Although traces of soul, rock, folk, gospel, blues and country can be found througout the record, the songs go well beyond the normally accepted boundaries of "pop music". Avant-garde and classical influences pervade Ackles's elaborate arrangements, and his background in musical theatre casts its shadow over everything. But even though it's complex music it's very melodic and so indescriably beautiful. It's such a tradegy that this record is so forgotten (and his other albums for that matter).

I'd put "American Gothic" in the same league as "Pet Sounds", "Revolver" and "Astral Weeks". Get this record today and be changed forever!


Superb American Artistry   May 9, 2004
 9 out of 9 found this review helpful

One of the two brilliant albums the late David Ackles produced in the 1970s (the other being "Five & Dime" on Columbia, just released on CD in Oct 2004 by Raven), "American Gothic" offers some of the most insightful, touching, and humorous songs of the past 40 years. Love songs don't get any better than "Love's Enough" or "One Night Stand." "Waiting for the Moving Van" really captures the heartbreak of divorce. " Oh, California!" and "Blues for Billy Whitecloud" foreshadow the satire of "Surf's Down" on "Five & Dime." "American Gothic" and "Ballad of the Ship of State" are as timely today was they were during the Viet Nam War. It's a shame that "American Gothic" has not been more widely heard; it's a great shame that Mr. Ackles died of cancer on March 2, 1999.


Brilliant and tough to pigeonhole   October 19, 2003
 8 out of 8 found this review helpful

No wonder people scratched their heads over this one back in the early '70s. Ackles' musical sources are mostly non-rock - Jacques Brel, Brecht-Weill, Aaron Copland, and Charles Ives, among others - while lyric-wise he explores the same American-grotesque territory mapped out by Hawthorne, Melville, and Poe. And it's GREAT - moving, funny, creepy, inspiring, haunting by turns. And very American in its concerns, its cranky individualism, and its insistence on plundering good ideas wherever they may be found.


to die for...   May 14, 2004
 4 out of 5 found this review helpful

Utterly wonderful. If Sinatra had only heard Love`s Enough, he would certainly have recorded it, had a huge hit, and earnt Mr Ackles some richly deserved dosh.
This man was a genius. Don`t forget him. Along with Tims Hardin & Buckley he wrote & sang songs to die for.


Folk Opera   July 17, 2005
 2 out of 2 found this review helpful

One of a kind record. Lyrically brilliant! David Ackles' portrait of life will captivate you from the moment you begin to listen. His musical influences are from an era seldom heard in contemporary music. How refreshing!