Joe Jackson - Rain (w/ bonus DVD)
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Free Music Notes for Rain (w/ bonus DVD)
Free Music Review: minimalist approach
Hit: 4 Stars
Joe Jackson's new album has minimal instrumentation - just his piano, and old standbys Graham Maby on bass and Dave Hougton on drums. Yet, it sounds full and rich, with a fine complement of new songs. Just saw this band at the Apollo, and as good as the album is they were better live. Just shows you don't need guitars to rock.Free Music Review: Right up There with his Best
Hit: 4 Stars
This is great Joe Jackson. Period. It may not be Body and Soul (the best JJ in my opinion) or Big World or Night and Day...it certainly approaches those works and the songwriting is very, very good. And, in true "Old School" fashion (it's a shame I have to say old school, but that's the case with music because most now is artists worth a download or two) it is a collection of songs that you can listen to in it's entirety and come away satisfied...there is a beginning , middle and an end. It has been given thought and crafted well. It gets better with repeated listening. Thanks Joe. Free Music Review: A Classic
Hit: 5 Stars
Thank the God's Joe Jackson is back with a new album. Admist all the Corporate rock/pop bands and prefab hip-pop returns an ARTIST who can actually write and play his own music. Jackson continues where he left off with a great blend of jazz and pop. If your too young to remember Jackson's 80's "stint" pick this album up and then go back and get the rest. For the "Seasoned" fan, a definate "must have" in your CD, (yes i said CD), collection.Free Music Review: Rainy days
Hit: 3 Stars
JJ was at his best during the 80's. Since he left the band in the early 80's he made masterpieces such as N&D1, Tucker, Big world and B&G that took his music big step forward. Take his live album 1980-86 and compare. During the 90's JJ had some experiments, and last years he tried to follow his early success, first by N&D2 and then with the old band -"Volume 4". But guess what - you can sink into the past with friends, you can't take with you thousands of fans. This albums, as well as the live albums that followed them, are nothing but pale shadows of the originals from the 80's. Die hard fans will always be there to write their automatic 5 star reviews, but they don't represent "an averege fan", like me, or neutral listener.
And now - to "Rain". Since JJ is one of my favorites, I went to the concert, and it was great. JJ is a great performer and introduced to us 5 songs from the album. He stunned us all with the great "Invisible man" that proves that JJ is here and creative... sometimes. "Citizen Sane" and "A place in the rain" are also great songs, while "Solo" reminds me some old Peter Hammill songs and the rest are good, but not as it used to be. I don't think I'm gonna play this album again and again like I did with N&D1 and B&G for example. I also don't believe that the album will bring Jackson new fans. Sorry man, I like your music a lot, but the truth is, that "Rain" is not one of your best.
Free Music Review: Joe Jackson is Awesome but Rain is a Bit Wet
Hit: 3 Stars
Joe Jackson is a seriously versatile voice in popular music. His cycle of Night and Day 1 and 2 I think are brilliant. He's explored Jazz/Jive, Latin, Pop, Symphonic, etc. His work with other artists is superb. But Rain just doesn't work very well.
It's always a pleasure to hear Jackson sing, and his arrangements are almost always spot on as they are mainly in this collection as well. The main problem is the ensemble. In Rain there is Joe on the piano and vocals, a drummer, and a bass player and that's about it. This stripped down approach is too thin to fill out what normally are very lush arrangements by Jackson. I was very excited to hear about this new record, but most disappointed when I heard it. I listen to Night and Day fairly often and several of Jackson's older works including Night Music which is quite ambient and very haunting. Jackson is so very talented, but this record was most disappointing as I hoped for so much more.
In a closing note I should mention that there are some songs that really work quite well while the listener is driving. I think my three favorite driving songs are "Steppin' Out" from Night and Day, Sauvacito by Malo The Best of Malo, and "Driving" by Everything But the Girl The Language of Life.