Customer Reviews

Baja Sessions

5 star:		(52)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Chris Isaak has one of the most beautiful voices in pop music. Here's a crooner who can really deliver, with a versatile instrument that can rise to powerful heights one minute, or sound as hushed as Chet Baker the next. He's also surrounded by just the right musicians and production values.

Highlights are "Yellow Bird" and a plaintive version of Orbison's "Only the Lonely," although I also like the more uptempo hit, "Dancin'" and oh all right -- pretty much everything else. Throughout, Isaak's voice is a joy, and if you are in the mood for his gentle tropics-influenced sound, you won't be disappointed.

The recorded sound is excellent -- with a slight reverb here and there -- and only adds to the relaxed, laid-back atmosphere. This is an ideal CD for a relaxing summer day, with or without a margarita.

I have collected all of Chris Isaak's CD's. In my opinion, by far, Baja Sessions is the best. Every song is a winner. " Pretty Girls Don't Cry " is my favorite on this disk and it is better than the original. The fact that he does all these 'cover' tunes is great. Roy Orbison's " Only The Lonely ", Dean Martin's " Return To Me " are just a few. I cannot recommend this CD enough. There is not one clunker song on the list. Chris Isaak has taken the ' Rockabilly ' edge and shaved it off and turned it into a lovely, pleasing sound that is his own distinctive style. I love Rockabilly music but if you want a new, fresh style of singing, Chris Isaak is it and Baja Sessions is one of the best albums ( CD's ) I have ever bought.

Clocking in at only 39 minutes, and recorded in "Baja" San Francisco, this is more a placeholder than a true followup to last year's Forever Blue. Included among the thirteen tracks are reworkings of cuts from Isaak's 1985 LP Silvertone, including "Pretty Girls Don't Cry" "Back On Your Side" and "Dancin'", a cover of 1989's "Wrong to Love You," and a new version of 1993's "Two Hearts." Also included is a rendering of Roy Orbison's signature tune, "Only the Lonely," featuring what seems to be the C&H Sugar jingle used as a guitar riff. Rounding out the covers are the chestnuts "South of the Border (Down Mexico Way)" "Yellow Bird" and "Sweet Leilani." In total, Isaak adds only four new titles to this LP.

What's Isaak's motivation for covering Isaak? Apparently a desire to apply his signature sound to compositions recorded before his penmanship was so refined. The double tracked vocals of earlier versions have been replaced by the fuller, more confessional stylings of Chris Isaak circa 1996. The production is stripped of mid-80s gloss and given Isaak's now characteristic sound: sparse arrangements with a bass-heavy balance and crystalline guitars that compliment Isaak's languorous vocals. Given the explosive popularity of 1989's Heart Shaped World, the reworked songs provide a fan-friendly introduction to some of Isaak's earlier material.

More of an Isaak-snack than a full meal. But it's a tasty snack.

Forget Buffett. Mix yourself a big pitcher of margaritas and find yourself a hammock, back porch swing, lawn chair or whatever you have. Then, sit back and let the sounds of Baja Sessions carry you away to Southern California or any other paradise you're long overdue for. The Roy Orbison cover is worth the price of the CD alone.

I once read in a review of a Creedence album that their music is "about as contrived as the weather." That's a good take on Isaac's Baja Sessions album. These songs are so honest, unpretensious, expressive, and well-performed that they seem to be something Isaak must have discovered, rather than written and recorded himself. As many other reviewers have observed here, he has one of the best voices in the history of popular music (personally, I think it's THE best). And I love the sense of place, the sense of location, the blend of southern Californian and Mexican cultures here. As with the blues and the Mississippi delta, or bluegrass with Kentucky and Apallachia, it's art that is expressive not just of the artist but of his culture as well, of the people around him rather than only of him, that is really worth something. The original material here is as good as the covers, which are done so well they seem as though Isaak might as well have written them, too.

Isaac apparently produced this album in Mexico after completing his previous 'Forever Blue' , this in contrast is an upbeat romantic album and new fans will love it as much as old , and why ?

Simply because it exudes romance. Isaac is the messiah of cover tracks he pays homage to Roy Orbisons 'Only The Lonely' and Dean Martins 'Return to Me' is a beautifully crafted track that serenades you into a pit of romantic escapism. This album is reminiscent of 'San Francisco Days' and both are what i call 'beach albums' perfect for chilling out next to the sea with a tequila and bronzed babes playing bat n ball (badly).
Its also a very consistent album and has the theme tune 'Two Hearts' which was chosen as the track for Tarantinos 'True Romance' he has covered dozens of movies and i wonder how many people have heard and loved Chris Isaac music without realizing who the hell he is.
Hers a tip for you Isaac fans , in the same year he released 2 tracks similar to the ones on this album , so check out his 2 songs on the Kevin Costner film soundtrack 'Perfect World'. ****BAJA SESSIONS IS A MUST FOR ANYONE WHO WHO HAS COOL TASTE , ITS MODERN MIXED WITH OLD IN THE STYLE OF ELVIS / ROY ORBISON.

can you believe Isaacs 46 years old ,Orbison would be proud of his prodigal son.

Of the entire Chris Isaak collection I own, this CD goes everywhere with me. This is simply beautiful music written (mostly) and sung by a fantastic singer. Chris can sing anything anytime for me.

Bad day at work? Boss getting on your nerves? Family on your back? Pour yourself your favorite beverage, lock yourself in a room and play this CD over and over and over until you are lulled into a peaceful slumber. You won't regret it.

Watch Chris' show on Showtime. It's very toungue-in-cheek humor, but you'll be able to get a sample of his songs on every show. What can I say? I love this man. (but not in a twisted stalker type way, of course)

I liked his fresh approacb to some classics...he treats them with respect, and does not get too outlandish with his renditions. A cool drink, a hammock, palm trees and cool ocean breezes - all conhured up with this "Baja Sessions."

Kudos, there, Chris!

In some senses, this may be the best Chris Isaak album. It's very easy to listen to all the way through, the low-key arrangements of torch-songs-- both classics and originals-- are the perfect fit for Isaak's bluer-than-blue delivery. His pharsing is so carefully wrought, the playing so sympathetic, it's hard not to love this album. Best listened to alone, in the dark. If you can listen to his reading of "Waiting for my lucky" without getting a lump in your throat, there is something wrong with your soul!

The recording quality reminds one of Orbison's early 60's work-- it has the "Living Stereo"-like quality--- a liquid, almost "splashy" midrange, what sounds like plenty of warm, room-reverb, vocals that sound like they are 2 feet in front of you, lots of spatial cues. This sonic motif adds to the album's overall coherence.

Wonderful.

In his followup to his carreer masterpiece, "Forever Blue", Chris Isaak takes you with him,to the sand and surf...mostly surf, of Baja California. Re-doing some of his best work, particularly "Two Hearts" and "Back on Your Side", with a tropical twist, Isaak adds some pretty originals ("Think Of Tomorrow", "Waiting For My Lucky Day"), and some gorgeous remakes ("Yellow Bird", "Only The Lonely"). The coolest remake, most would agree, is The Roy Orbison one, but I have to say that Isaak's cover of "South of the Border (Down Mexico Way)" is my favorite. So sit back, sip that margarita, and relax....let Chris and the Band take you to Baja....in style