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Product details
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Track Listings
| Disc: 1 |
|---|
| 1. Invisible Man |
| 2. Too Tough |
| 3. Citizen Sane |
| 4. Wasted Time |
| 5. The Uptown Train |
| 6. King Pleasure Time |
| 7. Solo [So Low] |
| 8. Rush Across The Road |
| 9. Good Bad Boy |
| 10. A Place In The Rain |
| Disc: 2 |
| 1. Invisible Man |
| 2. Wasted Time |
| 3. Good Bad Boy |
| 4. "Making The Record ""Rain""" |
| 5. Interview - Joe Jackson and Alan Bangs |
| 6. Joe's Guide To Berlin |
| 7. Interview with Dave and Graham in Berlin |
Product Description
Review
Four years since his last album - 2003's critically acclaimed Volume 4 - Joe Jackson returns with arguably his most consistent collection yet. Recorded in his adopted hometown of Berlin, Rain represents a career culmination of work - shifting effortlessly between styles, and underpinned by the highest calibre of musicianship.
In some respects, little has changed in Jackson's universe. For a start, he's reunited with Graham Maby and Dave Houghton, both players on late-70s new wave classic Look Sharp!. Indeed, two songs here - "King Pleasure Time" and "Good Bad Boy" - could be culled from that pre-Reagan era; rolling back the years in a gusto display of spiky, skinny-tied rock. The enduring influence on contemporaries such as Elvis Costello and latterday piano-men like Ben Folds is palpable, as is Jackson's acerbic wit. The playing, as expected, verges on ESP - skipping playfully with a jazz-tinged feel of joy.
Of course, Jackson has proved himself a true renaissance man in the intervening years, dabbling in everything from soundtrack scoring to reggae and jump-blues. And so it proves here. The classical composer comes to the fore on "Solo (So Low)", before sidestepping into hyper-melodic pop ("Invisible Man", "The Uptown Train") and scene-stopping show tunes ("A Place In The Rain"). Gorgeous Seventies-style ballad "Wasted Time" suggests a few tricks picked up co-headlining a recent tour with Todd Rundgren.
The piece de resistance, however, is "Too Tough". Surely a staple of some future Radio 2 playlist, it's a proper AOR pearl. And while Rain offers a consistently high-level display of songwriting craft, if you download just one track, then best make it this one. --Adam Webb
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
33 of 35 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
"Rain" is Joe Jackson's first album in four year's since 2003's "Volume 4". The opening track, "Invisible Man" is the benchmark for what is a return to basics, simplicity and infectious singer/songwriter music styles ranging from pop, jazz and classical.
Jackson joins forces with two musicians who originally played on his first three albums "Look Sharp" (1979), "I'm The Man" (1979) and "Beat Crazy" (1980). The musicians I'm referring to are Graham Maby (bass guitar) and Dave Houghton (drums). The only other instrument is the main one, Jackson's trademark piano. All three musicians contribute to vocals, but Jackson takes lead.
It's pretty straighforward but it's also an extremely powerful combination.
A classically trained pianist who originally burst wide open on the punk and New Wave scene in '78 with is milestone single "Is She Really Going Out With Him?," Jackson continues to impress with razor sharp lyrics and eloquent melodic hooks.
He was punk rock's answer to Billy Joel, but as the years progressed, Jackson experimented and the results have always been seminal and cool. He's even written music for films including "Mike's Murder" and Francis Ford Coppola's "Tucker".
Back in 2004, Joe hooked up with Ben Folds and sang vocals with William Shatner on a live version of Pulp's "Common People" on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Jackson stole the show with some killer vocals and a sense of conviction.
Coming back to Jackson's forthcoming new studio album,"Rain" - you can't stop playing the first track, "Invisible Man." It sounds like a song from a memorable movie, something Burt Bacharach would be proud of. Melodically, like anything Jackson does, the performance packs an emotional punch and knocks you for six. Think of Brian Wilson crying in his soup in Marble Arch tube station or on a double decker bus in South London.
Jackson goes in for the thrill kill with the frentetic "Citizen Sane", a wonderful uptempo number that I originally saw him perform on solo piano back in 2005 when he did a co-headline tour with Todd Rundgren (another melodic unsung hero) in 2005.
It's the sparse, emotional ballad, "Wasted Time", that raises a tear to the eye. In the tradition of his unforgettable ballads - "It's Different For Girls" and "Breaking Us in Two", "Wasted Time" is genius personified.
Halfway through the album, Joe swiches gears with "Uptown Train", which sounds like a cross between Ramsay Lewis and Donald Fagan. It's Miller time, and it sounds like Joe is buying everyone a round of beer.
If you were touched by the hand of god when 1979's "Look Sharp" was released to worldwide acclaim, and 1982's "Night and Day" nipped you in the bud with the infectious "Steppin' Out", there's no shadow of a doubt that "Rain" will become the soundtrack of our your life in 2008.
Like Brian Wilson, Elvis Costello and Neil Young, Joe Jackson gets better with age and experience. "Rain" is a magnificent achievement from one of Britain's most gifted singer/songwriters. With albums like this, Joe Jackson is verging on becoming a national treasure.
Jackson joins forces with two musicians who originally played on his first three albums "Look Sharp" (1979), "I'm The Man" (1979) and "Beat Crazy" (1980). The musicians I'm referring to are Graham Maby (bass guitar) and Dave Houghton (drums). The only other instrument is the main one, Jackson's trademark piano. All three musicians contribute to vocals, but Jackson takes lead.
It's pretty straighforward but it's also an extremely powerful combination.
A classically trained pianist who originally burst wide open on the punk and New Wave scene in '78 with is milestone single "Is She Really Going Out With Him?," Jackson continues to impress with razor sharp lyrics and eloquent melodic hooks.
He was punk rock's answer to Billy Joel, but as the years progressed, Jackson experimented and the results have always been seminal and cool. He's even written music for films including "Mike's Murder" and Francis Ford Coppola's "Tucker".
Back in 2004, Joe hooked up with Ben Folds and sang vocals with William Shatner on a live version of Pulp's "Common People" on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Jackson stole the show with some killer vocals and a sense of conviction.
Coming back to Jackson's forthcoming new studio album,"Rain" - you can't stop playing the first track, "Invisible Man." It sounds like a song from a memorable movie, something Burt Bacharach would be proud of. Melodically, like anything Jackson does, the performance packs an emotional punch and knocks you for six. Think of Brian Wilson crying in his soup in Marble Arch tube station or on a double decker bus in South London.
Jackson goes in for the thrill kill with the frentetic "Citizen Sane", a wonderful uptempo number that I originally saw him perform on solo piano back in 2005 when he did a co-headline tour with Todd Rundgren (another melodic unsung hero) in 2005.
It's the sparse, emotional ballad, "Wasted Time", that raises a tear to the eye. In the tradition of his unforgettable ballads - "It's Different For Girls" and "Breaking Us in Two", "Wasted Time" is genius personified.
Halfway through the album, Joe swiches gears with "Uptown Train", which sounds like a cross between Ramsay Lewis and Donald Fagan. It's Miller time, and it sounds like Joe is buying everyone a round of beer.
If you were touched by the hand of god when 1979's "Look Sharp" was released to worldwide acclaim, and 1982's "Night and Day" nipped you in the bud with the infectious "Steppin' Out", there's no shadow of a doubt that "Rain" will become the soundtrack of our your life in 2008.
Like Brian Wilson, Elvis Costello and Neil Young, Joe Jackson gets better with age and experience. "Rain" is a magnificent achievement from one of Britain's most gifted singer/songwriters. With albums like this, Joe Jackson is verging on becoming a national treasure.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I have always been a devoted fan of Joe Jackson, so when this album was released last week I rushed out and bought it - and I can now confirm it was money well spent, nay, invested! Like all previous Joe Jackson albums, the songs sound great at first hearing, and they go on growing until they achieve "evergreen" status. This is truly an amazing album because Joe Jackson has been in the music business about 30 years now and has never let up with sheer brilliance and musical polish. For those of us who are now well into our 40s, this album is very refreshing because the singing, musicianship and song-writing are as strong as ever, if not more so! And for younger listeners, it would be a very good starting point for appreciation of The Great Man himself. This album is definitely one you can buy on impulse without being disappointed. I just can't stop playing it!!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Eagerly awaited was this album, and as soon as the music started flowing through the speakers I was not disappointed. Not a duff track and, in my opinion, 'A place in the rain' ranks among one of his best tracks over his long career. If you've not ventured into Joe Jackson territory before then don't wait any longer. Buy this and you will be rewarded by the efforts of a true musician with outstanding support from Graham and Dave.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Joe Jacson - Rain
It's a CD that was recorded in 2008. And it's probably the best CD of Joe Jackson. Every track is played in a trio, Joe Jackson, Dave Houghton and Graham Maby. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Jeroen
Simple arrangements and beautiful songs in a three piece band......
Simple arrangements and beautiful songs... that's all you need to get a good record, Joe got it all here. Read more
Published on 1 May 2009 by David Calcano
Another Gem From A Neglected Maverick Genius
There is no such thing as a bad Joe Jackson album.
And this release upholds that .
Every track a winner, though some not outstandingly different from his last two... Read more
And this release upholds that .
Every track a winner, though some not outstandingly different from his last two... Read more
Published on 10 Mar 2009 by P. Bayley
A review for any non-Joe Jackson fans
It's great to have a loyal fan base, but an almost universal set of 5-star Amazon reviews for each and every one of Joe Jackson's albums is hardly helpful to a potential... Read more
Published on 12 Jun 2008 by Jack Limpet
Spokesman for a generation!
Fine album of different moods and colours, intelligent lyrics and superb playing using the same spare forces from 'Summer in the City' of piano, bass and drums.
Published on 7 Mar 2008 by Emteq
Joe at his best
Fantastic, absolutely fantastic. Joe, Graham and Dave at their very best. A must for all music lovers
Published on 7 Feb 2008 by Miniharrington
Another Masterpiece
A long awaited new album
I always get excited when Joe Jackson launches a new album, one because you never really know what your going to get and second you know a tour... Read more
I always get excited when Joe Jackson launches a new album, one because you never really know what your going to get and second you know a tour... Read more
Published on 31 Jan 2008 by Rob Smith
Raindrops keep falling on Joe Jackson
Jackson's new album is stunning. It's a return to basics, back to a three-piece band comprising piano, bass and drums, with lead vocals by Jackson. Read more
Published on 30 Nov 2007 by Treat Reynolds
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