.

Jason Falkner's masterpiece.......2004-11-02

I'm not a huge fan of Jason's other albums (though I continually try to get myself to reconsider). But this album is beautiful almost all the way through. Solid, tight, great strings and guitar sounds. Its a mix between Nick Drake, the Beatles, The Allman Brothers, and general modern rock. That said, it isn't a dated 90's album either.

Songs to check out: She Goes to Bed, Nobody Knows and Afraid Himself To Be. Great stuff!

Average customer rating:

Presents Author Unknown Jason Falkner ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music ASIN: B00004U8V2

Tracks:

1. I Live
2. Miracle Medicine
3. Hectified
4. Don't Show Me Heaven
5. She Goes To Bed
6. ....Nobody Knows
7. Follow Me
8. Before My Heart Attacks
9. Afraid Himself To Be
10. Miss Understanding
11. I Go Astray
12. Untitled
13. A Song From Under The Floorboards

Album Description

Debut solo album of catchy, melodious pop by theex-Jellyfish guitarist/ bassist. Falkner played all of theinstruments on the album, which is reminiscent of thedefunct former band. This is the Japanese edition, whichfeatures the hidden bonus track 'A Song From Under The Floorboards'. 13 tracks in all.

Rap Music:

1. Prospect Hummer [CD-single] [EP]
2. Pure Frosting
3. Retrospective, Vol. 1 (1974-1980)
4. Rhinoceros
5. Rockin' the Corps
6. Scattered, Smothered and Covered
7. Seasons (w/ Bonus DVD) [Enhanced] [Explicit Lyrics]
8. Senor Smoke [Import]
9. Sister Phantom Owl Fish
10. Solarized

Rap Music

rap music

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Libera

Funk of Ages