This Half-Handed Cloud kid is insane. John Ringhofer is his name. He is insane. Wrote some doozy songs for his first CD, Learning About Your Scale, though. "Worlds in Speech, Now in Reach" creates a beautiful melody, and then destroys it with BIRDS CHIRPING?!? What are you doing, John??? Sigh. Ok, but in all fairness he picks right back up with the three-part (yeah, that's right) song, "Those People We Made? We Love 'Em," which has some neo-Simon and Garfunkle-ness to it. Sweet Moses, John. You're insane! But, yeah, like I said, you write really good songs. Bravo. Hey kids, buy this thing, 'cause I don't have near enough room or energy to actually describe it. It's like psychotic 8-track folk indie rock, or something. John is friends with Jai Agnish, so, you know. Clever. Quirky. Genius. Blah, blah, blah, all that. And the CD (at least mine did) comes with a prayer request card. The only request I make, John, is that you let more of your melodies live a little longer. They're so good, why kill them so quickly??? Sigh.
Other coverage for this album
Opus 2002Reviewed by Jason MoreheadHere's the challenge that comes with reviewing Learning About Your Scale: trying to keep the use of the word "offbeat" to a bare minimum. Regardless of how you look at the album, that's the word that immediately comes to mind. Be it John Ringhofer's, umm, unique brand of Biblical exegesis, or the patchwork musical accompaniment, the only way to really describe this album is with terms straight…The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Brian A. SmithHalf-Handed Cloud singer/songwriter John Ringhofer is: (a) like Paul Simon on acid (b) completely nuts (c) a talented artist with a unique outlook at life (d) a mishmash of noise and random thoughts (e) all of the above. After a few listens of Learning About Your Scale, my answer to the above question probably would have been D). After a few more, I'm leaning a lot more toward E). Ringhofer has…The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Tony LaFianzaHalf-Handed Cloud takes a page from the Danielson cookbook of song styling and throws in a few of its own insane ingredients. Actually, one would have to compare the record to Danielson, since there aren't many other bands with this alternative, eccentric style. Compounding the comparison is the fact that Dan Smith is putting the record out on his label and selling it at his shows. The song…The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Ken MuellerHalf-Handed Cloud is the stage name of John Ringhofer, and Learning About Your Scale is an interesting blend of pop, experimental sampling, rubber ducks squeaking, birds chirping, and some wonderful wordplay. Acoustic guitar is at the core of most of these songs, but there are many other instruments and sounds thrown in. The length of these quirky tunes ranges from 18-seconds all the way up to a…Similar sounding releases
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