Wikipedia

The Acoustic Motorbike

The Acoustic Motorbike is the second album by the Irish musician Luka Bloom, released in 1992.[2][3] Its title refers to a joke made by Moore, comparing himself to the "Harley Davidson" that is Eddie Van Halen.[4]

The Acoustic Motorbike
Studio album by
Luka Bloom
Released1992
StudioSTS Studios, Dublin
GenreFolk
LabelReprise[1]
ProducerPaul Barrett
Luka Bloom chronology
Riverside
(1990) 		The Acoustic Motorbike
(1992) 		Turf
(1994)

Production

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Recorded in Dublin, the album was produced by Paul Barrett.[5][6] It includes cover versions of LL Cool J's "I Need Love" and Elvis Presley's "Can't Help Falling in Love".[7] Bloom's brother, Christy Moore, played on the album, as did members of Hothouse Flowers.[8][9]

Bloom used two acoustic guitars, named Rudy and Judy, on The Acoustic Motorbike, often in conjunction with effects pedals.[10] The title track is about bicycling through Ireland; "Listen to the Hoofbeat" is about the mistreatment of Native Americans.[11][12] Bloom rapped on a few of the album's songs.[13]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [14]
Calgary HeraldA[15]
Chicago Tribune    [16]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music     [17]
Entertainment WeeklyC+[18]
The Indianapolis Star    [13]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide     [9]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide     [19]

Trouser Press wrote that the album "leans towards fuller, band-oriented instrumentation ... but it's unfocused, not entirely abandoning Riverside's simple melodicism but not forwarding that album's strengths, either."[6] The Washington Post thought that Bloom's "new songs boast a restraint and focus that serve his husky voice and high-energy guitar strumming much better than his earlier overblown epics."[8] The Indianapolis Star labeled The Acoustic Motorbike "bouncy and funny, and worth a few more listens."[13]

Entertainment Weekly opined that "Bloom’s most audacious move is a straight-faced cover of L.L. Cool J's rap ballad 'I Need Love', complete with gently thumping Celtic drum and fiddle... That it's the most striking cut on the album only serves to pinpoint Bloom's deficiencies."[18] Spin deemed the title track "an environmental-age 'Magic Bus', a one-chord novelty tune that at this point is Bloom's best chance for cult success."[20] The Calgary Herald concluded that "Bloom writes about the ridiculous exercise of living, openly confused at times, presuming nothing."[15] The Chicago Tribune panned the "self-absorbed musings about love and life."[16]

AllMusic wrote that, "while Bloom's second album expanded somewhat on his first record's stylistic range and maintained its urgency, it lacked the debut's exuberance."[14]

Track listing

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All tracks are written by Luka Bloom; except where noted.

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Mary Watches Everything" 4:10
2."You" 4:44
3."I Believe in You" 3:10
4."I Need Love"Bobby "Bobcat" Ervin, Darryl Pierce, Dwayne Simon, James Todd Smith, Steve Ett5:29
5."Exploring the Blue" 4:00
6."This Is Your Country" 3:49
7."The Acoustic Motorbike" 4:14
8."Can't Help Falling in Love"George David Weiss, Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore3:37
9."Bones" 2:12
10."Bridge of Sorrow" 3:43
11."Listen to the Hoofbeat" 3:04
12."Be Well" 4:16

Charts

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Chart (1992) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA Charts)[21] 39

References

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  1. ^ Tuber, Keith (Mar 1992). "The B Side". Orange Coast. Vol. 18, no. 3. pp. 122–123.
  2. ^ "Luka Bloom Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  3. ^ "Luka Bloom". MTV News. Archived from the original on January 18, 2022.
  4. ^ Azerrad, Michael (Mar 19, 1992). "Luka Bloom Doesn't Want to Be Just Another Boring Folkie". Rolling Stone. No. 626. p. 51.
  5. ^ "Album Reviews — The Acoustic Motorbike by Luka Bloom". Billboard. Vol. 104, no. 7. Feb 15, 1992. p. 47.
  6. ^ a b "Luka Bloom". Trouser Press. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  7. ^ Puterbaugh, Parke (Mar 1992). "Luka Bloom Takes a Ride — The Acoustic Motorbike by Luka Bloom". Stereo Review. Vol. 57, no. 3. p. 65.
  8. ^ a b "Bloom in Ireland on 'Motorbike'". The Washington Post. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  9. ^ a b MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 124.
  10. ^ Erskine, Evelyn (14 Mar 1992). "Irish folksinger a technical trail blazer". Ottawa Citizen. p. G3.
  11. ^ Fletcher, Tony (26 Jan 1992). "Bloom's New Song Cycle". Fanfare. Newsday. p. 17.
  12. ^ Washburn, Jim (28 Mar 1992). "The Talent of Luka Bloom Begins to Flower". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 2.
  13. ^ a b c Konz, Joe (28 Feb 1992). "Luka Bloom Acoustic Motorbike". The Indianapolis Star. p. D7.
  14. ^ a b "The Acoustic Motorbike". AllMusic.
  15. ^ a b Alberts, Sheldon (2 Feb 1992). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald. p. C4.
  16. ^ a b Van Matre, Lynn (26 Mar 1992). "Recordings". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 7.
  17. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 1. MUZE. p. 688.
  18. ^ a b "Acoustic Motorbike". Entertainment Weekly.
  19. ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 68.
  20. ^ Foege, Alec (Feb 1992). "Spins". Spin. Vol. 7, no. 11. p. 71.
  21. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 34.
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