Customer Reviews

Best of Chris Isaak (CD + DVD)

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm a latecomer to the music of Chris Isaak. Sure, I saw the video for "Wicked game" and thought it was good, but I never bought any albums until about a year ago. While going through a break up, I was seeking out music to drown my sorrow, and was given the suggestion to check out Isaak. I bought one album, and after a couple of listenings, went back and bought three more. I swear, he was writing about my particular situation in several songs. For those that wish to know that they are not alone when feeling the pain of unrequited love, or if you feel that you were "done wrong" by your girl, these are your songs. Besides the subject matter, it doesn't hurt that the band can actually play, and Isaak can actually sing. In a world of manufactured "stars", it is nice to know that some musicians can actually do music.

As for the DVD part of this combo set, it is very well done. Technically, it is basic 2.0 stereo, which was a bit of a let down in a world of 5.1 surround sound, but this is not a limitation. I played the disc in 2.0 and it sounded pretty good. I then set my receiver to Dolby Pro-Logic II, and the sound got even better. It might not be true 5.1, but the music engulfed me and was very balanced from all of the speakers. In short, as I said, the rendering is not a limitation for listening enjoyment. One very unusual thing for a music DVD is the inclusion of Isaak's commentary for each song. I thought this might be some ego driven thing, but no. Chris Isaak is very funny. He has a dry, self-depreciating style of humor that is devoid of ego. The music alone is great, but the commentary is also terrific. Besides the commentary during the songs, also check out the "preamble", where Isaak very cleverly makes light of the production value. While watching very low tech pencil drawings of Isaak and his band in the studio, hear Issak's voice saying, "we were going to use film, and then hand puppets, then they gave me this pencil." And his request to the viewer about to watch the videos which span many years, "While watching the videos, see if you can see when in out career we became bitter." Funny stuff in the context of the visual.

The bottom line, this is a fine "get to know Chris Isaak" set for the uninitiated, and for fans, a chance to hear and watch the music from this talented group. You might also find, as I have, that he is also a very funny guy.

An intoxicating mix of Elvis Presley's early rockabilly and Roy Orbison's haunted crooning, Chris Isaak has maintained a sizable following over 21 years and nine albums despite having only one real pop hit, "Wicked Game." While all of his albums are inconsistent, they each contain plenty of highlights, making this 18-track Best Of long overdue.

Isaak wrote most of the songs on his albums except for the Baja Sessions project. Sometimes he's subtle ("Blue Spanish Sky," "Let Me Down Easy"), sometimes he rocks ("You Owe Me Some Kind Of Love," "Blue Hotel"). Occasionally, he builds from restrained to rowdy within the same recording ("Somebody's Crying," "Please") or breaks the musical mold completely, as with the sexy growler "Baby Did A Bad, Bad Thing." Almost always, though, he sings about heartbreak.

Along with the aforementioned Isaak classics, Best Of includes four previously unreleased tracks. The bluesy brooder "King With A Castle" and the boisterous relationship ender "Let's Have A Party" are nice additions to the Isaak catalog, and an acoustic version of "Forever Blue" is even lovelier than the original, but a live, noisy cover of Cheap Trick's "I Want You To Want Me" fails to approach the standard of the other enclosed recordings.

While far from a staple on the pop charts, the versatile Isaak has occasionally charted on other radio formats, with "Don't Make Me Dream About You" hitting at Modern Rock and his cover of Neil Diamond's "Solitary Man" making an impact at Adult Contemporary. Both are unfortunately omitted here. Other notably absent singles - which failed to chart, but remain fan favorites - include the rousing Yardbirds' remake of "Heart Full Of Soul," the hard rocking "Go Walking Down There," the breezy "Think Of Tomorrow," and the eerie "Graduation Day."

Isaak made some high-profile soundtrack contributions that were also ignored here. They include the secret agent parody "Suspicion Of Love" from Married To The Mob, the wistful "I Wonder" from Tin Cup, and the ultra-catchy "American Boy" which served as the theme for Isaak's acclaimed Showtime series. The quality of these omissions is such Reprise/Rhino could easily compile another 18-track set from Isaak's catalog that would be just as good. And hopefully they will, in the not too distant future.

This is the two-disc edition. It contains a DVD with 19 music videos (two versions of Wicked Game), some of which don't appear on the music CD. Fans familiar with Isaak's quirky humor will surely love the commentary that he provides for each video.

I've been waiting for a best of Chris Isaak, and this delivers in spades! The music on the CD is perfect by itself, but the videos and commentary are an added bonus. Each part of this deserves five stars... CD, videos, commentary.

Get this if you like any of Isaac's stuff or want to see what all the five-star ratings are about.

Oh, and Chris, if you're reading this? I know what you can do with those puppets in your garage: Sell them! Ebay, brother! ;-D

In the old tradition of Cash, Orbison or even Elvis, Isaak is a name that we can easily put side by side with those American kings.

This great collection is missing some memorable hits! How?
"Heart Full of Soul", "Funeral in the Rain", and, specially, "Lie to Me" (one of his best songs)! How could they be left out?! Add to this "Best Of", the older collection "Wicked Game", and the hits were all together.

"Baby did a bad bad thing", originally from "Forever Blue", wich Stanley Kubrick pick it up to haunts us in his last movie, "Eyes Wide Shut" - in wich the song had made a fabulous connection with Nicole Kidman's Alice - is a real nice addition to the older songs.

I think this collection is essential and the top video for "Wicked Game", with Helena Christensen, is worth the pack price alone! Gladly there are plenty more! And all good!

Plus, among other stories - we get to know, by Chris, that the European version of the classic "Wicked Game" video, by Herb Ritts, is more arty and sexy. And the clouds are not a montage as some people might think. Hotel stories - Chris changed room with Helena, during shooting sessions, in Hawaii... And because of that he gets in trouble with his girlfriend. And lots more. Very funny...

Do yourself a favor - buy this magnific set!

Chris Isaak has had an eclectic career. He's also been one of the more endearing and underrated figures in America's musical landscape. Despite never quite being a-list, or cult, Chris Isaak has managed to make it work somehow, avoiding the pigeonholes of folk, country or pop.

This is a great collection. A CD and DVD? That's what a musical legacy is all about. I don't know which one I'm more excited about but the CD features an excellent choice of songs. Haunting, moody, dark, brooding, bluesy, folksy, occasionally a burst of sunshine - that best describes Isaak's musical style. He's managed to make the old cool and sound refreshing.

If you haven't heard Isaak...this is a good place to start. If you have - well, dig into the DVD. There are some amazing videos here with classic films by MTV stalwarts Herb Ritts and Bruce Weber who helped shape Chris Isaak's image as a soulful pin up boy. The joke is that Helena Christensen in "Wicked Game" complained about Chris's bad breath in their intimate scenes - but that's not discussed here...enjoy the music!

PS - Isaak's cover of Cheap Trick's "I Want You to Want Me" is almost worth the price of buying this set...

I'm a long-time Chris Isaak fan, so I was very eager to get this. It's a good collection, but I thought it should have included more of his earlier work. The new songs that were included pale by comparison; I was particularly disappointed by "Let's Have a Party." Chris has done much better work; this one seems like he's just coasting. The collection did remind me just how good "Speak of the Devil" was though. The video collection makes this worth the price and essential for most fans.

I have always been a fame of Chris Isaak, however his records and CD's were hard to find until I found him on Amazon. This truly is a collection of his best work. I have the CD in the car with 5 other of my favorite CD's and I listen to them all the time. I drive a lot each day and I never get tired of the music. With over 200 CD's in my collection I have not changed any out since loading Chris's CD and hand picking 5 more to go with him (approx 4 months) I am proud to be a Chris Isaak fame and a Amazon user.

Jon Grant

This compilation is excellent. All classics from Mr Isaak are here plus new tracks, which will not disappoint you also. I have all previous albums, but to have all hits on one disc was very temptating idea, and of course Videos are something brilliant, especially meaning the situation when you will not see them on TV nowadays. So, 5 stars definitely.

It is better than average product...something you might return to once in a while and not be resigned to the shelves from now on. He is an under rated singer songwritter funnyman model actor...more guts than Brad Pitt or Tom Cruise easily. IF he would only apply himself, get that PR position filled, find a publicist, quit being a slacker Chris. How about Stevie Nicks opening up for your show? Use it or loss it in other words. I just saw you in Albuquerque this past week and you're a treasure. Is your humor off the cuff or rehearsed...your funnier than Steve Martin, seriously! I love your music and have about six of your CD's now so keep up the great work...alright already.

What can I say. I've always loved Chris Isaak's music. His loving ballads and good looks can't be beat. Every song has something to offer. The DVD has commentary if you want, which gives good insite to each song, with a sense of humor that shows he's human too. I wish there was a DVD on all of his songs. The DVD also offers a couple songs I haven't heard on any of his CDs. Also, the DVD offers the videos without the commentary. I do not like country music, but Chris provides the country side, with rock, stories and heartfelt songs that are relateable. The Dvd/Cd Best of Chris Isaak has a good combination of songs from all of his releases. I like the DVD best because he makes you feel he is singing to you AND he is good looking in a bad boy/good boy old fashion new modern look. Hard to get all of that in one artist.