"The Greater Cause" - John's New CD

[fcollazo]

when can I buy the cd?

[brent]

When will it be released on wax?

[Jan]

Thanks Brent and Sue. It's working now!

[r_karlsson22]

Like executioner, here's my short review:

1. Live it Lout- Pretty good opening track. Sounds like a typical Schlitt-song. Reminds me a bit of Save Me. Can not decide if I like the rap part or not. Last minute of the song is pretty tedious. 5
2. Take Me Home- Like it! Everything but the chorus makes the song into a very great rock tune. 7+
3. Love Won't Leave- One of the best songs on the CD. Looking forward to see John perform this song live! 9
4. One of These Days- Cool song! Getting better and better every time I listen to it! 7
5. F&F- This song gives me nothing except that it is good to hear John's rock'n'roll voice again. 3
6. End of Fear- A CD contains not only hits. To me, this is a typically between track. 5
7. Where I Want- Again, this is a typically between track. 4+
8. Hope Saves- Best song I ever heard of John! Love the lyrics, John's voice and music! 10+
9. Run- Great song! Reminds me of John's early days in Head East 9
10. Gift- Such a nice song! What makes the song even better is that Dan chooses to use only the acoustic guitar and cello. Sometimes "Less is more" 8
11. The Cross- Like it. Gets better last minute when John starts to reach higher notes 7-

To sum it up. This is a very good classic rock and roll album! Brilliant production. Good songs. The final rating at this time: 7.5 / 10

I promised myself I would not listen too much on TGC, because I don't want to get tired of it. It was harder than I thought! Listen all the time

[Jan]

OH YEAH!!!! Now that I've heard it in my car and cranked it UP, this is GREAT!!! I don't know why, but on my laptop speakers (even the external speakers) the music was great but his voice sounded like it was hidden in the background and I couldn't hardly make out any words. But in the car, it ROCKS, I can hear the words, and LOVE IT!! I still like Love Won't Leave Me Alone and Run the best - I would give both of them a 10.

8. Hope Saves- The strongest song on the album, John's vocals knock your socks off.10

After cranking this up in the car, I see what you mean!! I give this one a 10 too.

I might like TGC as much as Shake and Unfit, not sure yet. I love those so much, they are hard to beat.

[sue d.]

The actual CD & download to the public will be in early spring... you all should have jumped in on John's Kickstarter campaign... right now this is only being released to John's Crew (those who pledged to the album when it was just a dream...)

[executioner]

The 3 songs I've focused on since yesterday are "hope saves", "gift", and "cross remains" these are some of John's best vocals of all time. I love on "Hope" how the chorus builds with his vocals flawlessly, and the other two songs his vocals are soft, personal with just the perfect little grit to it. The emotional side of these songs John brings out and makes you feel them somewhat like Steve Perry; not too many rock vocalist can do that like them two.

[p-freak]

I've mentioned before that I don't like the idea behind The Cross Remains and because of that some lines in the song bothering me. At first I thought: "Hey that's nice that they put it on no. 11, that makes it easy to skip." But after having listening to the album as a whole for a couple of times, I find it to be a very strong ending song because it so beautifully finished off with the words 'The Cross Remains'. But then still, I'm sure I'll skip it five out of ten times.

I'm not sure yet if I think the title fits with the lyrical direction of the album as a whole. The phrase itself comes back in 'Hope That Saves The World'. One of the themes that I keep hearing coming back is the theme of uncertainty and fear. In that way 'The Greater Cause' makes sense. In 'Hope' it says: "We're incomplete, always looking for the greater cause" and in many songs it talks about 'Love' being our way out of our uncertainties and fears. And of course it's clear that it's Love with a capital and not just love that will take us beyond the boundaries of our fearful earthly lives. The themes seem to circle around "The Greater Cause", but for me it's maybe just not the exact right phrase.

I can't seem to figure out what Dan's trying to say exactly in "One Of These Days". Lyrically this is a song that I could do without. For me at the moment 1, 2, 3, 8 and 9 are the top tracks.

[pmal]

I dunno about everyone else but I like the whole dang thang

It really rocks and I'm grateful to have it! Great work John!

[Shell]

I'm listening to it now and he's rocking my socks off. These songs take headbanging to a whole new level.

I had to fiddle around a bit before I figured out how to burn the dang file onto a disc so I can play it in my CD player. I should have gotten my 9-year-old nephew or 7-year-old niece to do it for me, they'd have had no problem, the tech savvy little urchins.

I'll comment on the individual songs later.

[Shell]

Okay, I've listened to it once, just enjoying the music. I'll listen through it again and pay a bit more attention to the lyrics. I will say "The Gift" is really a beautiful tribute to a decades long relationsip. It's not that common any more to be together that long.

"She was pretty, I was dumb..." great stuff.

[sue d.]

<<"She was pretty, I was dumb..." great stuff.

I know! doesn't that sound like a teenager in love?! lol

[bakersfieldpethead]

Mystery solved. Big Foot lives in Bakersfield! Suh-weet. You would make a terrible cross-dresser.

Yeah, just try to find heels in my size

[andreasbjerre]

John Schlitts Set list at his concert in Aarhus Denmark 2012:

Shake:
Wake the dead
Show me the way
Don't look back

Unfit:
Save me
God is to big
I killed a man

The Grafting:
Only Men

The greater Cause:
Take me home
Love won't leave me alone
Hope that saves the world
Run
End of fear

Petra bonus songs:
Creed
Jekyll and Hyde