Track Listing

1. Coney
2. Darlin' Don't
3. She
4. Dead
5. Funny Hat
6. Bumper Cars
7. Scar
8. The Scheme
9. Now
10. Sleep
11. The Ground Beneath Your Feet
12. Saturday
13. San Francisco Blues
14. William Shatner's Dog

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5857 in Music
• Released on: 2007-09-10
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .21 pounds
• Running time: 46 minutes

CD Description
'Man On The Roof' is the second album from singer/songwriter Stephen Fretwell. Produced by Eli Janney (Ryan Adams, Seafood, Girls Against Boys) the album sees Fretwell mature as asongwriter while managing to continue with the Brit-pop influenced indie that graced his gold selling 2004 debut 'Magpie'. The single 'Scar' is also included.

Customer Reviews

Less proves to be more for the Man on the Roof
For whatever reason; a lack of Radio 2 airplay, the demands of the American market or the inexplicable sales record of a Mr. J. Blunt the sparse, often melancholic but beautiful arrangements of Stephen's songs on the magnificent "Magpie" have in the most part been overblown here on a record that is overproduced and in some instances over instrumented. One only need listen to "Sleep" from the "Four Letter Words" EP and then "Man of the Roof" back to back to hear the difference. A great song on the EP featuring only vocals, acoustic guitar and piano has been drowned in superfluous drums and electric guitar. Some call this progression. I disagree. The omission of "Can This Be?" from the EP is also a disappointment as it is better than some of the material that is included here.

Ok, now for the good news. Stephen is undoubtedly a talented songwriter and musician so there remains much to admire and the CD still makes a fine addition to anyone's collection. Standout tracks are "Darlin Don't", "She", "Bumper Cars", "Now" and "The Ground Beneath Your Feet" and a fine piano only re-interpretation of "The Scheme" from the EP. The short "Saturday" also hints at what could be an interesting future departure.

Stark arrangements and Stephen's distinctive vocal delivery are what make his compositions special. His songs do not require "dressing up" as they are for the most part here; they are good enough to stand on their own. "Magpie" was always going to be difficult to better and this record misses....maybe not by much.....but misses all the same.

Hopefully, for his next release Stephen will realise that for the most part "less is more".

Blown away!
'Magpie' is one of my all time favorite albums, and was hoping but not expecting 'Man on the Roof' to get close. Wrong! This album is truly brilliant! There is a really good blend of catchy upbeat songs and poignant slower tracks. 'Ground beneath your feet' is breathtaking, 'Funny Hat' is tragic yet beautiful, and 'Coney' 'Scar' and 'Dead' are more upbeat and sound really good too. Could go on.....
Buy this album now.

Amazing!!!! will defo be there to see him in Nottingham in October

Better with age...!
Quite Simply - 'Magpie' is a record of great emotion and raw talent. 'Man on the Roof' is all that.... but with a more polished finish that gives Stephen's songs a new direction. Still unique. Still superbly written and constructed - but most of all, fantastic production of the record.

A must buy album of 2007/2008. BUY IT NOW!!