Russell Crowe and The Ordinary Fear Of God
Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2006 6:16 pm

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You’ve heard about Russell Crowe’s music. But have you actually listened to it?

Crowe’s new album, 'My Hand, My Heart', should single-handedly stop his music career being a punch line. Long respected amongst song writers with fans as diverse as Stevie Van Zandt and Nick Cave, this assured and confident record deserves a listen.

Filled with songs so poignant and personal, music is where Russell Crowe gets to tell his own stories, not his rather famous day-job where he brings other people’s stories to life.

His first solo release after years with Thirty Odd Foot of Grunts, Crowe’s album (co-written & produced by Alan Doyle from Canadian band Great Big Sea) leaves the, well, grunt behind.

“I turned down the white noise that can develop in a band with a 20 year history,” Crowe says, “and allowed myself, in the studio, to concentrate on the simple tasks of composition and singing, not being a den mother, designated driver, referee, father confessor or travel agent as my job in the band seemed to include.”

Crowe’s lyrics paint visual pictures that capture more than the media soundbites that try to define him: “my life’s a suitcase, that’s never been closed” (Weight of a Man, an ode to Crowe’s wife Danielle Spencer) “I am only as I am. no smoke and mirrors, no sleight of hand” from Worst in the World to the album’s pocket-sized epic Raewyn, a startling collision of love and life which ends with the line “a son and a father should always be talking.”

It’s a song that charmed both Billy Bragg (one of Crowe’s heroes) who said Crowe “managed to evoke the universal nature of experience by neatly linking the generations” and Sting, who noted the song was a “royal gift” to his son Charlie.

Crowe’s passion for the record leaps from the speakers, he talks of “writing unrestricted, talking from my heart and mind simultaneously about things that are important to me, right now, in this time of my life, not when I was younger nor dare I say it less world weary, but now as a 41 year old father/husband/man.”

“The album touches on varying subjects: my beautiful wife, past relationships, my son, people I know, family tragedy, immigrant cane cutters, vilification, a choral requiem for a dead friend, my contribution to the genre of drinking songs (the title track), optimism and perspective. It is without doubt the most satisfying record I’ve ever made “

Bypassing the usual record company route, Crowe has cut out the middleman and released his first solo album, My hand, My heart, solely through the internet – via sanity.com.au or itunes.com. This release has recently had two new songs added, “Testify” and “Breathless”, currently only for Australian release.

“It’s amazing to think that two or three weeks after the album was finished it was immediately available all around the world,” Crowe remarks. “No endless deal conversations with record companies, no frustrating distribution problems – we went to number 1 in Spain straight away, Elvis Presley was number 4 that day. We printed that chart out - I might have to get it framed...”
“Sure we would like to find a record company, but they have to be as committed and passionate as we are, otherwise, what is the point?”

As Russell is fond of saying “music is it’s own reward.” Reward yourself and listen without prejudice.
Does the band have a name?
“Not quite yet, look don’t ask me. I come up with crap band names,” Thirty Odd Foot Of Grunts” I have to take responsibility for…my choice so far is” The Ordinary Fear Of God” that way we don’t have to re-spray the road cases”

After two very successful shows earlier in the year showcasing tracks from My hand, My heart and a sell out concert in Le Thor in France, the band return to the stage to start their run of shows, starting 24th November 2005, right through to the end of January 2006.

"Russell is well known as a World Class performer.~ Most don't realise the gift he has as a songwriter.~ These shows will highlight both.~ I can't wait.” Alan Doyle

Some of the musicians scheduled to perform:

Dave Kelly – (TOFOG) Drums
Stewart Kirwan – (TOFOG) Trumpet
Dean Cochran – (TOFOG) Guitar
Bones Hillman – (Midnight Oil) Bass
Stuart Hunter – (Silverchair) Piano and Hammond

RE: Russell Crowe and The Ordinary Fear Of God
Posted: Tue May 1, 2007 10:41 pm

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