Land of Opportunity

R.V. Scheide, Sacramento News & Review April/97
" ...., it was clear the audience was in for more than just another hootenanny.... call it singing, but the reedy monotone spewing forth from Rhymes was something more akin to what you'd hear if you struck a human tuning ford: a raspy tenor vibrating from the very marrow in his bones. And then, a la Keith Richards, Weeks started with the backup vocals... Seamless, understated guitar solo, chirping and chipping away at Week's rock-steady rhythm chords. These were the dynamics the duo played with all night... To my ear, it was the Rolling Stones who were recalled, thanks to the invigorating dual-guitar work."

Keith Moerer, BAM Magazine
"... pass for Texans.. the songs, some of which sound like they were written by Buddy Holly, holed up in the Kalamazoo hotel room he shares with Elvis... contender ten best country albums... Lovett.. inventive in upsetting musical traditions .. Earle .. bridging the gap between country and rock .. the Strangers.. are refining and sustaining country music with a clear eyed clarity."

Land of Opportunity

Land of Opportunity,The Lonesome Strangers,Little Dog Records,Alternative Country-Rock,Americana,Blues,Country,Country & Western,Pop,Roots Rock

Average customer rating:

Land of Opportunity E-I-E-I-O Manufacturer: Bmg Music ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Senegal & Gambia | Africa | International | Styles | Music Roots Rock | Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: That Love Thang ASIN: B00000DTZ3 Release Date: 1992-01-28

Tracks:

1. This Time
2. Hello Heartache
3. Get Back to Arkansas
4. Tear It Down
5. Me and Jesus Christ
6. Go West Young Man
7. Every Word True
8. White Lines, Blue Skies, Black Top
9. Blue Mountaintop
10. Middle of November
11. When the Stars Are Out and the Moon Is High
12. No Father in the Family

Average customer rating: alt. country minus the alt. attitude

Land of Opportunity The Lonesome Strangers Manufacturer: Little Dog Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Blues | Styles | Music Alt-Country & Americana | Country | Styles | Music General | Country | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Roots Rock | Rock | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Country General | Country | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Country General | Country | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Oldies | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music Similar Items: The Lonesome Strangers Madeline Sugarfinger West ASIN: B000001ET5 Release Date: 1997-04-08

Tracks:

1. And It Hurts
2. Ton of Shame
3. Number 9
4. Sharon
5. Fine Way to Treat Me
6. Tobacco Road
7. Lingerin' Thing
8. The Truth About You
9. Ramblin' Around
10. I Don't Believe You've Met My Baby

Customer Reviews:

alt. country minus the alt. attitude.......2007-01-01

This is one of the "under-rated greats". Probably the best of the Lonesome Strangers' albums, along with their excellent self titled album. This is fine rockin' country with a true 'new traditionalist' feel for the hillbilly roots, but it all new songs, no homages or covers, no rural corn and no rustic hokum.

I'm tempted to call this alt.country. But thankfully minus the whole self consiously alt-iness that weakens the whole alt.country genre. In a way it is musically comparable to Robbie Fulks although where Fulks specialises in a cynical lyric line, the Lonesome Strangers follow a more traditional country lyric line.

One of my favourite country albums, I think if you give it a chance it could be one of yours' too. I wish I knew what happened to these guys.

Average customer rating: LAND OF OPPORTUNITY - E*I*E*I*O Why Weren't They Giants?! An all-time favorite

Land of Opportunity E-I-E-I-O Manufacturer: Frontier Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Rock | Styles | Music Roots Rock | Rock | Styles | Music Senegal & Gambia | Africa | International | Styles | Music Similar Items: That Love Thang ASIN: B000008FBW Release Date: 1993-09-06

Tracks:

1. This Time
2. Hello Heartache
3. Get Back To Arkansas
4. Tear It Down
5. Me And Jesus Christ
6. Go West Young Man
7. Every Word True
8. White Lines, Blue Skies, Black Top
9. Blue Mountaintop
10. The Middle Of November
11. When The Stars Are Out And The Moon Is High
12. No Father In The Family

Customer Reviews:

LAND OF OPPORTUNITY - E*I*E*I*O.......2004-05-12

"This smashing debut recording by the one of the worst-named bands in Wisconsin history (if not all of rock & roll) is economical at ten songs, but there are no clunkers on board. E-I-E-I-O's LAND OF OPPORTUNITY takes its inspiration from rockabilly and roots rock, but is not confined by the stifling mannerisms of those genres. Vocalist/songwriter Steve Summers' rich melodic voice often comes close to a country-esque yelp, but never gives in to stereotypical nostalgia, even with nearly all of the songs' subject matter somehow relating to travel. Guitarists Rob Harding (formerly of OFF BROADWAY) and Mike Hoffman are razor sharp, especially on the breakneck "Go West Young Man." Summers and the band's other songwriter, bassist Richard Szeluga, rarely co-wrote songs, and their individual tastes keep the album's perspective interesting and fresh. This CD release added two songs from the "Go West Young Man" 12-inch single."

Why Weren't They Giants?!.......2003-11-27

I bought this album on vinyl back in the early 1980's and it is still one of my favorites. "This Time" could easily be a hit today in 2003/2004.

For those not in the know... These guys all hailed from the Chicago / southern Wisconsin area. Rob Harding was with the Chicago-based band Off-Broadway (Full Moon Turn My Head Around) before becoming member of E*I*E*I*O.

This album was produced by Steve Berlin of Los Lobos. At that time, Los Lobos was riding the huge crest of a wave from the movie La Bamba - a biopic about Richie Valens.

This is full-on "Pop-A-Billy". I've been waiting for it to be released in a digital format. I'm happy now.

An all-time favorite.......2003-07-17

If you're reading this review, chances are you've actually heard of this band, so I'm probably preaching to the choir. But if by some twist of fate you're reading this and you have no idea who or what E*I*E*I*O was, then let me simply tell you the following: in all of the 17 years since I first purchased this 1986 release, I've added hundreds of albums to my collection--but this is STILL one of my favorite discs of all time--and quite possibly the best record I bought in the 1980s. Hailing from somewhere in the upper Midwest (Wisconsin, I believe), EIEIO played heartland rock in the John Mellencamp / BoDeans / Bob Seger vein, but with a special flavor all their own--and they definitely rocked! "Land Of Opportunity" was the first of the two albums they released in their brief existence, and there's not a bad cut on it. The original vinyl release did not include the last two songs, so the CD is even better, particularly with the addition of "When The Stars Are Out and the Moon Is High." As an interesting footnote, T-Bone Burnett, who produced the BoDeans great first album ("Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams") in 1986 as well, guests on acoustic guitar on "Blue Mountaintop."

Great lead vocals from Steve Summers, some excellent harmonies, literate lyrics and HOT guitar work from Mike Hoffman and Rob Harding--there are no weaknesses on this excellent record, which was co-produced by Steve Berlin of the Blasters. Although it's long been out of print, you can still find it used, and I urge you to do so. Essential '80s roots rock, with just a hint of the twang that would one day become "alt.country." Awesome.

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1. Leavin' You for a Cowboy
2. Let's Dance
3. Lisa Stewart
4. Live at Billy Bob's [Live]
5. Long Time Home From Here
6. Looking Forward Looking Back [Import] [Limited Edition]
7. Love Like This [CD-single] [Import]
8. Malibu Storm
9. Merle Haggard
10. Misty Blue

Music Album