Songs about horses, trainwrecks, astronomy, philosophy, plastic army men and more, presented in 100 acoustic fashion.

13 MP3 Songs in this album (52:51) !
Related styles: FOLK: Modern Folk, ROCK: Acoustic

People who are interested in Violent Femmes Grateful Dead Mason Jennings should consider this download.


Details:
From The Missoulian - 6/14/07
"From the Harry Nilsson-esque âSteam Locomotiveâ to the Chuck Berry chug of âPerfect Girl,â these 13 original songs are presented in an unvarnished, warts-and-all style that highlights the harmonies and varied picking styles. But it's Hirshberg's raw, nasally bray that ties it all together. He's no crooner, but then, neither are John Prine or Bob Dylan, right? The near lack of reverb or processing on his voice gives it a vulnerable, yet unapologetic quality. This refusal to sand down the rough edges or ingratiate himself to the listener also comes through in some of the lyrics, such as on âThe Riderâ when he sings, âShe tries hard to make her own luck / Baby needs someone who (exhibits a level of interest).â

Another standout track is âCalendar Blues,â a hillbilly vaudeville polka that hilariously recounts a marriage gone bad from the first date all the way to âthat day in court (when) I told the judge âI don't.' â At just over two minutes, it's the shortest song on the album, but also the most fun. Hmm. Larry, let me give you my analyst's number.

The best song on the CD is â209.1 FM.â Inspired, no doubt, by Larry's long-running DJ gig at KBGA, this sad little waltz hangs on the framework of Sporman's gloomy bass notes like tattered laundry in the backyard of a shack under the airport's flight line. The melancholy, late-night feel of the music perfectly supports Hirshberg's duet with himself, as he sings of âwide awake disjointed beats.â Obtuse writing is Hirshberg's specialty, and he seems loath to spell out anything too clearly for the listener. Still, when the music's this good, I don't care if he's singing about a recipe for potato latkes - I'm dancing, baby."




"Larry Hirshberg tells supple stories in the limited spaces allotted by songs just a few minutes long. While not every line drips with the promise of platinum sales, his solo acoustic effort Ice at Home features some genuine gems.

The title track scores with wordplay centered on an engagement ring left behind. The chorus begins âHis baby left the ice at home / Maybe the boys will think sheâs all aloneââjust enough information to put an image in listenersâ heads and enough indirection to make it interesting, all laid out to a memorable melody. The song stays on the folksy side of an album that blends in considerable blues such as the saloon-style âCalendar Blues,â an uplifting tune about the rhetoric and reality of love.

Hirshbergâs skill with the guitar is considerable..."
Missoula Independent - 4/5/07