See what other people have said about Wayne Fishell and the wayne fishell experiment.
"Wayne Fishell and Keith Miller have actually managed something that very few gay musicians do: they’ve made a guitar-album completely free of irony and kitsch. The lyrics are inspired by relationships between men, and the music from bands like REM. On this album, you don’t just hear camp fire songs, but also blues, country, and uncontrollably melodic pop. 10 gay songs - but not one bit of camp."
Wayne Fishell wins Editor's Choice for "Best Male Musician" in Southern Voice's 2007 Best of Gay Atlanta!
"Armed with an acoustic guitar and back up drummer big.peaches… Wayne Fishell isn't afraid to
sing about the experiences of gay men."
"One of the most exhilarating parts of the experience of Optimistically Hopeless ... is the way the songs swing from breezy folk-pop with album opener Bar Fight to funky confrontation on Tulip Walls into moody confessional with Accidental Art. And that’s just the first three songs. The album is a tour de force."
"The Wayne Fishell Experiment write some uplifting tunes. As a gay acoustic folk pop group, they have few peers (at least in the mainstream). Upbeat pop numbers that will make you tap your toes and scramble for the lyric sheet so you can sing right along."
"Wayne Fishell .... writes with an honesty that is rarely found in modern music. ... 24-carat pop ... The real stars of this album are the lyrics. They’re conversational, confessional, but also well written and relatable in a way that few dialogued lyrics are these days -- no matter who you are, what gender, what ethnic background. Optimistically Hopeless is a fairly diverse record with some excellent tunes on it, but its biggest success is showing how universal our human condition is while letting the listener get to hear some good music in the process."
"[T]unes that take listeners from playful to haunting and a sexy voice that lends itself well to both."
"[T]hose who hate the club-music driving beat should find this a relaxing, amusing trip down another avenue of queer music."
"[S]urprisingly humorous songs that all could enjoy and that children wouldn't understand."
