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Frank Smith Songwriter, Poet, Man of Mystery |
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25 songs recorded in 1997 in the small trailer out behind the big trailer, all alone, so far away from the big city. Frank Smith is a songwriter. From his secluded location in rural Georgia, Frank composes songs on his guitar that reveal the trails of a lonely, yet optimistic soul searching for meaning in life. Living a simple life and rarely venturing far from home, Frank's perspective is captured in melancholy overtures to God and pining laments about lost and unrequited love. At the same time, Frank holds out hope that love could sprout at any moment and make his life complete. Frank's dark tendances are balanced by a strong sense of hope and optimism, punctuated by enduring melodies and a decidedly lyrical wit. His ability to express emotional moods of worry, angst, pity and sorrow are eclipsed only by his talent for optimism and hopeful suggestion. Even in his darkest moments, Frank cannot resist revealing a penchant for the twisted perspective that permeates this material. These songs were recorded by Frank in the privacy of the small travel trailer he calls home. The sounds of rain drops falling on his tin roof are apparent in the opening song, "Sure As The Sunrise," while nothing less than a summer monsoon offers a noisy backdrop to "Lonesome As A Marble." The sense of isolation we experience in the title track "Cleveland, Georgia" is offset by the tongue in cheek descriptions of a rural life of simple pleasures and limited expectations. "Dear God" is the quintessential pathetic plea by a disappointed sheep to the seemingly uncaring shepherd about a perpetually sad state of affairs. Frank offers an impressive talent as wordsmith with lyrical gems such as "Bicycle Michael," "Love Is An Aphrodisiac" and "Who Knew," offering insight into his 25 year evolution as songwriter and poet. The macabre description of pointless murder as well as insight into the psyche of a desperate character give "Hole In Her Head" an eerie sense of the seedy side of life in troubled times. In contrast, the tender messages of love expressed in "All I Need Is A Wink From You," "Perfect Little Rose" and "Such A Romantic Night" expose Frank as a loving and caring soul, perpetually preparing for his big break as one who would love to love and be loved. Frank Smith is a songwriter. This is the fruit of his efforts; a cornucopia of emotional flavors, hues and textures that represent a reflection of life's harvest as seen by one insignificant player in the master's game. |
MP3s From "Cleveland, Georgia"
songs listed in bold include lyric sheets |
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Aliens among us, robot love and space travel are the dominate themes in this folk tribute to science fiction. Frank Smith thinks about aliens a lot. They seem to want to communicate with him, even though he's located as far from outer space as you can get in northern Georgia. Are they trying to help him, give advice or marry into the family? Perhaps their motives are far more sinister. They might want to put him in a specimen jar, have him for dinner or make a snack of his brains. How will ordinary humans live and work in the distant future? As humans adapt their technologies to their world, while adapting their lives to evolving technologies, how will life as we know it be affected by innovation? Will our future include holographic wives and robot girl friends? Will time machines and interstellar vehicles transform our understanding of space and time? "Kevin" explores a young man's fascination with quantum mechanics while "Won't You Let Me Fly Your UFO?" ponders a child-like desire to get behind the controls of a fast moving stellar transport. "You've Been Abducted," "While You Were Sleeping" and "Abducted Again" explore the pitfalls of allowing aliens to have their way with you. His relationship with "Bugman's daughter" perplexes our hero, wondering "should I get a truckload of pesticide or marry the girl? I can't decide." Reproducing your best girl for fun and profit is the subject of the "My Little Clone." The comical adventures described in "Brussel Sprouts From Mars" suggest a low budget Hollywood horror flick featuring an explosive, climactic finish. This collection of 21 science fiction folk songs could only have come from Frank Smith with, perhaps, a little collaboration from unseen forces. |
MP3s From "Abducted Again"
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