Customer Reviews

Beach House On The Moon [Enhanced CD]

5 star:		(82)
4 star:		(56)
3 star:		(23)
2 star:		(27)
1 star:		(19)

 

 

I broke up with my first serious boyfriend the summer that "Margaritaville" hit the charts, and I will always remember it vividly. Listened to this CD at work... popped it into my computer, and WOW. There was Jimmy on the screen. If you haven't yet check out the enhanced video that you can watch on your computer. The songs are more deliberate and lyrical than some of his other work. I especially liked the title cut and "Oysters & Pearls." Gave it to my little sister for her 40th birthday and she proclaimed it her "favorite present." From the other reviews, I would suggest previewing this CD but I think older parrotheads will love it.

As a Parrothead, I was excited about Beach House On The Moon. If you're standing at the shelf scratching your head, trying to decide whether to pick this record up, pay close attention to the cover. It is a good clue.

First, you have Jimmy sitting there, and yes, he is on the record. But he seems to just "sit there", with little to no imagination. So goes the music within. Jimmy has been exploring more and more bizarre subject matter of late, likely a product of his recent success as an author. This isn't bad, but it isn't Buffett, either. The album has its encouraging moments, like when the disc hits the introspective "Pacing The Cage", and you think he will get back on track. But then Jimmy falls clumsily with the rather absurd and juvenile "Math Suks". I still love Jimmy Buffett, and maybe I've become "old school" and Jim has sailed to new waters and left me behind clutching my "Boats..." boxed-set. This is an Enhanced CD, and the video footage that Jim includes is fun. The album ends strongly with the short and sweet "Oysters and Pearls", but there is too much filler in between. The song "Permanent Reminder of a Temporary Feeling" is great lyrically, but the melody is tired and strained. Jimmy Buffett has become a full-fledged businessman, and this album almost gives the impression that he is too busy to concentrate on his music. There is no disputing his talent, and there are a few good tracks on this offering. But overall, it is rather forgettable.

It's been said that Jimmy Buffett provides an escape for every baby-boomer with a lousy job and credit card bills to face. On this album, he often sounds like just such an animal. Surprisingly void of beach-and-bar songs, this one clearly finds our hero in a landlubber frame of mind. Nonetheless, the Pirate Looking At 53 is still capable of soundbite lyrics like "I got a PBS mind in an MTV world" and, if some of this album's best songs were not written by Buffett (an unusual circumstance for him), his knack for putting his own stamp on others' songs is still in fine form. This is not an every-song-is-a-gem album, but in the age of skip buttons, there's plenty to recommend it.

The sad truth is, several of Buffett's own contributions find him in a holding pattern as a writer, particularly "Math Suks," reportedly a grafitti-inspired title and easily among his least impressive songs ever. (Then again, anyone who recalls the eighth grade could identify!) But Bruce Cockburn's "Pacing the Cage" more than makes up for such shortcomings. A rather flowery statement of uncertainty and isolation, it's a bit outside Buffett's usual deadpan style, but his knowing delivery and the subtle instrumental backing put the song right at home in his canon. In a similar slow-song vein, "Semi-True Story" and "Lucky Stars" find Buffett as close to his country roots as he's been at any time in the past two decades. They also provide a welcome dose of his patented low-key humor, although he didn't write either of them. (The former, featuring a reference to a legendary 1973 parking lot incident involving Buffett, will be a special treat to serious fans.)

Best of all, just when you might think Buffett is relying too heavily on other people's songs, he serves up two bona fide winners. "I Will Play for Gumbo" is the album's most energetic entry, with an accordion-driven Cajun style melody backing up Buffett's quirky declaration of love for the title food, capped by the best couplet he's given us in years: "It's a little like religion and a lot like sex/you should never know when you're gonna get it next." Then there's "I Don't Know and I Don't Care," an announcement of exasperation with 90s style Personal Issues; it strikes me as a gentler version of the Eagles' "Get Over It." As long as Buffett can give us a pair of top-notch songs like these, he'll get decent reviews from me.

I got the album for Father's Day. After one listen I was hooked. Its the same old Buffett humour/sound. It has R&B, country, tropic style music. Love those steel drums! I have absolutely fallen in love with "Oysters & Pearls". Beautiful music, thoughtful lyrics. The tune comments some take chances while most others play it safe. "I will play for Gumbo" is sort of a Cheeseburger In Paradise of the 90s. Its upbeat and a lot of fun. "You call It Joggin" is a nice jazz flavoured tune featuring a horn section. "I Don't Know And I Don't Care" is classic Buffett which has a typical Buffett lyric: I've got a PBS mind in an MTV world. Other standouts are "Waiting For The Next Explosion", "Flesh & Bones", "A Permament Reminder Of A Temporary Feeling", "Pacing The Cage" Overall this album is relaxing with some upbeat tunes, introspective and one Buffett's best efforts ever.

I own a lot of Buffet's Cd's and this was a real disappointment, it was like he said it was time for a new album so he thought of all the current cliches and used them to make songs of them. I was very unhappy, the only one that was original Jimmy was "Beach House on the Moon".

Its hard to find any missteps on Jimmy Buffet's musicial career. However, this CD sounds a little tired in spots and overly corny in others. In also contains, Math Suks, probably the most least thoughtful song of Jimmy Buffett's career. To incorporate playground nonsense in a song and crude unrealisitc comments in a beauty paegeant in a song just does not work for me. The title track that opens this recording kind of meanders for nearly seven minutes with the lack of a catchy melody. The second song Permanent Reminder of a Temporary Feeling where it has a catchy melody also procedes at a slow sluggish pace that makes it somewhat forgettable. You Call It Jogging and I Will Play For Gumbo are two of the stronger tracks at least rhythmically. However, creative wise they sound like slightly cheaper re-writes from the Banana Wind sessions. Lucky Stars and Oysters and Pearls are two strong tracks no doubt about it. And it is always nice to here the use of the steel drums on many of the tracks. However,the half baked effort really puts this effort at 2 1/2 stars.

To write anything that intends to be critical of a JB release is tantamount to heresy or insanity,a little disappointing even..but it must be said,this is not my favourite JB CD,and never will be.Despite the glowing previous reviews,there are flaws in this offering,that only the blind devotion of a Parrothead would miss. Firstly,*Maths Suks* should never have seen the light of day,its an embarassment,enough said.I have a great sense of humour but this is ridiculous for a grown man to write about ,let alone sing.Jimmy is a travelling troupador to me not a baffoon!!! Secondly,what the hell is JB singing other peoples songs for,if I wanted to listen to Bruce Cockburn and others I buy their CDs.I love Jimmy's songs in preference, no matter how good the others are. Thirdly,this is not an accessible CD,say as Changes In Latitudes Changes In Attitudes,A1A,Riddles In The Sand,or Banana Wind ARE!! Fourthly,where is the One Particular Harbour feel,where is the Jimmy trademark..what the hell is maritial infidelity doing on here?????and someone elses song no end!!!! I do agree that there are great songs on this CD,and as a fan of 25 years I think I am qualified to pick them.*Gumbo* is vintage JB and deservedly will appear in the concert set.Oysters And Pearls and Lucky Stars reflect what Jimmy has always been able to say about our condition,and his sense of humour is evident in *Waiting For The Next Explosion*.I took a long time to get into this,but I was prepared to go the distance..for the unfamiliar,I wonder???If he has written for the converted I suppose this will appeal.The title track and for that matter the first couple of songs lack zest and although they have familiar themes we all love and know by heart..they didnt make me smile.

To sum up my feelings on this CD I think Jimmy produced a product that is technically good but below his usual standards,although all the ingredients are there.. including the wandering Coral Reefer band members,who sound as good as ever..which depending upon my mood,may change my disappointment and I think this isnt too bad after all.Overall however,I think it sounds like formula to me,writing by numbers..and dare I say it ..no I cant....lets hope the next one is a little different.3 stars only,possibly 4 on a really good day.Sorry Jimmy!!

I was very excited about this new CD after the lift I got from Bananna Wind. After listening to this CD one time in my car, on the way home from the record store, I literally tossed it out the window into the bushes along route 78. It was not even good enough to give away to someone else who might have different taste. It was just plain terrible. I will not buy another JB CD without previewing it first. It seems like Jimmy sold out and just cranked this one out to meet a contract commitment or something. Sorry Jimmy, I still love ya, but this CD sucks worse than math.

I like many of Jimmy's most recent albums -- "Banana Wind" and especially "Barometer Soup" are some of my favorites -- but as with all of Jimmy's albums, there's hits and misses. "Beach House on the Moon," for me, is a miss, much as "Fruitcakes" was.

It's entirely possible that he's speaking to another segment of his audience, although I honestly don't know what would distinguish them -- they like really clumsy novelty songs and songs that gaze so hard into Jimmy's navel they're unlistenable?

I don't need his albums to all be bouncy bar rock -- one of my favorites, "Son of a Son of a Sailor" is almost entirely wistful -- but I do need to be able to connect with the music and lyrics better than I can with "Beach House on the Moon."

I'd give this album a pass, Parrotheads, and pick up an earlier album you might have missed.

I suppose when all is said and done, the music and song of Jimmy Buffett is simply a matter of taste. You of course could say that about any entertainer or any genre but in many ways, Buffett is an acquired taste; a taste that once you have it, needs to be fed from time to time. I have quite a number of CDs (and indeed, old tapes) by this artist and am constantly either buying new ones or burning them from friends.

Beach House on the Moon may not be the best Buffett release but it does have enough songs on it that I personally like to keep me stuffing it in the player both at home and in the car. Some of the songs on this CD are a bit different from his earlier and more traditional "Buffett" fare, but I like them despite this. I was not at all disappointed when I first played this one and as I play it more I become more fond of and appreciative of several of the numbers here.

I will say right now though that "Math Suks," is for me, probably the least appealing of any song this singer has ever produced. I always hit the skip button when I get to it. What on earth was he thinking?

But hey, no one can bat a thousand, so I give him a pass on this one. The title song, `Beach House on the Moon' more than makes up for the horrid Math thing. I am also rather fond of `Permanent Reminder," and `Pacing the Cage." The other songs are interesting and entertaining and I most certainly enjoy listening to each of them in turn. This is a very mellow version of Buffett; a rather subdued singer and possible a bit for thoughtful. There is little of the happy silliness we find in many of his songs of which I have enjoyed, but I sort of like this as a change of pace and it has given be a chance to hear a different side of the man. On this one you will hear a bit less of the Coral Reefers, and a bit more Buffett.

This one is getting just a bit difficult to find and I am glad I have my original copy.

Again though, it is all a matter of taste. I have a friend who is a true Parrot Head to despises this entire CD...go figure.

Don Blankenship
The Ozarks