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Paul Baribeau

Paul Baribeau (2005)
Plan-It-X Records

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Contributed by: DarrenMcLeod
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on July 3rd 2007

Paul Baribeau really shouldn’t get a three-star review from me. I realize this. I realize that if one was to rate this album based on some objective form of measurement, this album would probably rate on the low end of the scale. The songs are simple. The singing really isn’t that great. The similes in the lyrics read like those of a very imaginative tenth-grader. And yet, if you look at the score for this disc, you’ll see it did get three stars. Yes, despite full knowledge that this disc probably shouldn’t get such a rating, I still decided to award it such a score. And why?

Because that Paul Baribeau is one charming son of a bitch.

That’s really what it comes down to. Despite any flaws that one can find on this amateur singer/songwriter acoustic effort, it is the character of the singer himself that will win over the listener every time. I’ve never met him, never seen a picture or a live video of the guy, yet I can’t help but feeling as if he was my neighbour. I mean, if one is to believe the words he’s singing about, then the listener knows about almost every life experience of the guy, of every girl who ever broke his heart and the various addictions of his immediate family.

And even though you think a guy might be fairly derivative or limited in his approach when armed with just an acoustic guitar, Baribeau still manages to throw in some surprises. He opens up the disc with only a rhythmic tapping to back up his voice, and there are two other short a cappella tracks to be found on the CD, one in the middle, and one to close out the disc. Baribeau performs both slow and fast numbers with ease, allowing for a lot of variety in expression.

It’s hard to dislike such a raw and fun, albeit oftentimes quite depressing, disc like this. Whether singing about an ex-girlfriend making a skirt from an old tablecloth or about that old band whose record he lost, Baribeau’s honest and bare-bones approach to songwriting probably wouldn’t work as well for anyone else trying it, but somehow he manages to pull it off effortlessly.

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ifyoumakeit (September 24, 2007)

Paul Baribeau Videos at IYMI

"Brown Brown Brown" - at Stay True Paltz
http://www.ifyoumakeit.com/video/music/paul-baribeau

"C hristmas Lights" at STP
http://www.ifyoumakeit.com/video/music/paul-baribeau-2

ifyoumakeit (September 24, 2007)

maverick (July 7, 2007)

"Ink well and pen vs. a poorly drawn person in a hammock. I can totally see it."

Wow, I'm an idiot. I always thought this cover art was a pair of lips. I see the hammock now.

-Scott

ConsolationPrizefighter (July 5, 2007)

"the art looks like drive like jehu's "yank crime." just thought i'd point that out."

Ink well and pen vs. a poorly drawn person in a hammock. I can totally see it.

Anonymous (July 5, 2007)

the art looks like drive like jehu's "yank crime." just thought i'd point that out.

Anonymous (July 5, 2007)

If Scottl likes it then it must be good! Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Anonymous (July 5, 2007)

I always thought that fans of bands associated with plan-it-x were more intelligent. I don't know why I made this stupid assumption. The post below mine proves that I am wrong. Please use spell check if you're unsure about the spelling of a word.

Thanks.

Anonymous (July 5, 2007)

icapped2pac is such a stupid name. dude, i bet your about 17. when will you grow up? i guess once you get off your moms tit. paul has more talent then youll ever know. your life is shit, isnt it?

RiseAbove (July 5, 2007)

This album is incredible. I can't stress it enough. If you haven't heard it yet then do yourself a favor and pick this one up for $5 or so.

icapped2pac (July 4, 2007)

Fuck you and this. And Paul.

sweetsugarpezz (July 4, 2007)

while not a "perfect album", this is what punk is all about. this is damn fun listen. if paul comes through atlanta, he will surely get some of my cash money.

-sweetsugarpezz

Anonymous (July 3, 2007)

You love anything derivative and maudlin, don't you? So does your shit rag.

Go read Razorcake.

maverick (July 3, 2007)

Fuck, man. Five stars and then some. This album is fantastic, and he's even better live. I love Paul Baribeau.

-Scott

Anonymous (July 3, 2007)

this guy puts on an amazing show.
absolutley amazing.

baseball (July 3, 2007)

haven't heard any recorded output but his live show at the Fest last year was pretty damn enjoyable and laid back

Anonymous (July 3, 2007)

this should get 6 stars. why? for being such a punk rock album yet not sounding punk at all. every thing he puts out is outstanding, but only in the sense that this is heartfelt. i feel every song instead of hearing it. and unlike most acoustic crap this comes off as being very punk rock! thanks paul, i feel like we are bros , yet we never met.