Glimmer (album)
| Glimmer | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1996 | |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Label | Roadrunner[1] | |||
| Producer | Niko Bolas | |||
| Kevin Salem chronology | ||||
| ||||
Glimmer is an album by the American musician Kevin Salem, released in 1996.[2][3] Salem supported the album by opening for the Connells on a North American tour.[4]
Production[edit]
The album was produced by Niko Bolas.[5] Frank Sampedro played guitar on several tracks; David Mansfield played steel guitar on "Trouble".[6][7] Todd Thibaud also contributed to Glimmer.[8] Salem was attracted to depressing subject matter and strove to capture a "sloppy" sound in the studio.[6]
Critical reception[edit]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [9] |
| Boston Herald |  [10] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [11] |
| Orlando Sentinel | [7] |
| The Tampa Tribune | [12] |
The Washington City Paper thought that "the scrupulously tailored verse-chorus cadence of Glimmer's anthems feels so immediately familiar that Salem could probably make a mint ghost-writing for Tom Petty."[13] The Austin Chronicle stated that "Glimmer is loaded with big guitars—chunky, Seventies-style arena-rock rhythms (think Joe Perry sans high-dollar production) with indie tones and guitar-noodling solos."[14] The Tampa Tribune wrote: "Tom Petty with indie credibility for those hipsters who are too embarrassed to admit that Damn the Torpedoes rocks."[12]
Stewart Lee, of The Sunday Times, declared that "beautiful, compelling, nerve-shattering lead-guitar lines snake and spiral over clean and uncluttered rhythm parts, never resorting to simple effects-pedal overload"; Lee later listed Glimmer as the best album of 1996.[15][16] The St. Paul Pioneer Press thought that "Salem's tough/tender tunes, guitar wizardry and no-frills, all-thrills band just might set you on an endless road trip."[17] The Boston Herald deemed it "a screamer of an album that works the intersection of heartland rock 'n' roll and guitar-driven alternative rock."[10] The Press-Telegram considered Glimmer to be the fifth best album of 1996.[18]
AllMusic wrote that Salem's "serious but not humorless lyrics have an almost novelistic detail to them, especially on the haunting 'Chemical Night Train', and the band ... rocks throughout."[9]
Track listing[edit]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Run Run Run" | |
| 2. | "Innocence" | |
| 3. | "Pray for Rain" | |
| 4. | "Chemical Night Train" | |
| 5. | "Underneath" | |
| 6. | "Sleep" | |
| 7. | "Number Seven" | |
| 8. | "All on Trial" | |
| 9. | "Always" | |
| 10. | "Damned" | |
| 11. | "Trouble" | |
| 12. | "Destructible" |
References[edit]
- ^ "Kevin Salem". Trouser Press. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
- ^ "Kevin Salem Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
- ^ "Kevin Salem – Soul of gold". No Depression. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
- ^ "Connells, Frat-House Favorites, Bring Jangly Pop Rock to Toad's". Hartford Courant. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
- ^ Verna, Paul (Aug 3, 1996). "Glimmer". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 31. p. 89.
- ^ a b Sullivan, Jim (12 Sep 1996). "Solo Salem". Calendar. The Boston Globe. p. 36.
- ^ a b Gettelman, Parry (30 Aug 1996). "Kevin Salem, Glimmer". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 7.
- ^ Lozaw, Tristram (August 9, 1996). "Boston Beat". Boston Herald. p. S16.
- ^ a b "Glimmer". AllMusic.
- ^ a b Convey, Kevin R. (August 2, 1996). "Discs – 'Glimmer' shines with hot guitars". Boston Herald. p. S19.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 7. MUZE. p. 230.
- ^ a b Johnson, Rommie (August 2, 1996). "Kevin Salem, Glimmer". Friday Extra!. The Tampa Tribune. p. 21.
- ^ "Glimmer". Washington City Paper. October 4, 1996.
- ^ "Record Reviews". The Austin Chronicle.
- ^ Lee, Stewart (22 Sep 1996). "Kevin Salem Glimmer". Features. The Sunday Times. p. 1.
- ^ Lee, Stewart (December 22, 1996). "Records of the year". Features. The Sunday Times. p. 32.
- ^ Walsh, Jim (August 1, 1996). "Kevin Salem, 'Glimmer'". St. Paul Pioneer Press. p. 8C.
- ^ Grobaty, Tim (December 20, 1996). "Sending Out Our Lorv". Press-Telegram. p. W2.