Customer Reviews

Another World

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

An extremely strong effort by Rafferty that grows on you with each subsequent listen...His unique vocals and his incredible gift of melody have aged superbly; in fact, he has grown wiser and better over time. It's a complete shame that most of his work is out of print or unavailable in the U.S.- but I took a chance and ordered this CD from the UK and am delighted that I did. This effort has Rafferty reflecting back on his life, perhaps coming to terms with his successes, regrets, and his own mortality. The results are sublime. I can't do this work reasonable justice in only 1,000 words, but suffice it to say that Rafferty's tongue-in-cheek 'humor' shines even through songs with a hint of 'message' within ('In the Land of the Chosen Few', for example). Powerful melodies and enthralling hooks make 'Everytime That I Wake Up' and 'It's Better This Way' radio-ready, sing-along hits, and the gospel-tinged choirs and backdrops of the title tune, 'Xavier and Honor' and 'Children of the Sun' lend a maturity to Rafferty's work that's not ever been so strong. Go to whatever means you have to in order to get a hold of this one, you won't be sorry!

I hadn't heard any music by Gerry Rafferty in several years until recently hearing a song he released in 1992, "I See Red". That song is what caused me to decide, "Hey, I need to check out this new album because the man's still making some great music after all these years". I'm really glad I did, too, because I'm very impressed by these new songs. Rafferty's voice sounds pretty much identical to the City To City days (he does take it to places beyond that on a few tracks here, he shows some soul influence on "Sweet Love") and his songwriting is as impressive as it ever was, if not more so. "All Souls" is a great album opener and sounds like it would be a perfect live show opener as well with the soulful background singers and rhythm. "Keep It To Yourself" is just such a COOL tune, you have to hear it to appreciate it. "Children of the Sun" (not the Billy Thorpe song) is a terrific song that, once it gets in your head, you'll want to hear it again and again. There's even a modern, hip-hoppish beat on a couple of tracks but it works well with the arrangements of these fine songs - it never sounds like he's trying to sell out for commerciality's sake, although one song that doesn't work that well for me is "Who's House Is It Anyway?" - it's a little too funky that sounds like Rafferty's stretching a bit too far out of his element. Special note: at the end of the last track on the disc, there's a long period of complete silence, like 3 or 4 minutes, but if you'll keep listening, you'll hear a short and humorous "hidden" track. In closing, let me say that I only expect to be more impressed by "Another World" with repeated plays. And if you ever loved "Baker Street", "Right Down The Line" and "Days Gone Down", you need to go out of your way or pay the import price to buy "Another World". There's very few pop or rock artists that have maintained the quality of their craft for decades - Gerry Rafferty is among those few.

Good to see this on Amazon.com. I was able to buy
this last year overseas and Gerry has lost none of
his voice and melodies and this collection is
a must for those Gerry Rafferty 70's diehards and
anyone that loves great music, wonderful stuff.

This album was well worth the lengthy wait for it, but with a Rafferty release that is no surprise. While it is a superb album, it doesn't quite match the likes of "City to City" or "North and South", hence the 4 star rating, but 4.5 stars is more like it.

With fourteen bona fide tracks and a quick and fun bonus, you might think that this CD would struggle to sustain it's 70 minute length, but while there are a couple of questionably-executed cuts - "Whose House Is It Anyway?" being the 'worst' - for the most part this is vintage Rafferty. A stark difference between this and any of his other albums is that he seems to have found spiritual and self-enlightenment, meaning the bitter edge that drove the "Wing and a Prayer" album, for example, is nowhere to be found. Just one more sign that you never know quite what to expect from him - other than quality of course.

It's somehow reassuring to know that people are making and releasing albums of this quality, it's just a shame that more people aren't aware of it. Still, it's nice to be in the land of the chosen few...

I just bought this new c.d. of Gerry Rafferty. I agree with all other reviews: this is an excellent album from a great artist. His songs are from another world and deserve much more attention. I hope his music will be released on a live c.d. / dvd as well.

I have been a fan of Gerry Rafferty for 30 years and all I can say is that he just gets better with age ! This album is a complete joy to listen to from beginning to end (apart from the 4 min silence in final track ! )In todays music market this album shines like a beacon to music lovers in a sea of mediocrity ! - Thanks Gerry !

If you liked the previous works of Rafferty, then you'll love this album. Produced in 2000, it shows how Rafferty can adapt his writings to the times and technology of the day. More over, its a pretty deep album with lyrics that show a struggle of a man still trying to overcome the "sleep" in which he's been living (It made me re-think the album SLEEPWALKING and notice tha wandering through life as a subconscious sleepwalker is a underlying theme in ALL of his works).
I'm getting too deep here. Pick this album up and watch how you end up singing ALL SOULS, LAND OF THE CHOSEN FEW, WHOSE HOUSE IS IT ANYWAY, and CONSCIOUS LOVE in your head all week.

This last Gerry Release is alot Different that his other Material, but None the less still Great. I stumbled across this cd by accident by going to Gerry's old Web Site Message board, and finding it for sale there and Grabbed it up Immediately. I was not Disappointed after listening a Few times to it Really Grew on me. Just Another Classic Rafferty Release. While his Old Web Site was up Gerry was Working on Releasing New Material,but it all went by the Way Side, at Lease none of us has Heard any more about when or if the Material will ever be Released, but we can Hope someday it will be. Anyway Grab this one while You still can, because it just Simply Great as with all of Gerry's Music.

I was fortunate in finding this cd on Amazon Marketplace at a great price as it is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain it in the U.K. On hearing this for the first time I was not quite sure about this latest and final release by Gerry Rafferty . I think it is fair to say that it is different from his earlier recordings, but the more I played it the better it got! If you are a Gerry Rafferty fan and get the chance to buy this increasingly rare release then stick with it like I did. You will be richly rewarded.