Deepcut to Nowhere is an album by the English musician Graham Parker, released in 2001.[1][2] It was his first studio album in five years.[3] The title refers to the village of Parker's youth.[4] Parker supported the album by touring with the Figgs as his backing band.[5]
| Deepcut to Nowhere | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 2001 | |||
| Label | Razor & Tie | |||
| Producer | Graham Parker, Dave Cook | |||
| Graham Parker chronology | ||||
| ||||
Production
editThe album was produced by Parker and Dave Cook; Parker had a harder time writing the songs than he did recording them.[6][7] Steve Goulding played drums on the album, reuniting with Parker after two decades.[8] "Syphilis & Religion" is about the history of colonialism.[9] "Blue Horizon" reflects on Parker's childhood.[10] "Tough on Clothes" was inspired by Parker's teenage daughter.[11] "I'll Never Play Jacksonville Again" is about a disastrous 1997 club show in Florida.[12] "Socks 'n' Sandals" describes growing older in the suburbs.[13] "Last Stop Is Nowhere" is performed solo by Parker.[14]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [15] |
| Chicago Sun-Times | [14] |
| Edmonton Journal | [8] |
| The Republican | [13] |
| (The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide | [16] |
| Scripps Howard | [17] |
The Edmonton Journal called Parker "a little less acidic these days," but noted that "there are still pleasing gulps of venom."[8] Scripps Howard wrote that Parker's "voice, always a gruff instrument that is equal parts Bob Dylan and Costello, has aged exceptionally well."[17] The Hartford Courant opined that the album "finds rock's notoriously angry man still slashing away, but running out of meaningful, thought-provoking targets."[18]
The Philadelphia Inquirer determined that "the bantam Brit's acerbic wit is as cutting as ever ... and he's still rocking hard."[19] The Boston Globe stated that "the songwriting is tight and focused, and where Parker has often seemed to be a cranky skeptic of America's kitsch and capitalism, here he's more interested in matters of the heart."[20] The Herald Sun concluded that Deepcut to Nowhere was Parker's best album since 1988's The Mona Lisa's Sister.[21]
AllMusic wrote that "this is a record that's just for the converted—the ones who will spin the record several times to unlock the meanings of the record, not minding that the songs aren't immediate (or that memorable outside of the lyrics)."[15]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Dark Days" | |
| 2. | "I'll Never Play Jacksonville Again" | |
| 3. | "If It Ever Stops Rainin'" | |
| 4. | "Depend on Me" | |
| 5. | "High Horse" | |
| 6. | "Cheap Chipped Black Nails" | |
| 7. | "Blue Horizon" | |
| 8. | "Tough on Clothes" | |
| 9. | "Socks 'n' Sandals" | |
| 10. | "It Takes a Village Idiot" | |
| 11. | "Syphilis & Religion" | |
| 12. | "Last Stop Is Nowhere" |
References
edit- ^ Loescher, Greg (Jun 29, 2001). "New Releases". Goldmine. Vol. 27, no. 13. p. 28.
- ^ Brogan, Elizabeth (6 Dec 2001). "Sonia Dada with Graham Parker and the Figgs". Portland Press Herald. p. 1D.
- ^ Sangiacomo, Michael (September 28, 2001). "Graham Parker's 'Nowhere' puts him back on musical map". Friday Mag. The Plain Dealer. p. 23.
- ^ McKeough, Kevin (5 Oct 2001). "Graham Parker's rollercoaster ride". Chicago Tribune. p. 7.25.
- ^ Bessman, Jim (Sep 22, 2001). "Where's the Carp?". Billboard. Vol. 113, no. 38. p. 36.
- ^ Boorstyn, Andrew (Aug 25, 2001). "Deepcut to Nowhere". Billboard. Vol. 113, no. 34. p. 16.
- ^ Kiss, Tony (12 Oct 2001). "Graham Parker". Asheville Citizen-Times. p. F2.
- ^ a b c Helm, Richard (18 Aug 2001). "Aging punk Parker retains his venom". Edmonton Journal. p. C5.
- ^ Farber, Jim (19 Aug 2001). "A Rumor of Contentment". Showtime. Daily News. New York. p. 15.
- ^ Matteo, Steve (22 Nov 2001). "New Sounds". Newsday. p. C7.
- ^ Lewis, Randy (12 Jan 2002). "Aged, but Not Mellowed". Los Angeles Times. p. F1.
- ^ Wilson, Mike (12 Apr 2002). "Swept Away". St. Petersburg Times. p. 1D.
- ^ a b O'Hare, Kevin (September 2, 2001). "Graham Parker, 'Deepcut to Nowhere'". The Republican. p. D1.
- ^ a b Wisser, Jeff (September 16, 2001). "Graham Parker, 'Deepcut to Nowhere'". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 17C.
- ^ a b "Deepcut to Nowhere Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
- ^ (The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon & Schuster. 2004. p. 616.
- ^ a b Lockwood, Rod (9 Sep 2001). "Graham Parker, 'Deepcut to Nowhere'". Daily Breeze. Scripps Howard. p. C5.
- ^ McGarity, Neal (20 Sep 2001). "Deepcut to Nowhere Graham Parker". Calendar. Hartford Courant. p. 6.
- ^ Cristiano, Nick (28 Sep 2001). "Graham Parker". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. W17.
- ^ Capobianco, Ken (18 Oct 2001). "Graham Parker Deepcut to Nowhere". Calendar. The Boston Globe. p. 6.
- ^ Burns, Norman (13 Jan 2002). "Rock". Cue. Herald Sun. p. 84.