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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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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another Masterpiece, 31 Jan 2008
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 is on it's way.
This album does not disappoint, It's Joe Jackson at his best, no fancy sounds just good musicians doing what they do best.
The one thing that does stand out on this album is how good musicians Joe Jackson (Piano), Graham Maby (bass) and Dave Houghton (drums) are, the mix of Instruments are truly fantastic, I don`t think I ever previous appreciated just how good Graham and Dave are at what they do, vocally I thought they were also fantastic, I found myself playing not only Air Piano, but Air Bass and air Drums.
Song's on the album that I thought stood out were Invisible Man, Wasted Time, and Place In The Rain, Invisible Man reminded me of a friend who was back in my CD player, Wasted time reminded me in some way's of Slow song from his Night and Day album that I have never tied of listening to.
Of course the album get's five stars, but I have been a fan of Joe Jackson since I heard Beat Crazy back when dinosaurs walked the earth.
The DVD is a nice touch, shows Joe and co live in London.
If you have never heard or are unfamiliar with Joe Jackson give this a go, I promise your enjoy it.
I remember when I saw him In Manchester on the Night and Day 2 tour one of the stewards had never heard of Joe Jackson (like most people they think he is one of the Jackson five) after the concert he was speechless at how good he was and I could see him buying a CD from the small stall in the hall.
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