Always Got Tonight

Chris Isaak | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 12, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Wea/Warner Bros
• ASIN: B00005V8ST
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (79 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #52,026 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

As the star of his own Showtime TV show, Chris Isaak plays a sly raconteur with perfect comic timing, but on his eighth album, he shows that he is still intent on continuing in the role of melancholy balladeer. With his movie-star good looks, affable personality, and string of celebrity girlfriends, it's increasingly hard to see him in as the perpetual loser in love, despite the convincing likes of "Cool Love" (Love is a flame / I just got burned again") or the mournful "Nothing to Say" ("Nothing to say now / Nothing to do / I feel my heart breaking and it's all because of you"). The real mystery is why his doctor hasn't given him a prescription for Paxil. Isaak momentarily breaks out of his funk with the adventurous and witty "Notice the Ring," which pays cheeky homage to the Contours' "First I Look at the Purse," and the beat-heavy, Beck-like "Always Got Tonight." But Isaak largely seems content to live in the past, strumming the same vintage guitar licks and singing the same sad, sad songs. --Jaan Uhelszki

Product Description

Isaak's first album since his TV success, and first in four years, 'Always Got Tonight', marks a return to form for the singer-songwriter-guitarist with the smoldering retro-pop vibe who has previously earned four gold or platinum albums. Reprise Records.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars American Idol, September 9, 2002

By 

John Orfield (Cincinnati) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Always Got Tonight (Audio CD)

After over 15 years, we know what to expect from Chris Isaak: a few midtempo numbers, a couple of heartbreaking ballads, and an occasional rocker with all of the lyrics about love, longing and loss. The trick is, no one really knows how to do it any better than Chris. Combining Roy Orbison's voice, Neil Diamond's sensitivity, and Elvis Presley's hair, Chris is the original American Idol.

ALMOST GOT TONIGHT doesn't stray too far from the template although there are a couple of surprises that sets this one apart from the rest of the Chris Isaak catalog. Songs like Let Me Down Easy, Courthouse, I See You Everywhere and One Day are surprisingly upbeat sounding, even if the lyrics are not. The heartbreakers, like Worked It Out Wrong and Life Will Go On, aren't given the country-twang treatment he usually gives his ballads. Then Chris gets downright funky on songs like Always Got Tonight, Notice The Ring and his theme song American Boy. My personal favorite is Cool Love, which starts off slow, shifts into a jangly beat, throws in a few breezy Burt Bacharach ba-ba-ba's, then soars into a chorus of "I'm never gonna let you down" that begs you to sing along. Great stuff.

The end result is one of Chris's better albums, right up there with HEART SHAPED WORLD, FOREVER BLUE and BAJA SESSIONS. It's immensely listener-friendly, whether you want to cry in your beer or take off down the highway for the sunny skies ahead.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good cd, but Chris has done better..., February 28, 2002

By 

S. Rojo (Placentia, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Always Got Tonight (Audio CD)

As a long time Chris Isaak fan and proud owner of his past works, I was very excited to hear about this new album. Even though I had heard the single "Let me Down Easy", this was a CD I would buy regardless of hearing anything on it prior to purchasing.

After listening to it for the past several weeks, I am giving this CD 4 stars. I have to concur with many other reviewers in that there are many melodies, rhythms as well as lyrics that are recognizable from Chris's prior albums. However, there is some material on this album that makes it a very good listen. I rather enjoy "One Day", "Notice the Ring", "Cool Love", and the catchy theme song from his television show "American Boy". Everything else I'm inclined to say I've heard before.

Here's my bottom line: Baja Sessions will always be my favorite Chris Isaak CD (and in my opinion his best work to date), but "Always got Tonight" is enjoyable enough that it will be in my CD player for many months to come.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Give Mr. Issak his dues, April 3, 2002

By 

"thegreekgod" (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Always Got Tonight (Audio CD)

Chris Isaak may very well be the last of the lost-love, love-found, melancholy singer/songwriters who remains cool. An exceptional vocalist, and his "Roy Orbison meets Dick Dale in a smokie lounge" persona is absolutely contagious. Always Got Tonight is my 8th album from Issak, and amazingly, this man has not released a disappointing collection yet. His songs of love gone bad, or a new love going good, are never sappy nor silly. When he chooses to rock out, he does so with flair and grit and genuine abandon. A gifted artist, in every sense of the word, this man has been persistant in doing things his way, and that is greatly appreciated by his fans. When one buys a Chris Issak album, they're gonna get a "Chris Isaak" album, not whatever the current trendy music fresh from the assemby line may be. I applaud his consistancy, his talent, and his attitude. Thanks for a great body of music (including this album) that has provided years of enjoyment.