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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Howard Jones is one of those vocalists and musicians who improve with age. "Ordinary Heroes" is a very impressive and reflective CD of ten brilliantly thoughtful and engaging songs dominated by Howard's expert piano virtuosity augmented by majestic strings. Exemplary songs include "Straight Ahead", "Say It Like You Mean It", "You Knew Us Well," and "Soon You'll Go." The most infectious tunes that should be radio friendly hits are "Collective Heartbeat", "Someone You Need" and "Ordinary Heroes". All ten songs wonderfully flow together making this an extremely cohesive recording. HOJO is a profoundly compassionate Buddhist and his lyrics focus on peace, conciliation, hope, yearning and respect for the downtrodden. He has an eternal and inspiring optimism that resonates in his music and his sterling live performances.
Howard Jones was a pop star in the 1980's. His more unknown and refined CDs of the past twenty years are ironically far superior to his 1980's hit records and singles. They include "In The Running", "People" and "Revolution Of The Heart." Howard Jones is now an "Ordinary Hero" in the "commercial music industry" but his "Ordinary Heroes" CD is extraordinarly good. It's nice to listen to quality music composed, played and sung by talented and benevolent people.
Howard Jones was a pop star in the 1980's. His more unknown and refined CDs of the past twenty years are ironically far superior to his 1980's hit records and singles. They include "In The Running", "People" and "Revolution Of The Heart." Howard Jones is now an "Ordinary Hero" in the "commercial music industry" but his "Ordinary Heroes" CD is extraordinarly good. It's nice to listen to quality music composed, played and sung by talented and benevolent people.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Its been some time in the making, but Howard Jones' latest collection of songs does not disappoint. In some respects, these 10 beautifully written, produced (Robbie Bronniman), arranged and performed songs seem a million miles away from Jones' 80s hit music. But to Jones fans, he has always remained entirely consistent in his artistry. He always writes about something relevant and meaningful - not in riddles, just plain talking. And he always writes a great tune - the melody is always central in a Jones song.
These 10 songs are consistent in their use of instruments - just vocals, piano, strings, drums and guitar (Robin Boult). Every song speaks of the attention to detail that has gone into the arrangement.
The highlights of the album are when Jones is most intimate, and echoing the classic Hide and Seek and Noone is to Blame, strips the song down to deliver something very special. Fight On and Soon you'll Go are classics of our time. But there are more upbeat moments, and Straight Ahead (the album opener), Say it Like You Mean It and Collective Heartbeat cannot fail to make you feel positive and upbeat.
Howard Jones is an artist the modern day music industry would do well to recognise. Since he lost his label deal in the early 90s, he has been touring, writing and communicating with his die hard audience. Technology has helped him achieve this,and to demonstrate that there is more to making music than XFactor.
Speaking of which, backing vocals on the album are beautifully performed soley by X Factor reject Daniel Pearce. It is typical of Jones to be working and encouraging a clearly talented young artist in the making.... Read more ›
These 10 songs are consistent in their use of instruments - just vocals, piano, strings, drums and guitar (Robin Boult). Every song speaks of the attention to detail that has gone into the arrangement.
The highlights of the album are when Jones is most intimate, and echoing the classic Hide and Seek and Noone is to Blame, strips the song down to deliver something very special. Fight On and Soon you'll Go are classics of our time. But there are more upbeat moments, and Straight Ahead (the album opener), Say it Like You Mean It and Collective Heartbeat cannot fail to make you feel positive and upbeat.
Howard Jones is an artist the modern day music industry would do well to recognise. Since he lost his label deal in the early 90s, he has been touring, writing and communicating with his die hard audience. Technology has helped him achieve this,and to demonstrate that there is more to making music than XFactor.
Speaking of which, backing vocals on the album are beautifully performed soley by X Factor reject Daniel Pearce. It is typical of Jones to be working and encouraging a clearly talented young artist in the making.... Read more ›
6 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By Andrew Green
Format:Audio CD
In my teenage years I took a lot of comfort from "Dream into Action" a great Howard Jones classic album. This album has taken me back to those days in that it is exactly what I want to listen to. More than a keyboard album this has guitar, drums, bass, strings, the whole works and musically it is amazing to listen to. The opening four tracks are a delight having heard them before at Howard's 25th anniversary concert and the rest of the album is rapidly becoming equally wonderful as I get to know the songs better. And listen to the lyrics - these are deep and fulfilling words and you get the impression that if only people would do what is being suggested the world will sort itself out.
Howard Jones I salute you and hope you can produce more (maybe a bit quicker?!).
Howard Jones I salute you and hope you can produce more (maybe a bit quicker?!).
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I'd like nothing more to say how wonderful I felt this album is but having purchased it upon release I felt that it wasn't just the title that was ordinary. In the intervening year I've probably played the album no more than a couple of times. The previous studio album, "Revolution Of The Heart", was a gem that I played frequently over an extended period as has been the case with almost every album he's issued. That I should cast aside this latest collection so quickly speaks volumes.
Individually most of the songs are pleasant enough but as a collection I find it dull and insipid. The first and last tracks are my personal highlights. The low point for me is the title track which I've never liked having heard it performed live previously, the lyrics are just so twee. I was also unimpressed at the inclusion of "Someone You Need", a song that was first issued a decade earlier as a duet with Duncan Sheik. The new solo version adds nothing to the original.
As is typical of the artist the message in the songs is largely a positive one, I only wish my review could follow suit. If you're looking for a Howard Jones album, post commercial success, you'd be better off checking out the aforementioned "Revolution Of The Heart" or "People" albums which wipe the floor with this. It's not a dreadful album but it falls far short of his usual high standards.
Individually most of the songs are pleasant enough but as a collection I find it dull and insipid. The first and last tracks are my personal highlights. The low point for me is the title track which I've never liked having heard it performed live previously, the lyrics are just so twee. I was also unimpressed at the inclusion of "Someone You Need", a song that was first issued a decade earlier as a duet with Duncan Sheik. The new solo version adds nothing to the original.
As is typical of the artist the message in the songs is largely a positive one, I only wish my review could follow suit. If you're looking for a Howard Jones album, post commercial success, you'd be better off checking out the aforementioned "Revolution Of The Heart" or "People" albums which wipe the floor with this. It's not a dreadful album but it falls far short of his usual high standards.
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4.5 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wanted to post this fantastic review from Mojo about the album
"80s synth-pop icon re-emerges as mature singer-songwriter.
Jones The Synth, thankfully, has outlasted the barmy barnet that made him hard to take as seriously as he... Read more
Jones The Synth, thankfully, has outlasted the barmy barnet that made him hard to take as seriously as he... Read more
Published on 3 Feb 2010 by F. Jacobson
2.0 out of 5 stars
Where did the magic go?
As a major fan of Howard's classic early work, this album comes as a major disappointment, as it desperately wants to fit into boring MOR/AOR territory. Read more
Published on 28 Jan 2010 by Mr. P. Linn
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very enjoyable album from Howard Jones
Many people may be familiar with howard jones from the 80's when he burst onto the scene with huge hits chock full of great melodies and unusual and inspiring lyrics. Read more
Published on 14 Jan 2010 by P. Elliott
4.0 out of 5 stars
Hojo
After seeing Howard Jones both in lecture and concert recently, I decided to add this to my Amazon Xmas list. Read more
Published on 12 Jan 2010 by Warren218
5.0 out of 5 stars
The usual high standard!!
This album was a long time coming, with delay after delay!! I can see why as Howard has yet again turned out a top notch product! Read more
Published on 11 Dec 2009 by Mr. S. J. Cappleman
2.0 out of 5 stars
Make mine a tap water.
If music were drink, then Howard Jones's new album would have come straight from the kitchen tap. A new release from Synth Pop pioneer piqued my interest, which was instantly... Read more
Published on 5 Dec 2009 by mozzer
5.0 out of 5 stars
Howard Jones at his finest
This is arguably Howard's finest moment since his exemplery first album 'Humans Lib' in the 80's. He continues to produce beautiful and meaningful works of audio that rise above... Read more
Published on 12 Nov 2009 by Boshuda
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