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Amazon.co.uk Review
Jim O'Rourke has undergone a radical transformation since leaving Chicago's rock-improv ensemble Gastr Del Sol. While previously enjoying the singular role of avant-garde guitar hero, O'Rourke has slowly blossomed into a skilful producer with an extremely refined artistic sense. On Eureka he embraces an orchestral pop motif replete with horns, strings, and even female background vocalists. While O'Rourke's music reveals a strong debt to guitarist John Fahey and arranger Van Dyke Parks, it is his singing on this album that makes for a dreamy departure into modern folk-rock. Surrounding himself with some of Chicago's finest underground musicians, O'Rourke creates a rich tapestry of sophisticated sound that is both gentle and distinctive. More than having tremendous musical talent, O'Rourke is now making beautiful records. --Mitch Myers
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I've come to Jim O'Rourke late, in a year that has been one of the better ones for music in a long while, but this album is rendering everything else pointless. It's not moved off my stereo in a month, while other records stack up unplayed next to it.
I'm not sure it's going to be my favourite record, there's some long-standing competition, but I'm pretty sure that if by some quirk I was only able to own one record, this would be it.
Daring, lively and tender, from the very off this record tells you that it's by someone who not only loves but understands music. Who around can open an album with an eight minute track with only three lines of lyrics and make every repetition charged with more and more meaning and grace?
A hell of a record.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Chicago certainly seems to be in its creative element and Jim O'Rourke right in the middle. I admittedly only discovered the varied talents of Mr. O`Rourke(improviser,producer,classically trained musician) three years ago with Gastr Del Sol's Camoufleur, Eureka thankfully carries on in a similar vain with more pop sensibilities(something big), lavish accompanies(female backing vocalists) and wonderfully eccentric lyrics("its just my luck, I got hit by the car while carrying a cake" ghost ship in a storm). However that doesn't mean that your getting away with any m.o.r release, plenty of beautifully constructed scoundscapes and studio wizardry that you would come to expect from any cd that has been tampered with by Jim O'Rourke. Track one, Prelude to 110 or 220/women of the world, starts the of simple but ends with everything but the musical kitchen sink and happens to be one of the the albums stand out tracks. Its a folky guitar piece with three lines of Jim's wisdom repeted about twenty times over eight minutes (notice how almost every time the lines are repeted another voice is seamlessly added to the mix, nice eh?). The rest of the album carries on in a similar style with nods to jazz, folk, lounge and or course easy listening. I have to admit to reaching for the skip button when ever the initially cringe worthy cover of bacharach's "something big" started, but was hooked after the first full listen, now its going to be used at parties in order to impress and amuse friends. Eureka's real gem is the albums title track with flawless O'Rourke trademarks, Minimal but effective backward and acoustic guitar, loose but perfectly positioned horns washed in a heartfelt landscape of dots and bleeps, used to create an extremely uplifting tapestry of sound. This also happens to be Eureka's most minimal but courageous assets. The main reason why I am so fond of this album is because anyone who is trying to dig the way through avant garde, post rock, experimental or improvised music will know that it can at times be a little dry(don't get me wrong Jim O'Rourke's previous back catalogue is some of the best music to ever grace my cd rack) and Eureka give the perfect remedy for hard worked ears while showing us that even "pop" songs can be wonderfully inspiring if done with the correct care, love and attention that Jim O'Rourke has done with his latest effort.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Having listened to his excellent Insignificance album, I tracked back to find what he'd done before and found this.
Unlike the later album, which is full of solid songwriting and great tunes, Eureka is more experimental, less focussed and a lot weirder....but really none the worse for it.
Great song cycle, intriguing, beguiling and original, or just plain weird, depending on where you sit!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Invest The Time And Reap The Rewards
Jim O'Rourke's reputation as a hardcore avant-gardist preceded my first listen to "Eureka", and after punishing myself with his "Terminal Pharmacy", I almost... Read more
Published on 17 Feb 2000
what happens when an avant-gardist makes a pop record
The reputation of JO was always daunting. Weird stuff from Gastr del Sol and collaborations with likes of Sonic Youth don't often suggest that the most beatific pop music since... Read more
Published on 13 Dec 1999
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