Queen Of Denmark

Absolute fantastic album from someone I've never heard of before. I'm ~250 songs in to the 1,001 albums book, and this is the first one where I stopped what I was doing to read the lyrics as they were sung. I'm so happy I discovered this album and this artist. Will definitely be listening to more. Sigourney Weaver and Jesus Hates Faggots are the best, but the rest of the songs have fantastic melodies and harmonies. Really well done.

Haiku tuesday: Prepared for weird crap; but novel, modern folk songs; Long live Denmark's Queen

i've said it before but its worth repeating. this is the type of wank that mark Chapman saved us from. if lennon had been left to his own devices and kept releasing music that wasn't filtered by the rest of the beatles this is what it would sound like. if this was the only music available in the world i would be melting out my eardrums right now. if the americans caught me and started to waterboard me this is the music that would make me crack. fuck me its bad. its really bad. like awful. to give it credit though its sent me on a roller coaster of emotions between hatred, confusion, sympathy, comedy and back to anger. if there was a 0 this cunt would be getting it. i'm fuming. nothing but sneks, its me and my baby from here on.

Bo Burnham meets Dark side of the moon

I mean jesus christ. Why is this in the list. It sounds like someone took a 17 year oldest first attempt at poetry and set it to the most generic background music possible. One of the songs is just a white guy saying slurs but it's "ironic and about jesus" or whatever so its fine. If I could give this less than 1 star I would

Originally I thought this was going to hit the same vibe as Joni Mitchell, Fred Neil and Tracy Chapman for me, where I could appreciate the lyrics but the music wouldn't move me. But I feel like the record slowly evolved and became catchier with each passing song. Legit, it was like, gaining stars as the tracks went on. "Sigourney Weaver" slaps. A lot of tracks do.

Eurgh, it’s pretty boring and every song sounds like a bad version of a better song. Not for me at all.

Queen Of Denmark is a beautiful Grant/Midlake collab album that I grabbed on CD when I saw them all perform 10 years ago. The classic indie folk sound that he creates paints a picture from another time. I have always visualized his & Midlake's music as a backdrop for an underground home in the deep woods, in which animals and humans coexist and speak the same language, much like a Colin Meloy book. Queen Of Denmark hits all the modern indie folk marks with stellar storytelling, diverse instrumentation (flutes, keys, & strings), tons of humor, catchy grooves, and endearing ballads. Forgot how much HUMOR :) Chicken Bones & Silver Platter Club are delightful musically, but lyrically produce plenty of smiles & chuckles. And of course, Outer Space and Jesus Hates Faggots are my favs for their imagery and messages of true love.

This was *not* what I expected. A little OK Computer, a little Joy Division. I need a few more listens, but I think I'm gonna love this album.

How to lift a relentlessly solemn romantic ballad? How about "Baby, you're where dreams go to die / And I regret the day your lovely carcass caught my eye." Sumptuous padded drums and baroque piano runs also help. Okay, so I'm just describing the gorgeous Where the Dreams Go To Die. Outside of that, Grant proves himself a songwriting ten-ringer again and again, serving up brilliance from the higher echelons of the Fulcrum in the order of chrous conceits that cycle through the names of different famous actress to describe how he feels (Sigourney Weaver), lyrics so prosaic they turn poetic (Queen of Denmark), some kind of Scissor Sisters pastiche (Chicken Bones), birthright circus-clowning (Silver Platter Club), I'm-so-good-at-this-I-can-say-anything home truths (Jc Hates Faggots), and nihilist satire (That's the Good News). He doesn't kid like Stephen Merrit, rock like Lou, or dance like Tennant-Lowe, but he finds a space between all three. To finish, here's one of the many magnificent runs from the kiss off title track. This review is already too long, but then again, so is the album. And as Grant shows us, if you got it, flaunt it. "It was this 'us and them' shit that did me in / You tell me that my life is based upon a lie / I casually mention that I pissed in your coffee / I hope you know that all I want from you is sex / To be with someone that looks smashing in athletic wear."

I loved this album. Weird and synthy and completely unexpected. Need to spend more time with the lyrics but the songs remind me a little of They Might Be Giants, Jonathon Coulton, and Harry Nilsson

Enjoyable. Mix of Bowie, Father John Misty, Beatles, Pink Floyd

Very cool, almost pink floydy like synths

This sucked. It was like middle-school affirmation poetry set to forgettable music. Dude, try some subtlety. Try some metaphor. Try some allegory. Try anything that you might have learned in 8th grade English. Reciting your feelings with an echo and backed by some dreamy guitar does not an artist make. Look, there are a lot of artists out there who can A) say everything you're trying to say; and B) actually make music that people want to listen to, and that can work on several different levels. Take my girl T-Swift, for instance. Is that pop-infused fun that can be belted out while driving down the highway? A statement on late 20s angst and growing up? YES! It's both! See, that wasn't so hard! Or actually, maybe it was. Maybe that's why there's only one Tay-Tay and about a 1000 of these guys roaming the college bars in the early 2000s. Another lesson that being "edgy" takes talent - just whispering a bunch of shit doesn't make you edgy. It just makes you quiet and forgettable. Although a bonus 1/2 point for frequent mentions of planets (I guess Marz with a 'z' is "Edgy-Mars"?).

Best new (to me) music I've heard in ages.

Well that was, different.

Lovely John and lovely Midlake. Lovely electro-pop at the end.

What an unlistenable piece of garbage. What idiot added this to the list?

This shit sucked

I rolled my eyes when this album first started but by the end I was fully enjoying it. Aside from sparks this is one of the more truly unique albums I’ve had. John’s folk voice singing Weird Al but edgy lyrics in a indie rock/pop album was a really interesting combination. All of the songs were good but sigourney weaver, jesus hates faggots, and the last couple songs really stood out

Wow, how did I miss this guy? Really liked this album, guys got a real distinct sound, kinda gothy and synthy. Like the lyric work too, didn't seem to take himself too seriously

Don't know this at all so first time of listening. Initial thoughts are why haven't I heard this before! Great songs and a lovely voice. The story behind the album is great too. Superfans helping out their idol! Some lovely songs and he has a lovely tone to his voice. The lyrics are poignant and heart rending at times. Absolutely love it. Highlights "Where Dreams Go To Die" "Marz" "Sigourney Weaver" "Jesus Hates Faggots" "Outer Space" "Caramel" and "Queen Of Denmark". In Fact I don't think there is a bad song on the album. Wow that's a great album and rightfully placed on this list in my opinion. Love it so much I bought it for my collection.

Wrote a review and lost it by mistake. It sounds a bit like Queen meets Sea Change Era Beck meets musical theatre at times. Not Zappa-like at all as some reviewers seem to comment. It's kind of morose and grim as it progresses but I don't hate that at all. There's also a very Muse/emo harmonic piano meeting depressed lyrics with strong vocals. It is, above all else, beautiful. That's the Good News gets real weird real quick with a bizarre German accent that I think is supposed to resemble Kraftwerk? It's also kind of like the I need Compliments song. That said.... it fucking slaps. Supernatural Defribulator continues this theme with an Electric-Six style electo-pop mix. Highs - Chicken Bone, Queen of Denmark, That's the Good News, Supernatural Defribulator.

Classic Rock? Folk Rock? Pudding Rock? I liked it!

TC and Honeybear reached out and grabbed me. Where Dreams Go To Die has awesome lyrics and an uncomplicated soundscape to drive the focus on the lyrics. great tune. Then right on its heels Sigourney Weaver just comes in with the silliest lyrics. This album kicks ass.

Amazing lyrics.. Good laugh when high

Boy, this one was a bit of a rollercoaster. It's a collab with Midlake and they're amazing talents so it sounds great. But there are several problematic things with this album. Grant's lyrics are often just ridiculous and out of synch with his delivery. The song "Sigourney Weaver" has a line that goes, "I feel like Winona Rider in that one movie about vampires. She never got the accent right and neither did that one guy." And the song "Chicken Bones" is just utterly ridiculous. On top of that, several bits of music are directly bitten from other artists. "Where Dreams Go To Die" hinges on the musical hook from "Across The Universe" by The Beatles and it just goes downhill from there. Which is a shame because it's a good listen ... until you start to really listen.

You're overreaching.

This album runs on “guy who loves the Beatles” energy, which doesn’t really grab me at all. It’s not like it’s BAD, it’s just pretty well-treaded territory and not particularly interesting or engaging to me. Usually an album like this is very lyrics-first but those weren’t even super interesting (except releasing a flurry of slurs towards the end). Def in the 2 star range, which for me is “not going to ever seek it out but I’m not going out of my way to turn it off if it’s playing somewhere”

Did a child write these songs? Those were the stupidest lyrics I think Ive ever heard. This is bad music.

I've never heard of him before but this album really spoke to me. He has a gorgeous voice and the instrumentation here is lush and beautiful. The lyrics are the kind of wry, witty observational humor that I love too.

Didn't know what to expect. I liked this a lot!

Wow, absolutely fantastic. First 5 I've given to a fresh album on this list.

The track Sigourney Weaver fukkin rocks.

What even is this? Is it folk? Pop? Rock? I finally figured it out when I got to track 5, “Chicken Bones”… John Grant is They Might Be Giants. Or close enough. Fan-blanking-tactic lyrics. Fun music. Great vocals. I’ll be spinning this one again.

This album is the diary of person who has faced alienation his entire life. And the songs bring those emotions to life in a fantastic piece of work.

Lovely!

This album was really interesting, and had a really varied sound. I could have pinned individual songs as being from like 4 different decades. Everything is well-crafted. It's probably not an album that I'm going to come back to because its not particularly my genre, but it's really good for what it is 4/5

What a surprise! I actually really enjoyed this despite going into having no idea who John Grant is, and having read some not so flattering reviews on here. Queen Of Denmark was a breath of fresh air - the lyrics are pretty wild in places, I took them as parodies and social commentary, and as such had a great time listening to this album! The album takes you in all kinds of directions both musically and lyrically - weird and kind of wonderful.

The tone of this album is insane. It goes from melancholy sadness to joking about Ripley killing xenonorphs to spewing slurs (I get the point but man that is quite a set of sentences). The bizarre New Orleans parade instrumentation in “Silver Platter Club” is comical, but is it supposed to be? That’s what I don’t get about this album. Musically it’s actually kinda great. I was prepared to hate this but the singing and playing is really excellent and the composition is fun. The lyrics go from normal lyrics to teenage poetry, but again that might be intentional. This is a weird but good album. I wouldn’t turn it off if it was on.

I agree with Charlie completely on this— a surprise album that has lots of family resemblance to a writing style that quickly got canonized in Father John Misty, Jonathan Coulton, etc— and one which I still can see writers today using liberally— this deadpan, literal, referential style which never leaves character. Feels like it’s 50% of the way to being a Lonely Island song, but it stops short of cracking a smile. I’m lukewarm to that kind of thing generally, but this writing feels less abrasive and more truly depressed than those other examples. And it’s just pleasant to listen to. I’m happy I got introduced to this, absolutely. I remember Midlake! They did a serviceable job, nothing exceptional. I’m glad this exists, 3/5

A good album if you are feeling too happy and want that to change

A few surprising gems in the latter half.

I think that rampant homophobia, the christian theocracy and general bigotry is a huge problem not just in the US, but world-wide. I don't doubt Mr. Grant had a tough time being gay growing up, but his garrulous use of slurs that don't apply to him comes off like a vapid suburban teen and the music suffers for it. There's something so frustrating about a white man using the N-word like this. It's so tone deaf and insipid. It's lazy. If you want to shock people, learn word play, don't just rattle off a string of slurs. I can see how this music would appeal to some folks, but I just can't looks past the painfully simple, skin deep musicality. This music borrows a little too much from the music that inspired it. Entire riffs and motifs are pulled from other songs 30 years prior. I think my major problem with music from the last couple decades on this list is a lack of measurable impact they have on music today. This music has already aged fairly poorly, it's not classic at all. Are there bands out there today citing this album as being seminal for them? Perhaps there are, and I'm just not clued in. Very possible.

2 Sterne, weil ich bei ca. 2 Liedern nicht fast eingeschlafen bin

cant stand his voice + the lyrics are awful, he’s trying to be poetic or funny (“I feel just like Winona Ryder / In that movie about vampires / And she couldn’t get the accent right / Neither could that other guy”) but its just cringy

This entire album feels predictable in its melodies and lazy in its lyrics. Like not in a guilty pleasure bumblegum pop way. In a guy doesn’t realize he isn’t all that deep way. In a guy doesn’t realize he has written a parody song of a type of guy way. You can’t just lean on the subject of your confessional folk pop album and not follow it up with any talent. I was willing to give this a 2 bc at least some of it sounds pretty but then he just said a bunch of slurs for no real reason.

This guy is hyped to shit on UK radio, and I've never figured out why. The Midlake connection also piqued my interest. Unfortunately... solid 2 until the 5th track which is godawful and it only gets worse from there; a real shitshow unfurls. Good voice, sure, but the whole "quirky tortured soul" shtick only works if you have a few songs to back it up, otherwise it's just boring and embarrassing; the sub-Eagles production values don't help either (I feel similarly about Rufus Wainwright). For a song that uses his vocal skills for good, check out "Kindling" with Elbow (believe it or not). Re: Midlake - proves once again that Tim Smith had all the talent. His new(er) band "Harp" continue his effective Fairport simulacrum, with my approval. John Grant is another example of "Fun Lovin' Criminals" syndrome: utter turds that can't get arrested in the US having to scrape a living in the UK assisted by inscrutably sycophantic local media As a wiser and wittier man than I said on this website: "This is the type of wank that Mark Chapman saved us from". Amen brother

Man, I've got better ways to spend a Saturday than listening to this.

Seeing the album come up on my list, I was surprised to find an offering that I'd never heard of before. The first track was god musically, but I was surprised by the casual vocals and vague story. And that was about as good as the record got. Each track seemed like Grant roughed out his lyrics as he wrote, but never got any further. Like Ryan Adams' Gold the other day, I couldn't believe this made the list. Attempts at wit fell flat or were just puerile - not everyone can be Sparks. In the end I'm glad to have heard the album - often, we musicians overthink our writing and self-edit because it's not good enough. Apparently, some artists can just wing it and have their albums recommended as "must listen". I don't know anything about the rest of Grant's catalogue, but I'll pass.

Hm, konnte mich nicht darauf einlassen.

John Grant is like Father John Misty’s angry gay cousin. I’d probably listened to this album one time a long time ago and wanted to revisit it. His album Pale Green Ghosts was one of my favorites from 2013 (one of the best years this century for albums), and Queen of Denmark was one of the highest rated from 2010. For good reason. It’s a spectacular album: lyrically angry, funny, and evocative and musically varied, dense, and beautiful. It is one of the more psychedelic indie rock albums of the early 2010’s. John’s vocals are fantastic throughout, perhaps not for everyone but I think he sounds great. I mentioned Father John Misty because this album reminds me so much of FJM’s 2015 album I Love You, Honeybear, which I listed as my 3rd favorite album of the decade (after Jason Isbell’s Southeastern and Kendrick Lamar’s good kid, M.A.A.D city). I think FJM must have been inspired by this album, by the same muse if not directly.

I liked it 💗

Inventive, funny and utterly heartbreaking. This is one of the best albums I've heard in a long time and I had no idea who this guy was before today. I expected the worst when I saw the strange cover and started the first track, and let it wash away in the background while I worked. But it soon caught my ear and I had to start over on headphones and engage fully once I realised I might have a real gem on my hands. There's a special rung in hell reserved for people who waste good loose-leaf tea. But I brewed up, poured a pot and then got entirely distracted by the lyrics of song after song, meanwhile enrobed in a beautiful combination of catchy melodies, creative instrumental fills and moments of inspired genius. My tea was stewed and luke-warm by the time I remembered to drink it. But it was totally worth it to discover John Grant. Fantastic stuff.

Perfect album.

I loved this. It feels like 60s and 70s folk pop made modern — even got some musical theater vibes in some parts. Whatever it is, John Grant’s voice is gorgeously listenable. This is one of the rare times in this project where the entire album of an artist I’ve never heard before gets added to my circulation.

Geggjað

Algjört meistaraverk. Ekki eitt leiðinlegt lag og textarnir frábært. Innflytjendur eru nefnilega ekki svo slæmir.

Father john misty vibes

5-

This is excellent. There's a lot of influences on here and the product is truly indie, it's psychadelic, electronic, folky, synthy, and the songwriting is distinct and surprising. The product feels personal and absurd. There's a beatles quality in that its psychadelic without the melt your face guitar. It reminded me a bit of the Todd Rundren album. There's an obvious 2010ness to this album bringing up the hypocrisy of the church but I think it's done creatively and doesn't bring down the sound. I'll probably be listening to this all weekend.

Ein wunderschönes Album mit wunderschönen Melodien mit wunderschönen Arrangements. Wunderschön.

p929. 2010. 5 stars. Fabulous collection of songs covering desire, self loathing and broken relationships. Great voice, sharp lyrics and stripped down production. And the title track is possibly the greatest breakup song ever written.

10 out of 10 for sad bastard music.

I remember first hearing "Marz" via the Midlake connection and instantly LOVING this. Sure, there was a lot of acoustic folk around at the time, but this, along with Midlake themselves and Fleet Foxes was elite. Probably a four, but it gets a bonus star for use of "Jc hates faggots" as a track title

Really liked this.

mi è piaciuto molto, non me l'aspettavo. sicuramente da approfondire altri suoi progetti

My favorite thing I’ve heard from this project so far (about 250 albums). The lyrics are quirky and darkly humorous and poetic and touching. The instrumentations range from folksy guitars to Beatlesque piano to synths, and they’re all incredible. Just brilliant in every way.

Somehow it sounds stripped down a little bit, probably due to the folk backing band, but at the same time sounds theatrical and complex. Can’t help but relate it to Sufjan Stevens but maybe it’s just my Neanderthal brain thinking gay dudes make similar music. My gay brother and BIL have terrible taste in music though so I don’t know, unsolved mystery I guess. Really good album.

Great!

Favorite Tracks: Sigourney Weaver Marz Queen of Denmark

Albums like this is why I continue with the list: Never heard of this guy, and looking at the album art, I had already concluded that I wouldn’t like it. But I love it Mix Bowie with America, Rufus Wainwright, and Great Lakes Swimmers and you have this compelling pop/singer-songwriter album.

Amazing

Jueves de últimos fríos en Argentina y toca hoy artista desconocido. Tranquilo, marida muy bien con éste clima y con las mañanas. La voz de John Grant es relajada y dulce y, sumada a los arreglos musicales, se vuelve poderosísima. Se cuelan sonidos Beatles ("Silver Platter Club") y hacen que todo se vuelva más hermoso. Gran hallazgo.

Debut de John Grant. Un tipo que tanto en solitario como con los injustamente olvidados Czars merecen un lugar privilegiado en cualquier discoqueta. Tuvo desde su publicación una recepción extraordinaria de crítica, que no de repercusión en ventas ni reproducciones. Uno de los mejores álbumes de 2010, y los hubo muy buenos: The Black keys- Brothers, Best Coast- Crazy for you, Joanna Newson- Have one on me, Twin Shadow- Forget, Tracey Thorn- Love and its opposite, Caribou- Swim, Vampire weekend- Contra, Crystal Castles- Crystal Castles, Sufjan Stevens- The age of Adz, Kanye West- My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, The National - High Violet, Delorean - Subiza, LCD Soundsystem -This Is Happening, The Drums - The Drums, Arcade Fire -The Suburbs, Janelle Monáe - The Archandroid, Deerhunter -Halcyon Digest, Beach House - Teen Dream, Radio Dept. -Clinging to a Scheme, Belle and Sebastian- Write about love, Lana del rey- Lana del rey, Sade- Soldier of love, MGMT - Congratulations, Band of horses- Infinite arms, Superchunk- Majesty Shredding, Elton John and Leon Russell- The union...

I really really liked this! I've never heard of this guy before but his music was v interesting (and he has a lot of songs about being gay)

Loved it

Interesting album. Great distillation of the feelings of alienation and stress that come with addiction and coming out. This is what Father John Misty wants to sound like. Rye, cheeky lyrics that cut and orchestration that makes you stop what you are doing to listen.

Me sonaba Marz. Me ha gustado mucho. Indie folksoft rock.

Brilliant. I hadn't listened to this, though had listened to some other John Grant. There are some exquisite lyrics in this album...

I just enjoyed this album a lot. It was cool how the title track at the end had parts that were way more intense than the rest of the album, and it the ninth song was an interesting juxtaposition of music and lyrics. But I’m just giving it five stars because of the enjoyment factor.

Love it

How have I never heard of John Grant? I found this album to be incredible! From the first song you can tell John Grant is gay and he has something tortured inside him trying to come out. There is a lot of humor in this album but also a lot of self-deprecation, two of my favorite things but not always combined well to make good music. But thankfully John Grant teamed up with Midlake for this album and the music is as beautiful and interesting as the lyrics. Come to find out I have many more John Grant albums to discover and I plan to one day, but I am thankful this was thrown at me because it was a beautiful little surprise.

5/30/24. Very surprising gem that came across today! Very personal and emotional songs, catchy but not cliche. Instrumentation and lyrics are fantastic. Might have a new favorite for the next couple weeks.

Day 9 of listening to 1001 albums, one day at a time. John Grant is one of the most creative writers I’ve have ever listened to. This album is a lot of things but every single song has a way to captivate you and so many ways. A lot of this album is talking about his homosexuality and his relationships which feel very touching and personal. But also understanding the context of this album and its John trying to understand himself after leaving his band and thoughts of suicide. This album bounces around a lot but I think that is why it’s so great it not exactly a project that needs to be all one idea and that’s what makes it perfect.

Really unique sound.

This is yet another reason why I am doing this 1001 albums challenge. On paper, I should avoid like the plague, with echos of Supertramp and all that 70"s softy shit. But this is extraordinary in it's mellow vibe and beautiful tunes. All songs are of a very hogh quality, but if i jad to pick a couple of standouts, then 'Marz' and 'Leopard and Lamb'. I love his voice. A 5 star surprise.

4.8 - I always liked a few John Grant songs, but listening to the whole album, what a journey! I thought it was stunning and have been thinking about it loads since I listened to it last week. Will be listening to more, love his voice as well.

Really had a great time with this, listened through twice. Fave Tracks: TC & Honeybear, Marz, Where The Dreams Go to Die, Sigourney Weaver, JC Hates Faggots, Queen of Denmark, That's the Good News 4.7/5

This album has an ineffable feel of not giving a shit. Freed from expectations of being "great", Grant has created an album that's distinctly good. It's personal. It's funny. It's serious. There's a German techno parody dropped in the middle of it...

Well this album was quite a lovely surprise. Not knowing of him, I had no idea what to expect, and really got into it. Quite a journey of heartache and love and quirk and even Sigourney. So beautiful in its emotion and its weirdness, I loved it!

Sounds old school af. Catchy hooks and choruses that sneak up behind you with a small rock and hit you in the head!

Lovely

Loved this - had only heard a couple of tracks before so it was a real treat. The vocals are gorgeous and melodic, and the lyrics mix some deeply personal and vulnerable topics with... space? It's weird but it works. The instrumentation is also a nice blend of folky sounds with electronica and more a psychedelic style, evoking influences from The Beatles to Bon Iver. Highlights: JC Hates Faggots, Outer Space, Sigourney Weaver, Silver Platter Club.

The description of John Grants music on Spotify immediately made me feel apprehensive about listening to this album. It did not sound appealing at all. About halfway through the second song I was absolutely hooked and in love. This album is a true masterpiece

I had never heard of John Grant before and I love this. I'm a fan of Harry Nilsson and Father John Misty and this fits squarely into that niche of grand pop/psychedelic folk rock with real lyrics that go from achingly raw to bitingly funny in a blink.

A really good Album, really like the style of all of the songs, they all have a good tune/beat to them. I liked Tc & Honeybear and Where Dreams Go To Die, Sigourney Weaver a lot. Chicken Bones was also really catchy. But my favorite was Queen Of Denmark it's really good and has a nice melancholy feel to it.

This was recommended right after I'd gotten zooted. Ideal.

This is what I'm here for. Discovering artists with unique sounds that transcendent genre and defy musical conventions

This album took me completely by surprise. I didn't listen super attentive, so the first song sounded like it was going to be some sort of pretentious love album. But it was a really wild ride, lots of swearing, and maybe even some low-key slander-like - or at least quite offensive - comments regarding certain topics. Love it! It's not often that I comment about lyrics, but that definitely is the most interesting part of this album. So many weird (in a good way) songs with various themes and wordplays going on. The cool part is that it's not only the lyrics that are interesting; the songs also contain memorable and catchy melodies, ranging from slower more mellow acoustic songs to more up-tempo ones with some electronic elements. Overall this was a very fun record to listen to and I'm glad I heard it. I'm going to go out on a limb and give it a weak 5 because we've had very few 5s in general, and I think this record really stands out among the crowd and deserves some recognition.