"Gandalf Murphy & the Slambovian Circus of Dreams is simply one of the finest American bands out there on the road."
All Music Guide
"Super and Natural... I love this band!"
Gene Shay
WXPN FM - Philadelphia
"Whenever I watch The Circus it reminds me to write and perform with my whole heart and soul."
Dar Williams
"A truly remarkable record. I couldn't believe how good it is. Had they made a single, it would be hailed as a classic."
Bruce Warren, PD
WXPN FM - Philadelphia
"Mightily impressive and hugely original... 'tis truly an epic soundtrack."
Maverick Magazine - UK
"Casting a wide net, their music energizes anyone who hears it."
Relix Magazine
"My biggest surprise of the weekend. I was instantly mesmerized. In a word, they are MAGNIFICENT!".
Fern MacDonald
Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Review
"This band is at once completely original and entirely familiar. A truly magical experience even if you're just having a conversation with them. It's been a privilege to play their special brand of music on the air. All hail the Circus of Dreams!"
Spider Glenn
Vermont Radio Personality/ WNTI NJ
"Flapjacks from the Sky' abounds with personality, humor, honesty, goodness and grace, a human warmth brought on by connection to the larger whole and a higher spirit."
Mike Jurkovic
Chronogram
"(Flapjacks is) a sustained moment of revelation... A quest for the real gold, the kind that can't be bought or sold. Life changing... a real masterpiece."
Pete & Maura Kennedy
The Kennedys
"This band is a riveting, mesmerizing, crazy, amazing machine of music that gives you chills both through the playing of their eclectic musical devices, as well as through their spiritually evoking lyrical content."
Bottomline NYC Concert Review, Chronogram
"Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams kick some mean hillbilly butt beside Joziah's wry hangdog lead."
Mari McAvenia
Martha's Vineyard Times
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Mixx Magazine
March 2000
The Best Albums of 1999 That You Probably Haven't Heard Of
(But Should Have)
Gandalf Murphy And The Slambovian Circus Of Dreams
A Good Thief Tips His Hat (Slambovian Records)
By STEVE BORNSTEIN
.These zanies remind me of The Band's down home funky folk. They too holed up in upstate New York, recording this intriguing album in their attic (not the basement). But mostly it's the way they use folk instruments like accordion, mandolin, banjo, and harmonica to make rock music. Led by songwriter Joziah Longo, this foursome fill an hour with mysterious musings, murky mythologizing, and madcap mayhem. Who is Gandalf Murphy? What is the Circus Of Dreams? Where the hell is Slambovia? These remain unanswered, but it hardly matters - the real fun is just playing along. There are certainly words of wisdom mixed in with the mysteries. "Radio" laments the days when the medium was magical, before mass marketing dominated the airwaves - "little box that translates air, you speak to us from everywhere." They show they can play it straight too, as in "My Girl", a sprightly appreciation of his beloved. They cleverly interpolate snippets from radio appearances (including WFUV's Meg Griffin) to add to the circus atmosphere.
In one brief interview segment, Joziah describes their music as "punk-classical-hillbilly-Floyd." That's probably more accurate than anything I might say. There is a conspiratorial air to the proceedings, as if we are in on a joke they are playing on the music industry - if we play it they will come.
Other "Best of 1999" Albums included:
Jonatha Brook - Live
Greg Brown - Solid Heart
Paula Cole - Amen
Marshall Crenshaw - Number 447
Ani DiFranco - Up Up Up Up Up Up
Stacey Earle - Simple Gearle
Emmylou Harris - Spyboy
John Sebastian And The J Band - Chasin' Gus' Ghost
Patty Larkin - A Go Go
Los Lobos - This Time
Aimee Mann - Magnolia Soundtrack
Mavericks - Trampoline
Sarah McLachlan - Mirrorball
Geoff Muldar - The Secret Handshake
Beth Orton - Central Reservation
Kim Richey - Glimmer
Paul Richell and Annie Raines - Moving To The Country
Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris - Western Wall/The Tucson Sessions Karen Savoca - Here We Go
Chris Smither - Drive You Home Again
Richard Thompson - Mock Tudor
Loudon Wainwright III - Social Studies
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"Lively songs that are imbued with mystical stirrings."
New York Times
"This band is a wonderful surprise - great songs and a whole lotta heart."
Meg Griffin
WFUV/Sirius Radio
"I have rarely seen new groups crash upon the scene with as much impact as this group has. This here record is one big winner in my book."
George Fletcher
Rhythm & News Magazine
"Joziah is an awesome songwriter."
Garth Hudson
The Band
"Like Colorado's Sixteen Horsepower, The Circus reaches back for elements of early American music and makes it rock."
Elisa Flynn
Fairfield County Weekly
"Gandalf Murphy and the SCOD is really something special. This is a band that has all the components necessary to be successful in music - (all that presentation stuff, image, etc.) with the most important ingredient nailed solid... sincere, fresh, accomplished, and memorable music."
EarBuzz.com
"This band is a knockout... they are as fascinating to watch as they are to hear."
Roger Straub
The Trumpeter
"One of the most charismatic talents to emerge from New York's creative community."
Guitar Magazine
"They're not just a band. That's something like saying the Bible is just a book."
Terri Lagerstedt
Westchester County Weekly
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