JAMES IHA DOT ORG



 Menu

    Home
    Stats
    Gallery
    News Database
    Audio
    Video
    Songs
    Discography
    Tablatures
    Links
    Shop
    Site Info
    Contact
    Updated 2.13.05

 Affiliates

    JI Fanlisting
    Japanese JI Site
    BCorgan.com
    darcywretzky.org
    Hirock's Iha Site
    Nine - Iha Site
    Siva's Zwan Site

Link Us!



Users Online


Status: On Haitus
February 13, 1998, 12:00 am    [LICD Review] The Patriot Ledger

Source: The Patriot Ledger

CD reviews Fruitful solo debut from Pumpkin guitarist; [Run Of Paper Edition]
Mick Skidmore. The Patriot Ledger. Quincy, Mass.: Feb 13, 1998. pg. 19

LET IT COME DOWN, James Iha (Virgin)

The solo debut by James Iha, the Smashing Pumpkins guitarist, is a really pleasant surprise, and quite different from what one might expect given his raucous musings with the aforementioned band. The richly melodic opening cut "Be Strong Now" might make you think of '70s folk-rocker Al Stewart, though Iha has a decidedly more '90s feel, musically.

He also has a keen sense for melody and harmony. The emphasis is on finely crafted songs rather than flash, and Iha plays with taste and precision.

He creates some nice multi-layered textures, but overall the production is uncluttered, giving the album a warm and friendly ambiance. The extensive use of strings is particularly effective, especially on the Beatlesque "Silver String" and "Winter."

In "Sound of Love" the sweet pedal steel playing of Greg Leisz underscores Iha's plaintive vocal. A little more upbeat but equally rich in melody is "Beauty,' which has a jangling Byrds feel and an alluring hook as well as harmonies from Veruca Salt's Nina Gordon.

Also notable among the slew of artists helping Iha out is singer-songwriter Neal Casal.

Credit: Mick Skidmore