TONY SLY continues to illustrate his songwriting prowess with the release of his second full-length solo album, Sad Bear. Tony's somewhat recent foray into recording as a solo artist has proven to be every bit as fruitful as his 20+ years fronting the legendary punk band No Use For A Name. On his own, Tony trades in the signature electric guitars and aggressive rhythms of NUFAN for a more subdued approach, featuring acoustic instruments and highlighted by his captivating melodies. Sad Bear notes a strong progression from Tony's first solo outing with an increased emphasis on varied instrumentation that, while robust, somehow delicately plays off Tony's soothing vocals. As a master of transcribing personal experiences and bemusements into transcendent verse, it follows that the lyrical content of Sad Bear is nothing short of poetic. The songs range from folk to pop, with many genre defying moments in between, but are all sewn together seamlessly with the common thread of innovative and dexterous craftsmanship. Sad Bear serves as a prism that reflects the spectrum of Tony's songwriting influences including such varied artists as The Beatles, Iron and Wine, Coner Oberst, and Elliot Smith. To further develop the aural layers of the album, Tony utilizes the vocal capabilities of Karina Denike (Dance Hall Crashers) and Joey Cape (Lagwagon) to complement his own. As a whole, the intriguing and unforgettable songs on Sad Bear are a triumphant next step in TONY SLY's burgeoning solo career.
R**A
A Musical Masteriece by a Music Genious
Another musical masterpiece by a musical mastermind. The music world will never be the same without Tony Sly. This record as well as 12 song program are some of the best works he ever did in my opinion. Too bad he died too soon, too young.
N**0
Good not his best
Not one of Tony's best solo albums but has some very powerful tracks on it. Just a bit too slow for some of them. You can tell Tony was going through some deep things based on the lyrics.
H**.
good.
Saddest album ever, especially considering the circumstances. But so, so, good.
C**B
Great solo album from a great musician
As of this writing, Tony Sly has passed away. Knowing that going into this album makes it that much more emotional. This album is full of songs where Tony is spilling his heart out and telling the listener how he feels. If you enjoy solo acoustic works, this is as good as it gets.
B**.
Great new solo effort by Tony Sly
I listened to a stream of this a little while before buying it. I've always been a big fan of Tony Sly's songwriting, and hearing it this way is fantastic from start to finish.
B**D
Great record, but man...Sly is one sad bear in this record (pun intended!)
Just like his other acoustic stuff, it is great and all the songs are well written; however, you could really tell Sly went through some really sad stuff in his life! I guess that's what makes songs so powerful - with their genuine feelings.
R**Y
Five Stars
if u are a fan its a must have
M**E
T Sly!
Tony, I love you. Thank you for this wonderful album. Everyone check out No use for a Name if you haven't already. RIP Tony
H**Y
The man's music is so powerful
His music will always be a great listen, the name is in the title of this album, there are some really sad songs on here but they're so well written.RIP Tony
C**N
Five Stars
Really recommend! Great service by amazon
S**7
Würdiger Nachfolger
Hier ist es - das Nachfolgewerk von Tony Sly's Solodebut "12 Song Program". Knapp ein Jahr nach dessen Veröffentlichung legt Tony auch gleich das nächste Soloalbum "Sad Bear" nach. Und nach einigen Durchläufen muss ich erstaunlicherweise sagen, ich finde "Sad Bear" sogar noch um einiges besser als den Vorgänger!Der äußerst sympathische Frontmann von No Use For A Name schafft es wieder, 12 hochmelodische Lieder auf eine CD zu pressen, die textlich und auch instrumental kaum Wünsche offen lassen. Dies hat zwar mit Punkrock überhaupt nichts zu tun, aber die Songs gehen so dermaßen schnell ins Ohr, dass auch Punkrocker mit Gefallen an akustischer Musik mit Hang zu Melancholie gefallen daran finden.Etwas eigenartig finde ich nur den Albumtitel "Sad Bear". Klar sind ein paar langsame, ruhige Nummern auf dem Album zu finden ("Dark Corner", "Therapy", "Flying South"), jedoch auch fröhliche, positive Songs - allem voran mein persönlicher Höhepunkt der CD "Homecoming".Bei einem Lied musste ich kurz schlucken: "Discomfort Inn" kommt beim ersten Mal so dermaßen süßlich und schmalzig, dass ich wirklich schon dachte, es hätte sich ein falscher Song auf das Album geschlichen. Tony singt den Song mit dermaßen klarer Kopfstimme, ich konnte es anfangs nicht glauben, dass er das Lied selber singt. Aber nach einigen Wiederholungen stellt sich auch hier heraus, dass es ein Song mit Ohrwurm-Garantie ist, und in Verbindung mit den tollen Lyrics entpuppt sich dieser als wahre Perle. Aber wie gesagt, anfangs etwas untypisch für Tony!Man kann ihm jedoch hiermit zu Gute halten, dass er bei diesem Album wieder mal exzellente Arbeit geleistet hat, ich hoffe natürlich auf viele weitere Solo-CDs von ihm, auch wenn ich weiterhin auf eine ebenso gute Platte von No Use For A Name warte. Aber gut Ding braucht bekanntlich Weile.Ich kann diese CD jedenfalls Fans von Pop-, Rock-, Singer/Songwriter-Sachen, sowie vereinzelten Punkrockern empfehlen. Letzteren empfehle ich jedoch, vor dem Kauf mal reinzuhören. Ich kann sie auch als Geschenk empfehlen, meiner Mutter gefällt das Album auch sehr!
J**M
Discazo de principio a fin
Esto es un discazo como la copa un pino, melodías brutales, y la voz de Tony Sly que te pone los vellos de punta (escucha Discomfort Inn). Ya seas fan o no de NUFAN te gustará, y el que diga lo contrario, ¡que se le seque la hierbabuena!
S**T
Beautiful Album
A beautiful, melancholy, heartbreaking and personal album that resonates with me very deeply. RIP Tony. You were taken from us far too soon.
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