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Armory Square

 
Album Review: Armory Square

  • Artist: Gary Frenay
  • Rating: StarHalf Star
  • Release Date: 1995
  • Total Time: 54:27
  • Type: Lyrics are included with the album
  • Genre: Rock

Review

Gary Frenay is a singer/songwriter, and Armory Square is a simple one-man-and-his-acoustic-guitar album distributed by a label (Tangible) that specializes in folk music. But Frenay's breezy, feather-light approach to songwriting has much more in common with the music of Neil Diamond, James Taylor, or Carly Simon than it has with Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, or Paul Simon. This is a man with pop in his blood. His songs are cleanly and engagingly -- though sometimes rather predictably -- crafted, with immediately recognizable verse, chorus and bridge structures and memorable tunes. He leaves a strong impression of competency: this is not a writer who thrashes out a few chords and improvises a tune to sing over them. He knows what he's doing. Songwriting is his strong suit, though he does have a penchant for overblown choruses that explode out of quiet verses with all the enthusiasm of a writer who has just discovered that the words "secret" and "reveal it" can be made to rhyme. His guitar work is also impressive, and Armory Square benefits from his decision to stay acoustic. It creates a bridge between folk and pop that gives his style a freshness that it might not otherwise have. But Frenay's songs might be better served by a singer with a stronger voice than his. His songs, with their sugar coated melodies and plain-spoken lyrics, are the sort that can be made exceptional only by a vocalist of exceptional talent. Frenay's vocals -- thin, unsteady, and limited in range -- sometimes make his songs seem weaker than they are. ~ Evan Cater, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
I'll Never Forget You James Carney, Gary Frenay Gary Frenay (4:31)
Big Secret Gary Frenay Gary Frenay (4:21)
Good Morning, Merry Sunshine Gary Frenay Gary Frenay (3:16)
Be Yourself Gary Frenay Gary Frenay (4:01)
Friendly Fire Gary Frenay Gary Frenay (4:34)
December Boys Gary Frenay Gary Frenay (4:06)
Richard Brautigan Gary Frenay Gary Frenay (3:44)
Tomorrow Is Another Day Gary Frenay Gary Frenay (3:57)
Suellen Gary Frenay Gary Frenay (3:27)
Chevy Gary Frenay Gary Frenay (3:07)
Born to Cry Gary Frenay Gary Frenay (4:34)
All Mapped Out and Planned Lisa Martino, Gary Frenay Gary Frenay (4:19)
Prince of Passion Gary Frenay Gary Frenay (4:32)
Aladdin's Lamp Gary Frenay, Lisa Martino Gary Frenay (2:47)
[Untitled Track] Gary Frenay (:06)
[Untitled Track] Gary Frenay (:06)
[Untitled Track] Gary Frenay (:06)
[Untitled Track] Gary Frenay (:06)
[Untitled Track] Gary Frenay (:06)
[Untitled Track] Gary Frenay (:06)
[Untitled Track] Gary Frenay (:06)
[Untitled Track] Gary Frenay (3:30)

Credits

Arty Lenin (Vocal Harmony), Tim Harrington (Producer), Jamie Notarthomas (Gut String Guitar), Ed Vivenzio (Piano), Tim Harrington (Engineer), Ric Brush (Bass), Gary Frenay (Sleeve Notes), Gary Frenay (Producer), Gretta Gallivan (Photography), Kathie Maniaci (Photography), Mike Jaffarian (Engineer), Ducky Carlisle (Producer), Gary Frenay (Guitar (Acoustic)), Ducky Carlisle (Mastering), Ducky Carlisle (Engineer), Mike Jaffarian (Producer), Gary Frenay (Vocals), George Rossi (Mandolin), George Rossi (Piano), Ed Vivenzio (Strings), Dr. Toby Mountain (Mastering), David Nelson (Strings), Gary Frenay (Liner Notes), Gary Frenay (Bass), Arty Lenin (Guitar (Acoustic)), David Nelson (Piano), David Nelson (Piano)
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Wikipedia: Armory Square
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The Shot clock Monument at Armory Square

Armory Square is a small neighborhood on the west side of Downtown Syracuse, New York. It began life as a busy commercial and industrial area just to the west of the central city. After World War II, Syracuse's central city became less and less populated as more housing and business facilities were built in the suburbs. In the 1980s, plans were first made to transform the languishing district into a small shopping/arts/nightlife district surrounding the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science and Technology (formerly the Discovery Center), which inhabits the former Syracuse Armory. These plans came to fruition during the 1990s, when new stores and restaurants opened, and several new buildings were constructed in a compatible style to the early Twentieth Century architecture dominating the district.

Today, Armory Square is the home of some of Syracuse's better restaurants, at least two coffeehouses, a radio station company, dozens of small shops selling everything from band instruments to used records to women's clothing, several bars and nightclubs, a newly-restored upscale hotel, and two tattoo parlors. The area is popular with students from Syracuse University and Le Moyne College.

Its borders are generally considered to be the circular road around the armory (Jefferson Street) to the south, Onondaga Creek to the west, Washington Street to the north, and Clinton Street to the east.

Armory Square is also home to the Shot Clock Monument.


Armory Square Historic District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic District
Armory Square is located in New York
Location: S. Clinton, S. Franklin, Walton, W. Fayette, and W. Jefferson Sts., Syracuse, New York
Coordinates: 43°2′49″N 76°9′18″W / 43.04694°N 76.155°W / 43.04694; -76.155
Built/Founded: 1870
Architect: Unknown
Architectural style(s): Moderne, Late Victorian
Governing body: Local
Added to NRHP: September 07, 1984
NRHP Reference#: 84002816

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Contents

Armory Square Historic District

Vintage postcard of the Armory

Forty-six industrial and commercial buildings make up the Armory Square Historic District. West Fayette Street is the northern boundary of the district, the rear property lines of the buildings on South Clinton Street the eastern boundary. The southern boundary is a raised railroad track, while the western boundary includes the buildings on Walton Street. The buildings in the district include the Armory, a railroad station, hotels, warehouses and commercial buildings. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.[2]












Armory Square Historic District contributing properties

Landmark name Image Date Built Style Location Description
1 1874 307-09 South Clinton Street
5 stories; brick commercial building; segmental window arches; fifth story added 1885
2 1874 311-13 South Clinton Street
4 stories; brick commercial building; recessed windows; fancy cornice
3 Donohue Building (portion) c. 1885 Queen Anne 312-16 South Clinton Street
4 stories; red brick; decorative sandstone, granite and terra cotta elements
4 Butler Block 1893 Romanesque 317-21 South Clinton Street
5 stories; red brick; broad arches; cast-iron columns
5 Neil & Hyde Block (portion) c. 1887 Queen Anne-Romanesque 318-22 South Clinton Street
5 stories; brick warehouse; limestone trim; architect Asa Merrick
6 Clinton Building 1876 400-08 South Clinton Street
3 stories; brick; 1920's alterations
7 Onondaga Music Building 1914 410-416 South Clinton Street
4 stories; buff brick commercial building
8 1874 415-17 South Clinton Street
4 stories; patterned brick commercial building;
9 Loew Building Sout Salina Street entrance 1928 423-31 South Clinton Street
2 stories on S. Clinton St.; 8 stories on S. Salina St.; large theater, also known as Loews State Theater or the Landmark Theater; individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977
10 Delaware, Lackawanna, and Western Passenger Station 1941 Art Moderne 500 South Clinton Street
2 stories; buff brick; arched windows
11 c. 1874 306 South Franklin Street
2 stories; brick; arched windows
12 c. 1880s 308-10 South Franklin Street
3 stories; brick; original storefront
13 c. 1887 309-15 South Franklin Street
4 stories; brick; granite piers
14 c. 1900 317-21 South Franklin Street
2 stories; brick; originally carriage makers; 1940 became garage; 1983 offices
15 Hall & McChesney Building c. 1892/1906 402-10 South Franklin Street
4 stories; brick; warehouse
16 Bentley & Settle Warehouse c. 1894-5 120-24 Walton Street
6 stories; brick; intact loading dock
17 c. 1885 128 Walton Street
2 stories; yellow brick; second floor loading door
18 c. 1890s 134 Walton Street
2 stories; brick; plate glass windows
19 c. 1890s 136 Walton Street
2 stories; brick; paired windows
20 Gray Brothers Shoe Factory 1873 200-02 Walton Street
4 stories; brick walls and window hoods
21 c. 1930 204-10 Walton Street
2 stories; factory; brick
22 c. 1872 215-19 Walton Street
3 stories; brick; arched windows
23 c. 1870s-1880s 216 Walton Street
2 stories; ornamental brick
24 c. 1902 221-23 Walton Street
3 stories; commercial building; brick piers
25 c. 1910 Renaissance 113-17 West Fayette Street
5 stories; brick
26 Kirk Block c. 1869 127-29 West Fayette Street
4 stories; brick; commercial building
27 c. 1871 215-17 West Fayette Street
4 stories; brick; commercial building; 1930s modern facade
28 Tallman Block c. 1871 Italianate 219-25 West Fayette Street
3 stories; brick; commercial building; rear entrance on Walton Street; architect Archimedes Russell
29 Piper-Phillips Block c. 1872 Italianate 227-37 West Fayette Street
3 stories; brick; commercial building; original storefronts
30 Seubert & Warner Building c. 1875 Romanesque 239-41 West Fayette Street
3 stories; brick; commercial building; rear entrance on Walton Street; architect Charles Colton
31 c. 1895 Italianate 227-37 West Fayette Street
3 stories; brick with stone trim; commercial building; prism glass in storefronts
32 Hogan Block c. 1892 Romanesque 247-59 West Fayette Street
5 stories; brick with limestone trim; factory building; prism panels in storefronts
33 Crown Hotel c. 1876 Italianate 301-27 West Fayette Street
3 stories; brick; commercial building
34 c. 1872 309-11 West Fayette Street
3 stories; brick; commercial building
35 c. 1873 313-17 West Fayette Street
2 stories; brick; commercial building; molded keystones
36 Stag Hotel 1869 321 West Fayette Street
3 stories; brick; intact storefront
37 1875 329-31 West Fayette Street
4 stories; brick; warehouse; rear entrance on Walton Street
38 Dome Hotel 1927 227-37 West Jefferson Street
10 stories; brick; stone facade first two floors; architect Gustavas A. Young
39 New York State Armory 1907/1932 West Jefferson Street
Housed Army National Guard; brick and limestone; central drill hall added in 1932

References

External links


 
 

 

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Album Review. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Armory Square" Read more