Three Chords Good

Be the first to write a review

Editorial Reviews

All Music Guide - Stephen Thomas Erlewine
It is not as if Graham Parker never found another sympathetic backing band after he parted ways with the Rumour in 1980. Notably, he joined forces with the power pop band the Figgs in the mid-'90s, having them as his supporting group for over a decade, a far longer stretch of time than he played with the Rumour, but there was no shaking the ghost of his original band, the one who supported him on the classics Howlin' Wind and Squeezing Out Sparks. Whatever lingering grievances between bandmates were forgotten and forgiven and Parker reunited with the Rumour for 2012's Three Chords Good, its release coinciding with their pivotal appearance in Judd Apatow's This ...
See more details below
CD
$11.13
BN.com price
(Save 7%)$11.99 List Price
Pick Up In Store

Pick Up In Store

Reserve and pick up in 60 minutes at your local store

Other sellers (CD)
  • All (6) from $8.13   
  • New (6) from $8.13   

More About This Product

Editorial Reviews

All Music Guide - Stephen Thomas Erlewine
It is not as if Graham Parker never found another sympathetic backing band after he parted ways with the Rumour in 1980. Notably, he joined forces with the power pop band the Figgs in the mid-'90s, having them as his supporting group for over a decade, a far longer stretch of time than he played with the Rumour, but there was no shaking the ghost of his original band, the one who supported him on the classics Howlin' Wind and Squeezing Out Sparks. Whatever lingering grievances between bandmates were forgotten and forgiven and Parker reunited with the Rumour for 2012's Three Chords Good, its release coinciding with their pivotal appearance in Judd Apatow's This Is 40. Thirty-two years have passed since Parker & the Rumour recorded together, and the vibe on Three Chords Good is decidedly different than either the semi-stiff attempted 1980 crossover The Up Escalator or its lacerating 1979 predecessor Squeezing Out Sparks. Parker is no longer an angry young man, he's a grizzled old curmudgeon with a sentimental streak, a decidedly warmer persona and one that suits the Rumour's revived pub rock. Often, Three Chords Good hearkens back to the relaxed, almost casual, vibe of Howlin' Wind, where the group slyly spliced the Stones with Van Morrison. Here, the Stones are largely absent, replaced by hints of Dylan ("Arlington's Busy") and an off-hand virtuosity that finds the Rumour slipping into reggae ("Snake Oil Capital of the World") as easily as they do supper-club jazz ("Live in Shadows"). Apart from the first single "Coathangers," there isn't much straight-ahead rock & roll here; the music shuffles along in an unhurried gait, leaving plenty of time for the Rumour to lock into a slow, soulful groove, for Martin Belmont to throw out clean, enticing lead lines and for Parker to play around with his barbed words. Perhaps not surprisingly for a reunion, Parker is in a reflective frame of mind -- he opens the album noting that it's been a "Long Emotional Ride" and closes it with "Last Bookstore in Town, and in between he alternates between reminiscences and resigned shrugs at the state of the world today -- and the expert elastic roots rock of the Rumour gives his songs depth, making Three Chords Good the rare reunion that simultaneously looks back while living in the present
Read More Show Less

Product Details

  • Release Date: 11/19/2012
  • Label: Primary Wave
  • UPC: 856817002528
  • Catalog Number: 70052
  • Sales rank: 10,869

Album Credits

Performance Credits
Graham Parker & the Rumour Primary Artist
Graham Parker Indexed Contributor, Guitar, Kazoo, Background Vocals, Claves
Bob Andrews Keyboards, Background Vocals
Martin Belmont Guitar
Andrew Bodnar Bass
Steve Goulding Percussion, Drums
Brinsley Schwarz Guitar, Background Vocals
The Deep Snaps Hand Clapping
Technical Credits
Graham Parker Composer, Producer
Gary Burden Art Direction
Toby Mountain Mastering
Graham Parker & the Rumour Arranger
Jenice Heo Art Direction
Dave Cook Producer, Engineer
Read More Show Less

Customer Reviews

Be the first to write a review
( 0 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(0)

4 Star

(0)

3 Star

(0)

2 Star

(0)

1 Star

(0)

Your Rating:

Review Guidelines
Add Recommendations
Your Name: Create a Pen Name or

Barnes & Noble.com Review Rules

Our reader reviews allow you to share your comments on titles you liked, or didn't, with others. By submitting an online review, you are representing to Barnes & Noble.com that all information contained in your review is original and accurate in all respects, and that the submission of such content by you and the posting of such content by Barnes & Noble.com does not and will not violate the rights of any third party. Please follow the rules below to help ensure that your review can be posted.

Reviews by Our Customers Under the Age of 13

We highly value and respect everyone's opinion concerning the titles we offer. However, we cannot allow persons under the age of 13 to have accounts at BN.com or to post customer reviews. Please see our Terms of Use for more details.

What to exclude from your review:

Please do not write about reviews, commentary, or information posted on the product page. If you see any errors in the information on the product page, please send us an email.

Reviews should not contain any of the following:

  • - HTML tags, profanity, obscenities, vulgarities, or comments that defame anyone
  • - Time-sensitive information such as tour dates, signings, lectures, etc.
  • - Single-word reviews. Other people will read your review to discover why you liked or didn't like the title. Be descriptive.
  • - Comments focusing on the author or that may ruin the ending for others
  • - Phone numbers, addresses, URLs
  • - Pricing and availability information or alternative ordering information
  • - Advertisements or commercial solicitation

Reminder:

  • - By submitting a review, you grant to Barnes & Noble.com and its sublicensees the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right and license to use the review in accordance with the Barnes & Noble.com Terms of Use.
  • - Barnes & Noble.com reserves the right not to post any review -- particularly those that do not follow the terms and conditions of these Rules. Barnes & Noble.com also reserves the right to remove any review at any time without notice.
  • - See Terms of Use for other conditions and disclaimers.
Search for Products You'd Like to Recommend

Recommend other products that relate to your review. Just search for them below and share!

Create a Pen Name

Your Pen Name is your unique identity on BN.com. It will appear on the reviews you write and other website activities. Your Pen Name cannot be edited, changed or deleted once submitted.

 
Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously