FOREST SUN: Plenty

Forest Sun

Plenty

© 2001 Forest Sun (660662614924)

CD IN STOCK. ORDER NOW. Will ship immediately.

(About MP3 downloads at CD Baby)

A deceptively simple interweaving of roots, jazz, folk, gospel, soul and speakeasy blues. Fans of Ben Harper or Van Morrison, pay attention.

tracks

1 Alchemy
2 What the Poets Know
3 Dancing Again
4 Red Umbrella
5 Plenty
6 My Queen
7 God's Breath
8 No Anchor
9 Jar of Pennies
10 Day By Day

notes

" There are times when one positively reels at the gross injustices in the world --- poverty, hunger, Middle Eastern tomfoolery, war, reality TV, natural disasters, and the fact that Dave Matthews gets gobs of fawning press and the adoration of fans everywhere while Forest Sun toils under relative obscurity.

Who? Exactly. But you read it here first: PLENTY, Sun's newest album, is on eof the best CDs of 2002, and no, it really doesn't matter that we're only halfway through the year.

Forest Sun (his real name) is a San Francisco based singer/songwriter who others in the press have compared favorably to Jack Johnson, Ben Harper, and Van Morrison. But the comparisons generally end there, as if that were enough. It's not. Sun is all that and a bowl of gravy.

By blending soul, blues, jazz, gospel, and a touch of 20th centure "Americana," Forest Sun has managed to carve out a niche that is uniquely his, one which sounds remarkably like all of the above (and a little Keb'Mo' added to the mix) without the unsettling feeling that he's copping others' licks. His is a style of naked, earnest sincerity, with the kind of soul-baring lyrics one expects of someone at least a generation older.

What's more, Forest Sun is the consumate musician. Sophomore effort PLENTY features him on -- among other instruments-- both acoustic and electric guitars, mandolin, harmonica, and piano; meanwhile, sidemen perform on upright bass, tabla, and sarod. It's an album that simultaneously explores and bends -- and ultimately blurs the lines between -- seemingly disparate genres with ease.

But PLENTY isn't just fodder for music geeks (though one could spend hours dissecting it)/ nor is it merely a vehicle for jam-based virtuosity. Rather, it's a singular marriage of lyric beauty and inimitable craftsmanship; a wholly organic work of musical art.

If you can't catch Forest Sun and his band live (and, quite frankly, some sort of invasive surgery might be the only legitimate excuse), then at the very least buy PLENTY. Right now. Then immediately drop to your knees and thank the good Lord that musicians like Sun still exist.

--Aaron Bragg, the Local Planet, Spokan, Washington

reviews

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  • Brilliant Album, highly recommended
    author: Kieran Adler

    Heard about this CD from a friend and had to buy it as soon as I heard it. Every track is a winner, especially Jar of Pennies, which I am in love with!

  • Buy it!
    author: Tim

    This CD instantly became one of the best CDs I own. I now have all three of his discs-- all of them are great. Buy them!

  • Great chilled tunes. Ideal for Fathers Day???
    author: Ed

    Great chilled tunes. A brillient blend of Paul Simon, Van Morrisson with Forest's own flavour...

  • WOW-absolutely fantastic
    author: robert

    folks there's a reason this ones usually sold out-IT'S A MUST HAVE-I'm not going to try to descride it-listen to the samples and you WILL buy it-this was my first CD baby purchase but it certainly won't be the last

  • What a wonderful surprise!
    author: krbjazz

    I found this cd while just browsing the cdbaby website, and it turned out to be a delightful surprise! I can't get enough of this guy!

  • As festival promotors, one of top three CD's we've received in 5 years.
    author: Lori Dean & John Facchinei Camp Jam in the Pines

    Even with dozens of demo CD's and promotional packages coming in from all over the country, this one stood out so prominently that we both knew immediately that we'd be willing to pay Forest Sun and his band to fly across the country to play at our little music festival in the Pine Barrens of South Jersey. We ordered 9 more CD's and distributed them to family, friends and a couple of local DJ's, because we're so sure of his universal appeal. Lori and John, Camp Jam in the Pines

  • author: Aaron Bragg, The Local Planet Weekly

    There are times when one positively reels at the gross injustices in the world—poverty, hunger, Middle Eastern tomfoolery, war, reality TV, natural disasters, and the fact that Dave Matthews gets gobs of fawning press and the adoration of fans everywhere while Forest Sun toils under relative obscurity. Who? Exactly. But you read it here first: Plenty, Sun's newest album, is one of the best CDs of 2002, and no, it really doesn't matter that we're only halfway through the year. Forest Sun (his real name) is a San Francisco-based singer/songwriter who others in the press have compared favorably to Jack Johnson, Ben Harper, and Van Morrison. But the comparisons generally end there, as if that were enough. It’s not. Sun is all that and a bowl of gravy. By blending soul, blues, jazz, gospel, and a touch of 20th-century "Americana," Forest Sun has managed to carve out a niche that is uniquely his, one which sounds remarkably like all of the above (and a little Keb' Mo' added to the mix) without the unsettling feeling that he's copping others' licks. His is a style of naked, earnest sincerity, with the kind of soul-baring lyrics one expects of someone at least a generation older. What's more, Forest Sun is the consummate musician. Sophomore effort Plenty features him on—among other instruments—both acoustic and electric guitars, mandolin, harmonica, and organ; meanwhile, sidemen perform on upright bass, tabla, and sarod. It’s an album that simultaneously explores and bends—and ultimately blurs the lines between—seemingly disparate genres with ease. But Plenty isn't just fodder for music geeks (though one could spend hours dissecting it); nor is it merely a vehicle for jam-based virtuosity. Rather, it's a singular marriage of lyric beauty and inimitable craftsmanship; a wholly organic work of musical art. If you can’t catch Forest Sun and his band live (and, quite frankly, some sort of invasive surgery might be the only legitimate excuse), then at the very least buy Plenty. Right now. Then immediately drop to your knees and thank the good Lord that musicians like Sun still exist.

  • This CD is awesome, period.
    author: Chris

    A blend of Jack Johnson, Ben Harper, but more jazz feel and tempo. Red Umbrella has a fun kick to it while Dancing Again is perfect for a CD you want to send to a girl to try to get her back. Plenty has great guitar similar to Leo Kottke. All around awesome CD!!!

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