tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621501513493185029.comments2024-03-11T12:00:40.529-04:00Everybody's Dummywardohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07825405583474881509noreply@blogger.comBlogger1536125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621501513493185029.post-29733753056140096362024-03-11T08:41:32.079-04:002024-03-11T08:41:32.079-04:00A major bonus of Sound System was the remastering....A major bonus of Sound System was the remastering. Strummer's vocals were infinitely clearer.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621501513493185029.post-87235085020601668812024-03-07T08:05:49.051-05:002024-03-07T08:05:49.051-05:00I understand "TV Eye's" rep as infer...I understand "TV Eye's" rep as inferior, but I think the raw, bootleg quality of it works. And like Pierce above, I'd give both "Idiot" and "Lust" a 5 rating. Sal Nunziatohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09221629293545204260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621501513493185029.post-89790973734705146552024-03-06T18:48:22.501-05:002024-03-06T18:48:22.501-05:00Nice review I love these albums. Would probably gi...Nice review I love these albums. Would probably give The Idiot 5. Pierce Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04427201775506517128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621501513493185029.post-9953919186875121412024-03-04T19:02:06.127-05:002024-03-04T19:02:06.127-05:00I suppose one should have been happy that Paul had...I suppose one should have been happy that Paul had found a new love. But it is harder to feel that in retrospect, for several reasons. One of these is the endless stream of love lyrics which permeates this album. Granted, they are less trite than they were in his earliest post-Beatles songs. Still, there are only so many times I can hear on one album about how great it is to be in love, even if the music is good. <br /><br />So, my ears must perk up when something either musically or lyrically different comes along. For instance, the strange jazz/hip hop combination of “Spinning on An Axis.” James guiding his dad to more contemporary sounds? How about “She’s Given Up Talking,” which may be the darkest, most unnerving song that he’s ever done? “Riding Into Jaipur” may seem to come out of nowhere, unless you know that was where Paul took Heather on vacation and proposed. <br /><br />Speaking of whom, he wrote a genuinely nice melody for her. That guarantees that we will never hear that one live. As for “Rinse the Raindrops”, that is an awkward way of saying, “Dry your eyes”. Like the Stones’ “Goin’ Home,” it could have made it’s point in less than half its runtime. Nonetheless, it does have an unusually discordant sound for Paul. It’s also worth it for the great work by drummer Abe Laboriel, Jr., the best find for his new band. He cut a mean figure on stage, too. And then there’s “Freedom”.. .. I know Paul was sincere, but, as with “Ebony and Ivory” and “Give Ireland Back to the Irish,” he can’t help but sound trivial when he’s talking about big issues. It would have been better if he had just released it as charity single, a la Elton. <br /><br />The rest of the songs are listenable, melodic, well played and well produced. It certainly holds together better as an album than “Flaming Pie.” It just seems more tied into its time and circumstances, so at least for me, it’s harder to get into today. <br /><br /><br />trfesokhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12631886869696528704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621501513493185029.post-27107418800314712142024-03-04T15:11:10.746-05:002024-03-04T15:11:10.746-05:00It's on the list to get to!It's on the list to get to!wardohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07825405583474881509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621501513493185029.post-41686085041393200732024-03-03T23:00:41.328-05:002024-03-03T23:00:41.328-05:00A real shame that any hint of levity or humour eva...A real shame that any hint of levity or humour evaporated upon Sting taking over the band and going solo. That's what I love about this album (my favourite Police LP). Pierce Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04427201775506517128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621501513493185029.post-47275348543247268512024-03-03T22:57:53.334-05:002024-03-03T22:57:53.334-05:00I agree with you. Overrated. Some good moment but ...I agree with you. Overrated. Some good moment but a pretty think album in general. I love Rehumanize Yourself , and the two closing songs. Probably my least favourite Police album all in all.Pierce Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04427201775506517128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621501513493185029.post-25087031493076247542024-03-03T22:51:09.709-05:002024-03-03T22:51:09.709-05:00I like this review, it captured a time. At the tim...I like this review, it captured a time. At the time, I liked it a lot. In retrospect you can see Stings arc of pretentiousness. I agree with you on Fortress, a fine fine song and one of my favourites by him. Didn't know that about Daryl Jones, moving onto the Stones. Thanks wardo!Pierce Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04427201775506517128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621501513493185029.post-5091980992102186782024-03-03T22:36:09.424-05:002024-03-03T22:36:09.424-05:00I like 'I Advance Masked' a lot. Your revi...I like 'I Advance Masked' a lot. Your review is excellent and as informative as always: I had no idea that the title track was built on “The Zero Of The Signified” from Under Heavy Manners and shares some constructive elements with “Neurotica” from Beat. I must look them up pronto.<br />Pierce Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04427201775506517128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621501513493185029.post-68237171800159780332024-03-03T22:33:10.118-05:002024-03-03T22:33:10.118-05:00The man is excruciatingly unbearable. That said, I...The man is excruciatingly unbearable. That said, I like quite a lot of this very adult LP. Little Wing cover is super (Gil Evans?) and the opener is terrific with Andy on guitar. I stuck around somewhat till Soul Cages, and Summoner's, both have a few good moments.Pierce Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04427201775506517128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621501513493185029.post-57792443743526164542024-03-03T22:30:23.320-05:002024-03-03T22:30:23.320-05:00A 5 is spot on. One of the great albums. Hardly a ...A 5 is spot on. One of the great albums. Hardly a wrong note.Pierce Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04427201775506517128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621501513493185029.post-42797093768386826592024-03-03T22:29:16.525-05:002024-03-03T22:29:16.525-05:00Agreed. A great review of a masterpiece in my opin...Agreed. A great review of a masterpiece in my opinion. This album is like listening to a really cool radio station for 3 hours.Pierce Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04427201775506517128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621501513493185029.post-28884571872554014062024-03-03T22:26:37.367-05:002024-03-03T22:26:37.367-05:00Great album, probably his best in my book. Nice re...Great album, probably his best in my book. Nice review wardo. I'd love for you to review a personal favourite of mine: Slow Dazzle.Pierce Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04427201775506517128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621501513493185029.post-77852832644874115922024-03-03T22:25:27.530-05:002024-03-03T22:25:27.530-05:00This is the album I would rate highly. I love ever...This is the album I would rate highly. I love every song, despite the tinny sound. Hugely talent on display here which tended to get a bit lost on subsequent "classics". My last gripe with Prince is: I absolutely love his rhythm guitar playing. Brilliant. Lead Guitar not so much, goes a bit over the top in my book. So there you go. Carry on.Pierce Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04427201775506517128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621501513493185029.post-56657371689036401662024-03-03T22:22:50.153-05:002024-03-03T22:22:50.153-05:00I'm glad you gave this a 4 rather than (what m...I'm glad you gave this a 4 rather than (what most critics do) a 5. Like S'OtT, I've struggled with this LP for many many years. When Doves Cry is brilliant, the title track solid, Let's Go Crazy a good rocking opener, but not a lot else I want to revisit regularly. In fact (for me) there's some filler there that never gets called out: Darling Nikki, Computer Blue and a couple of others. Take Me With You would be done much better with Raspberry Beret in a album or two's time. Anyway love to read your reviews, and this is only my 2cents.Pierce Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04427201775506517128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621501513493185029.post-29642112151328815062024-03-03T22:17:45.889-05:002024-03-03T22:17:45.889-05:00I bought this when it came out on double CD, still...I bought this when it came out on double CD, still have it. But I don't think I've ever come around to it and do not consider it the 'masterpiece' most people do nowadays. I find Prince a trifle over-endorsed and this album (as well as Purple Rain) too. Some great moments as you point out, particularly the title track. May have loved it more if he had recorded it with a kick-ass funk band rather than a tinny drum machine. I still listen to it and appreciate it on a lot of levels. Just not masterpiece level. Pierce Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04427201775506517128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621501513493185029.post-33062894569507021172024-03-03T17:05:52.900-05:002024-03-03T17:05:52.900-05:00Still one of my favorite EC records. Ridiculously ...Still one of my favorite EC records. Ridiculously under appreciated, and one of the best reissues in the catalogue. How Much I Lied, Sweet Dreams, Good Year for the Roses, Psycho, Your Angel Steps out of Heaven, My Shoes Keep Walking Back To You all highlights Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621501513493185029.post-5733052094952721882024-02-29T15:31:00.479-05:002024-02-29T15:31:00.479-05:00According to producer Gary Usher, the legal issues...According to producer Gary Usher, the legal issues were resolved, but he wanted more of a balance between McGuinn, Hillman and Parsons on lead vocals. McGuinn was the recoginized singer of the band, so Usher wanted more vocals form him.trfesokhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12631886869696528704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621501513493185029.post-31103385657924691692024-02-29T14:46:44.749-05:002024-02-29T14:46:44.749-05:00If you want to see Bill Shatner rap, watch the mov...If you want to see Bill Shatner rap, watch the movie "Free Enterprise". It's also a good movie, really. trfesokhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12631886869696528704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621501513493185029.post-70011051344188021162024-02-29T13:41:34.018-05:002024-02-29T13:41:34.018-05:00The post-“Anthology” hype might have left some pe...The post-“Anthology” hype might have left some people with the impression that this album heralded a reboot of 60’s Paul. However, that guy had left the building for good sometime after “Ram”, so that just wasn’t a reasonable expectation. Nonetheless, this is pretty good.<br /><br />I agree with you about the two major duds. “Born to Be Bad” has a backstory. A chance encounter in the studio in 1969 resulted in Paul playing as the rhythm section on a Miller track called “My Dark Hour”. That’s a much better song, so lightning wasn’t exactly captured twice her. “Really Love You” is nothing but a jam that could have been on “Wildlife”. That’s not a compliment. The other one I don’t really care for much is “Heaven on a Sunday”. Paul ventures into bossa nova territory here. I understand why that would appeal to his “granny music” side, but it’s just not a genre that appeals to me.<br /><br />The rest ventures from good to great. Some touching ballads like “Little Willow” and “Calico Skies”, the latter being a very lyrical love song to Linda. Small wonder that he revived it for “Working Classical”. “The Song We Were Singing” and the title track are great tributes to John. Yes, I also immediately noticed the “Full Moon Fever” drum sound on “This World Tonight”, but it doesn’t detract from the song too much. That sound is also on “If You Wanna” to a lesser extent (because Lynne wasn’t involved), yet it could have fit in on “Highway Companion”.<br /><br />The first thing I thought of when “Souvenir” came on, of all things, was Aretha Franklin’s “Natural Woman”. She could have sung the hell out of “Souvenir”. Finally, on paper, the sequencing of “Beautiful Night” and “Great Day” seems so obvious as to be banal. On record, though, it absolutely works. The slow stately beginning explodes into the energetic coda, and then we go into the intimacy of “Great Day”. (I also thought of “Big Barn Bed”). A perfect ending for the album.<br /><br />The album isn’t quite as cohesive as “Off the Ground”, but is still really listenable – if the duffers are skipped, of course. A 3.5 it is, then. <br /><br /><br /><br />trfesokhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12631886869696528704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621501513493185029.post-44895414166149241382024-02-27T17:18:57.941-05:002024-02-27T17:18:57.941-05:00Great review - I could do with more words as you c...Great review - I could do with more words as you capture the thrill and rush of the recording so well. Still my favourite Elvis album and you have reminded me of highlights I sometimes let roll over me without considering - but next time I listen, I'll take these words with me! Thanks so muchSulky Ladnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621501513493185029.post-20729257904642797592024-02-27T15:54:22.286-05:002024-02-27T15:54:22.286-05:00It's on the list to get to!It's on the list to get to!wardohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07825405583474881509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621501513493185029.post-60398688484351054642024-02-27T12:54:26.598-05:002024-02-27T12:54:26.598-05:00Nice review. I like the album. Would be keen to re...Nice review. I like the album. Would be keen to read your take on Slow Dazzle. Pierce Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04427201775506517128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621501513493185029.post-85857062841595739312024-02-20T00:32:02.575-05:002024-02-20T00:32:02.575-05:00Nice call out on Dale BozzioNice call out on Dale BozzioPierce Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04427201775506517128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621501513493185029.post-19573406807364406902024-02-19T23:56:33.369-05:002024-02-19T23:56:33.369-05:00Nice review. Nice review. Pierce Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04427201775506517128noreply@blogger.com