Customer Reviews

Animal Logic II

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

With their second--and unfortunately final--outing, the poprock trio consisting of Stewart Copeland (of Police fame), Stanley Clarke, and Deborah Holland pulled together to create a much more complex and satisfying album than their first. Copeland in particular sounds much freer and relaxed in his playing, laying out some of his more trademark complex rhythms and fanciful hi-hat work against Clarke's funky bass beat. Holland composes some richer songs here as well--particularly noteable being the moody "Through a Window" and the catchy "Love In the Ruins". Jackson Browne lends a hand and some wonderful vocals on "Another Place", and it's impossible to sit still through the great, near-improvisational energy of "Stone in My Shoe".

It's really a shame that this band called it quits just as they seemed to be finding their groove musically, and this is an album I still listen to frequently and with great appreciation. If you can find a copy of it, definitely give it a chance.

Listening to this CD again is both immensely pleasurable and bittersweet as this is both Animal Logic's second and last one. Sad, but just as they hit their stride they disbanded.

There's not much more I can add to the other well written reviews here, other than to praise this CD as one to have. I put it as one of the best pop/rock CDs of the nineties. And it has aged well: in 2009 it still sounds fresh, solid, and innovative--and definitely not overproduced.

It has much to recommend it, not the least of which is Copeland's and Clarke's brilliant rhythm playing. They dominate so that the guitars and keyboards sound like filler.

But what carries this CD (as it does their first) is Holland's passionate singing. Lacking in a wide octave range, she more than makes up for it by throwing her soul into each and every song, and she puts the likes of Madonna and Whitney Houston to shame.

The songwriting here is a bit uneven (with some awkward lines), and definitely has a feminine perspective, but each song bears the mark of a real original voice. Two of the songs, In the Garden and Stone In My Shoe, are two of the best and most memorable pop/rock songs written in the last 25 years.

Unequivocally recommended.

This second release from Animal Logic is a very worthwhile listen. The songs are perhaps not as catchy as the first release, but they are just as interesting and more complex musically. The rhythm section of Copeland and Clarke is tight and Holland's dulcette vocals are incredible. This band was a melding of styles that on first glance wouldn't seem to work. Clarke is a jazz bassist, Copeland is a rock drummer with a very reggae style and Holland wrote country and western tunes. Together they melded into a very interesting (and I daresay progressive) trio. It's a shame that the critical acclaim didn't result in commercial success and they finished out their contract with a live CD that is almost impossible to find.

I admit I mainly bought this album because I have always had a profound regard for Stuart Copeland's drumming, and becasue I already owned Animal Logic I. I think the Copeland drum work on Animal Logic II is better than on the first album, with some great variations built around the usual unique sound (does any other drummer sound or compare with Copeland). On top of this, Stanley Clarke is clearly a master base player, and Deborah Holland writes solid interesting songs which she sings well. This album is more rhythm-section driven, and overall the composition content is stronger and more even than the first album. The whole thing smacks of class and musicianship. As other reviewers have noted, an overlooked gem in many ways and it reinforces the sad demise of The Police with the subsequent underexposure of Copeland and Summers, who continued to quietly release albums demonstrating their superb musicianship. Get this album to remind yourself what a great drummer Copeland is and to listen to some classy pop musicianship.

When I first bought this CD, it was primarily because of Stanley Clarke and Stewart Copeland. I wasn't ready for the direction this CD took since all I had in my ears were the echos of the Police and Return To Forever.

It's taken me some time to appreciate this album and Deborah Holland for both her voice and her writing. She can make her voice soar over Clarke & Copeland which is no easy task. Or she can be sweetly melodic. Most of this music is Deborah's. The more I listen the more I enjoy her writing. Yet having said that the three of them perform as one. The group integrates various instruments to create a pool that Deborah can swim through. The production values on this CD are excellent. I could wish for them to be together again. Making music.

I originally had a cassette of this back around 1990-91. It showed up at our magazine for review. Cassette got stolen when someone broke into my vehicle and stole my entire tape collection. I'd forgotten about it for years, though I liked it a lot when it was in my possession.

I'd read other reviews that the first album was the best, and that this effort showed a 'sophomore slump.' What were those reviewers smoking? The entire first 8 songs cook. It loses a little punch with the last couple, but you're so satisfied with the previous 35 minutes it's more like a gentle fade out.

This lost gem of an album is highly recommended for intelligent pop with a big dose of energy.

Great recording, awesome bass, fantastic drums. Vocals not so cool, well I listen to real heavy metal, so obviously I would not like these female vocals, but if you're into drums, this is a must have....Awesome recording for high end stereos, no I'm not talking about bose systems....

This is Animal Logic's second and last ablum. Animal Logic is a jazz/pop/vocal trio of jazz bassist Stanley Clark (Return to Forever), drummer Stewart Copeland (of the Police, plus progressive rock band Curved Air, and many interesting jazz projects) and singer/songwrite Deborah Holland. This CD also has a number of guest musicians.

The CD was released in 1991 and is 45 minutes long. The sound quality is very good for a CD from that era.

This album has much more depth and variety than the first Animal Logic CD. The songs and music are much better and more interesting. If you just like pop vocals, you might like the first CD better. But, I think that Holland also shows more range on this CD.

Both Clark and Stewart are much more prominent on this CD. That doesn't make it a jazz instrumental CD. They just open up more and make the songs all that more interesting.

I bought this CD first. Then, when I got the first CD, I was very disappointed. While I think every song on this CD is strong (except maybe Rose Colored Glasses, which sounds like it belongs on the first CD), I only like 5 out of the 10 songs on the first CD. But, that is a good guage. If you really like Rose Colored Glasses, you will really like the first CD.

What else is there to say? Copeland on percussion and The Man on bass. Vocals are solid if not spectacular. Bummer that they did nothing after II but both albums are worth a listen, over and over... Gotta love Stanley Clarke on anything!

Smart lyrics, yes, and of course Stanley Clarke's bass playing is always awesome. But too much of this album is over-produced with oh-so-eighties touches. The more they stick to the Animal Logic trio of Deborah Holland, Clarke, and Stewart Copeland, (and David Lindley) the better it stands up 15 years later.