Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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33 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Joe Jackson is verging on becoming a national treasure, 26 Nov 2007
"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.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Welcome Return, Sheer Brilliance!, 2 Feb 2008
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!!
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Yet another classic, 2 Feb 2008
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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