Everything Was Beautiful & Nothing Hurt

Description

Everything Was Beautiful & Nothing Hurt is the debut album by the American alternative rock/indierock band Breakfast with Amy, released on Narrowpath Records in 1990.

The band initially released an independent demo tape in 1987 featuring 3 songs (“Funeral”, “Ferris Wheel” and “Love Song”), recorded at Half Moon Studio by engineer Dan Bush. In 1988 the band released a professionally recorded demo tape (see side B of the Narrowpath release). In 1989, Breakfast with Amy was approached by Greg Sostrom of Narrowpath Records and subsequently signed by him in 1990. This led to the formal release of their studio album Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt. The album was recorded at Casbah studios in Fullerton, California during two sessions about a year apart. The A side featured new material recorded at the time the band signed with Narrowpath Records of Concord, California. It was produced by the legendary Chaz Ramierez known for his work in the Orange County New Wave and Punk scenes. The B side featured their first studio tracks (previously sold at concerts). After limited release through Narrowpath, the band signed with Michael Knott‘s Blonde Vinyl Records in 1991 who released the band’s sophomore full-length album, Dad, the same year.

Seldom does just saying the name of a band evoke a smile the way Breakfast With Amy does. Try it. See, you’re smiling, it’s contagious. I get this picture of Ms. Grant a la the American Express ad, sitting at the table with these post-folk/punk/psychedelic rockers and all I can think of to say is “Please, pass the waffles.”

This debut, actually recorded in early 1988, is a fun addition to the growing alternative music scene in Christian rock. Take «Cavewoman», its folk song ambiance encouraged by the oft repeated invitation “Won’t you come out and be born again?” Or, «Funeral», which proclaims the victory over death in the line “You don’t have to send me flowers.” Or the way Amy turns the traditional gospel ramble of «This Train» into a full-throttle rant. Also, don’t miss «Icky» and «Mr. Ed».

Musically Breakfast With Amy may be an amalgam of diverse new music stylings, that is impressive in its unique and consistent vision, but lyrically it is a rather direct and straight-forward proclamation of Biblical thought. Definitely tuned to weirder tastes, ‘Everything Was Beautiful & Nothing Hurt’ is nutritious enough to get me all the way through to dinner. Let’s hope a blue plate special of newer material isn’t two years in the future. [Brian Q. Newcomb, CCM, July 1990]

CD tracklist:

01. Icky – 4:31
02. Power – 4:11
03. Cave Woman – 5:56
04. This Train – 4:21
05. Mr. Ed – 2:48
06. Funeral – 3:40
07. Everything – 4:15
08. Ferris Wheel – 3:34
09. Abandoned House – 3:35
10. Social Studies – 4:09

Note: Released on both cassette and CD. Remastered and re-issued on Gray Dot Records in 1995 featuring new cover artwork as well as 3 bonus tracks: “Ferris Wheel” (Demo) – 9:07, “Love Song” (Demo) – 4:43, and “Funeral” (Demo) – 5:32.

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CREDITS. Produced by Breakfast with Amy and Greg Heil.

Musicians: David Koval (vocals, electric sitar, acoustic guitar), Caryn Colbert (guitar), Christopher Colbert (guitar), Edwin Wohler (bass), Tennesee Beans (Bass – tracks: 6-10), Paul Pelligrin (drums).