Reviews Written by Paul
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June 10, 2004
Madonna's Rubber Soul
Pros: The haunting opener and closer
Cons: 'Love Song'
Like A Prayer, Madonna’s fourth studio effort, released in the spring of 1989, was the album Ms. Ciccone got down to business. She was 30, the age at which her mother had died of cancer, and she also was recently departed from an abusive marriage to Sean Penn. These facts, along with the fact that she was getting older, made for a more mature recording. Gone were the multiple bracelets, the Boy Toy belt buckles, and the Material Girl. This was her Rubber Soul.
From the opening hard-rock chords of the title track, you know you’re in for something unique and refreshing. The gospel choir, chunky guitar, organs, and handclaps of the haunting ‘Like A Prayer,’ is followed by the deep funky bass riffs and jubilant horn section of ‘Express Yourself,’ making for a knockout punch opener. Following this is the much-touted but ultimately disappointing Madonna-Prince collabo, ‘Love Song,’ perhaps a mid-tempo extension of ‘Express Yourself.’ After this, Madonna lays bare her marriage to Sean Penn in the bitter, sarcastic ‘Til Death Do Us Part,’ a B-side to the hit ‘Dear Jessie.’ She next discusses her mother’s death in ‘Promise To Try,’ which packs an emotional wallop, and ends the first half of the record.
‘Cherish’ is up-tempo, simple, joyous pop, which demonstrates Madonna’s penchant for hooky, cheerful pop numbers. ‘Dear Jessie’ does ‘Sgt. Pepper’ just as good as Lennon and McCartney. ‘Oh Father,’ which spawns from the closing notes of ‘Dear Jessie,’ is a dirge-like ballad about Madonna’s father. ‘Keep It Together,’ a pseudo-hip-hop song about family unity, is very good, but seems almost weak compared to Madonna’s other work here. ‘Pray For Spanish Eyes,’ a B-side to the flop single ‘Oh Father,’ has to be one of Madonna’s most underappreciated gems, a ballad about the demise of a gang member, with tender acoustics added. And then, the astonishing closer. ‘Act of Contrition’ mixes the like-titled Catholic prayer with new lyrics, chants from ‘Like A Prayer’ played backwards, handclaps, heavy guitars, and moans played at random. It tees up the album perfectly, and will stand as one of music’s highest achievements. ... -
May 28, 2004
Hate Me Do!
Pros: None
Cons: The whole song
Now, don't get me wrong. I'm a HUGE Beatles fan (my favorite songs are "Eleanor Rigby" and "Rain"), but this is awful. The lyrics, the music, the arrangement, it makes me want to vomit. If ou want to hear good early Beatles songs, try Please Please Me, From Me To You, She Loves You, and I Wanna Hold Your Hand but avoid this toxic rubbish! ...
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May 28, 2004
Rubber Soul
Pros: all of it
Cons: a bit too folksy, too drowsy
This album is incredible! And whether or not you agree the Beatles are the best band ever (which they definitely are), you know there's something about them when everyone is psychotically obssessed w/ them or thinks they're the most awful rubbish ever. ...
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May 28, 2004
Madonna stirs up **** again!
Pros: One of Madonna's best efforts
Cons: Some tracks are just a bit too electronic
The critics savagely tore down this album, but undeservingly. It's one of Madonna's most mature, personal albums, and definitely her most political. If the CD does not compare to previous efforts, maybe it's because of two risible attempts at rapping or the hideous trance soundscape of "Mother & Father."
The title single is poignant, true, and haunting, and could be called a 21st-century "Material Girl." The next track, "Hollywood," is worth the price of the whole CD, and is just what Hollywood is really like. See the video for the full effect of this song. "I'm So Stupid" admits to past mistakes, albeit in a self-depercating manner. "Love Profusion" is trippy and serene. "Nobody Knows Me" lyrically sounds like a rabbi collaborated w/ Simple Plan. Very interesting. "Nothing Fails" is a bit too anti-religious for my taste, but still beautiful song, and I love the faux-hip-hop arrangement. "Intervention"; and "X-Static Process" are both acoustic guitar ballads. "Mother & Father" is Chinese water torture. "Die Another Day" seems oddly placed amoing the other 10 songs, but it's still fabulous. "Easy Ride" is a beautiful coda to a beautiful album that you should invest $12 in. You won't regret it. ... -
May 26, 2004
The 1 CD
2 of 2 Yahoo! Users found this review helpfulPros: What a thrill!
Cons: Where is...
27 Beatles hits, including several non-LP singles, and there's no question every track here is excellent, but it was utterly unforgivable to pass up 'Rain,' 'The Inner Light,' 'Revolution,' and a little tune called 'STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER!" ...
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May 26, 2004
Absolutely smashing, mind-blowing, brill
Pros: The best tracks here are some of the best ever written
Cons: A bit too whimsical, but that can be overlooked
No doubt you have heard the massive hype surrounding Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, touted as the best album ever. This is not true. While definitely essential for any collection, Revolver and The White Album are both better, each of those hitting the mark only consistently. Sgt. Pepper is whimsical and day dreamy where Revolver was harder. Your $12 is still well spent. Let us now analyze the major statements, one by one:
SGT. PEPPER’S: This short, bluesy number and the tightened hard-rock remix towards the close of the album invented the concept album, and therefore may be two of the Beatles’ most influential tracks.
WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS: A lovely, friendly pop tune, Ringo Starr would be hard-pressed for a career today without this.
LUCY IN THE SKY WITH DIAMONDS: Along with “A Day In The Life,” one of Lennon’s main contributions to the album, this track was claimed by Lennon to be about a painting by his son, Julian. Yeah, right. Still good, though.
SHE’S LEAVING HOME: A schmaltzy number with dreamy orchestration. Though the lyrics and arrangement are good, it fails to blow me away.
BEING FOR THE BENEFIT OF MR. KITE: A march-circus pastiche composition by Lennon, this has a somewhat menacing undertone, and today, this is still one of rock’s crowning achievements.
WITHIN YOU WITHOUT YOU/WHEN I’M 64/LOVELY RITA: The genius of the record is how these three totally songs mold together. The Indian acid trip of “Within You Without You” shares Eastern wisdom with listeners, then Paul’s vaudeville like “When I’m 64” comes in, giving to poppy-rocker-ballad “Lovely Rita.”
A DAY IN THE LIFE: Truly one of music’s most stunning statements, the acoustic guitar, thundering piano and 40-piece orchestra, leading to rock’s most famous finale, a crashing piano chord, sustained for nearly a minute, then a bit of chopped up studio chatter and dog whistle. ... -
May 26, 2004
Dark, moody and incredible; pure genius
Pros: All of it!
Cons: What cons?
From the onset, Revolver is 35 minutes of genius, and is possibly the Beatles’ best work, even compared to the much-lauded Sgt. Pepper. The Beatles cranked up the bass, explored new lyrical territory, and greatly expanded their sonic palette here. “Taxman” is bitter, dark and cynical. “Eleanor Rigby” is cynical, yet manages to be majestic and hauntingly beautiful, and one of Paul McCartney’s finest songwriting efforts. “I’m Only Sleeping” is a crawling, druggy acoustic number with hypnotic backwards guitar leads. “Love You To” is a maze of frantic sitars and tables, the perfect backdrop for George’s utterly pissed-off lyrics. “Here, There and Everywhere” is a fairly straightforward ballad, and probably my least favorite, but I still like it.
“Yellow Submarine” is a charming, acid-influenced song sung by Ringo. “She Said She Said” is Lennon’s main contribution, and a true treasure, a vital and scathing track. “Good Day Sunshine” is friendly and optimistic. “And Your Bird Can Sing” is like a faster version of “I’m Only Sleeping.” The remaining tracks are absolutely magnificent, and capped off with Lennon’s splendid closer “Tomorrow Never Knows,” which defies all explanation. Revolver, in short, is a must-have for any collection. ...
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The big hits by the best band...
0 of 1 Yahoo! Users found this review helpfulPros: It's a hits CD
Cons: None whatsoever
... of the 90's. Nirvana's catalog is exciting and often brilliant, from the straight-ahead 'Bleach' singles, the slightly polished 'Nevermind' singles, and the dissonant and bitter 'In Utero' singles. Buy this CD for the hits, and you will play it every day.
Key tracks: Smells Like Teen Spirit, In Bloom, Rape Me ...