CRITIC’S RESPONSES
San Diego Village Voice
Homestead & Wolfe makes the year list – Music article in Village Voice on Tuesday, December 14, 2004 at 4 a.m.
https://www.villagevoice.com/music/music-6398735
KFJC 89.7 FM www.kfjc.org (Los Altos) – by Mitch
Hi Karl – here’s that review and a huge thanks for releasing this masterpiece….
I love this so much, and am still just amazed at what these kids did – wow.
Favorites = 1, 3, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 13. These tracks originally saw only a private release – until now.
Surpassing and revelatory genius. – MITCH
From: Cesar Montesano
Date: May 27, 2005 5:40:27 AM PDT – psychedelica
Subject: Re: [psychedelica]
Re: HOMESTEAD & WOLFE (mini-view)
Karl !!! & !! Ooops, but the psych mafia should be praising him heavily for H&W ! Whweee, thanks for the info, the CD hath me MESMERIZADO-MIKADO. Now to figure out a little time adjustment and listen.
My favorite discovery of the year! A little background on my listening habits: The influx here is absolutely ridiculous, dozens of new things a week! I listen liberally to different albums ad infinitum. Very rarely doth something get sticky in the player. When it does, watch out, swingle-sister – I tend to want to sing its praises. Being a member of the Gnosis Project, I am always ranking music. This BADMOFO (H&W) has charmed me to my bones.
I am going into the database and giving it the highest honors: 15 out of 15 = Perfect. Karl: I would like to get in touch with the band to offer a review. Truly blessed now, Cesar
My favorite discovery of the year!
From: Phil X Milstein
Date: May 3, 2005 2:21:18 PM PDT
To: spectropop
Subject: Rip Chords counterrevisionism
Someone here recently posted a link to a Rip Chords history, at https://ripchords.info I reiterate it now just to make sure that no one who might be interested inadvertently overlooks it. It’s written by Rev. Ernie Bringas, co-founder of the group, and aims primarily at clarifying who exactly sang what on the group’s recording sessions, in order to correct the historical record on those matters.
The richness of Bringas’ detail, his pride in the group’s accomplishments, and his lack of bitterness at what seems to have been a somewhat inimical aftermath, are commendable, and the autographed photo of Doris Day is real fine, as well.
Gone, –Phil M.
NewBrutonTown
From: “moecurlythanu”
Date: May 9, 2005 9:08:18 PM PDT Subject: [NewBrutonTown] Homestead & Wolfe
“Our Times.” Just got this CD in from Karl, and listened to it for the first time. Only a first impression, but I’m really knocked out by this CD, and amazed that there isn’t a buzz about it. Not what I expect from American Folk/FolkRock, especially xian. I wouldn’t call it wyrdfolk (though I’m starting to wonder if I really have the term pinned down after looking at Mark’s ‘History of’ pages) but for the most part is brilliant 70s Folk/FolkRock that I would expect would appeal to almost everybody here.
“Our Times.” Just got this CD in from Karl, and listened to it for the first time. Only a first impression, but I’m really knocked out by this CD, and amazed that there isn’t a buzz about it. Not what I expect from American Folk/FolkRock, especially xian.
I wouldn’t call it wyrdfolk (though I’m starting to wonder if I really have the term pinned down after looking at Mark’s ‘History of’ pages) but for the most part is brilliant 70s Folk/FolkRock that I would expect would appeal to almost everybody here.
Who to compare it to? Well, I vastly favor the UK scene, and am less enamored of the Dylan/Guthrie US wing of American Folk, and the tendency to interject country elements by many US artists. Having said that, there are a couple songs that do tend to the countryish side, and one rock track, (which is good, btw.)
brilliant 70s Folk/FolkRock
Mark’s Response
They are not part of the Dylan/Guthrie wing, however. Other than those 3 tracks it’s a mix of dreamy Folk and outstanding FolkRock, drawing comparisons at times with Tudor Lodge, the 1st Bread, Love & Dreams, and faint hints at some of what Spriguns did later on (think “Time Will Pass.”) Also, much of the female vocals bear some resemblance to Sandy Denny, in the phrasing, and especially when notes are sustained. I also hear a bit of what the Byrds might have sounded like if they hadn’t relied on 12 string, in some of the uptempo numbers.
Again, a first listen, but it’s among my favorite American Folk/FolkRock/FolkPsych albums. Like it better than These Trails at first listen (not that that’s my fave American Folk album.) My favorite tracks at first listen are “Mary Jane” & “See The Children Die.”
I would think this CD would be of interest to most folks here. If it wasn’t for the country-ish tracks (2 out of 13 on the original album,) I would call this an unqualified masterpiece. Very much recommended. (And no, Karl didn’t put me up to this.) – Mark
it’s among my favorite American Folk/FolkRock/FolkPsych albums
AcidSanctuary
From: “LamaSivartDoz”
Date: October 18, 2004 1:43:01 AM PDT
Yeah, there is a certain similarity with all those items, but H & W has a strong urban westcoast finish to it IMO, not rooted in rural soil like most Brit-folkers tend to be… Mellow Candle is perhaps the closest of those, but I would really be inclined to compare it to California-style bands from a slightly earlier era… they did have trad folk moves too, often.
The most rocking tracks on H & W remind me of Ill Wind, both in terms of the powerful female vocals and the flowing band. Also Yankee Dollar, Carolyn Hester Coalition, even Neighbrhood Childrn. 8.5 / 10 at this point, really hard to find any weaknesses in it.
Great stories in the liner notes about the talented young lady handing out sheet notes to Hal Blaine & Al Casey on how the music should be played 🙂 // Patrick
Buy the CD:
Homestead & Wolfe: Our Times – The Gold Star Tapes (1973-75) CD
- cat #: Anopheles 008
- $15 ppd in the US
- genre: folk-rock-country-psych-pop
- Available at www.AnophelesRecords.com
- Karl Ikola / Anopheles Records
- Countries that have a H&W CD in their borders: S. Korea, Japan, Greece, Sweden, Cyprus, Australia, New Zealand, UK, Portugal, Canada. – Karl
Homestead & Wolfe on the web: https://homesteadwolfe.com
Homestead & Wolfe songs on bandcamp: homesteadwolfe.bandcamp.com