Customer Reviews

Beyond the Sun (2CD)

5 star:		(43)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Dear Music Appreciators,

I've been a fan of Chris Isaak since hearing "Wicked Game" in junior high - I still remember that famous music video oozing sex and cool and how many mix tapes I made for girls with that song on it...that was about 22 years ago and Chris Isaak is still at it...and still extremely underappreciated.

This latest album finds him paying tribute to the sounds of Sun Records and covering songs by some of his influences who recorded there. If the Sun Records story is unfamiliar to you it might be worth your time to read up on it a bit, you know - Google it or whatever.

If you're a fan of Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, or, well, Chris Isaak of course, then I think you will find something to like here.

My overall impression of this album is that Chris Isaak alternates between turning in respectable, slightly reserved performances of some of the more famous songs ("Great Balls of Fire," "I Walk the Line") and high-energy, hot performances of some of the lesser-known songs ("Trying to Get To You," "Miss Pearl"). This highlights the fact that there is no one that can do those legendary hits like the original legendary artists, and maybe that's not a bad thing - after all , one wouldn't expect an album of, say, Beatles covers to transcend the original versions...this is a tribute album really, and a darn good one, and Chris Isaak gets bonus points for achieving his usual cool guy/fun guy/blue guy/retro guy dynamic, complimented as always by his usual breathtaking good looks and remarkably beautiful vintage voice.

Put this record on and let Chris Isaak take you back to the glory days of Sun Records...and let him make you feel just a little bit cooler along the way. This kind of music can fill a room with what I like to call "Instant Atmosphere," which is great for parties, or romance, or heartbreakingly cool, dimly lit moments of loneliness with a drink in your hand...

Sincerely,

Constant Listener

First let me say that "Beyond the Sun" is a great album by Chris Isaak. And it is great in large part because it is not just "another Chris Isaak album." It is an album devoted to a music he loves, that he has in fact based his entire career on - rockabilly and early rock and roll. But it is also a deliberate departure from the songwriting formula that he has followed, with great success, for his entire professional life. We, and he, are better for the chances he takes here.

Like many reviewers, I am an enthusiastic fan of Chris Isaak. I first heard "Blue Hotel," from the album "Chris Isaak," while driving home from work. I bought the album the next day. I was hooked by the purity of Isaak's voice, his range, and the feeling he conveyed. The amazing guitar work of Calvin Wilsey (now unfortunately long gone from the band) perfectly complemented the brooding voice of Isaak. From the barely contained anger of "You Owe Me Some Kind Of Love," to the mixture of desolation and cynicism of "Lovers Game", Isaak displayed his mastery of a type of singing I thought had disappeared with Orbison and Elvis and Jerry Lee. It was a distinct style. It wasn't "Cathy's Clown" - to take nothing away from the Everly Brothers, or "I'm A Loser" - the Beatles had other ways of singing about broken hearts. And it sure wasn't the Stones or the Who.

The style adopted in "Chris Isaak" and the albums that came before and after it, is one of real teen angst, a style of songwriting that first flowered in rockabilly and the earliest rock and roll. It shows up repeatedly in many of the records by artists associated with Sun Records. These songs weren't just about poor guys who got dumped by their best girl, or were so dizzy over some prom queen that they lost control of their car and flew off the road and up to heaven. The new songs were complex and full of contradiction; at their best they had a depth and expressivenes that knocked the Bobby Rydell's, Bobby Vee's, and Fabian's right out of the box and off the radio. Who wanted to hear "Blue Velvet" when you could listen to "Heartbreak Hotel," "Any Way You Want Me," or "Running Scared"? Those songs convinced you with their lyrics and their passionate singing that their protagonists were as confused, co-dependent, and self-pitying as you and the guy who sat next to you in homeroom were. Those songs said no one has ever felt as bad as I do. They were self-absorbed, like most real adolescents are, and they didn't pretend to have all the answers. Even hard-boiled rockers like "Great Balls of Fire" were light years away from "Go Away, Little Girl." The first lines say it all - "You shake my nerves and you rattle my brain, too much love drives a man insane, you broke my will, what a thrill, goodness gracious, great balls of fire!" That's pretty powerful stuff, even without the not-so-subtle innuendo of the title.

Chris Isaak's genius has always been in his ability to capture that sound - the wailing pain and intensity that were so much a part of the birth of rock and roll. On album after album, he never fails to concoct convincing variations on his introspective "forever blue" rock persona. I remember a joke he told about himself between songs at a show - he's standing outside the venue between sets, and a man walking by stops, looks at him closely, then says "Hey, aren't you the guy who sings all those `sissy' songs?" Isaak replies, after a beat, "they're not sissy, they're sensitive."

Issak has the retro, sensitive "blue" rockabilly song down pat, from "Wicked Game" to "Funeral in the Rain" to "Speak of the Devil." Even a "light" tune like "Don't Leave Me On My Own," with its gently rolling rhythm and up-beat hooky melody is not immune - if the girl who ditched him will come back, "I'll fix the place up." Offering to clean his apartment in a pathetic attempt to win back his girl.

It is precisely because "Beyond the Sun" is filled with songs that are rockabilly classics but aren't classic "Chris Isaak" songs, that this record so satisfying. Several reviewers have noted that he is at his best on this album singing lesser-known tunes, particularly rave-ups like "Miss Pearl" or "Dixie Fried." I think that's because those songs are the ones that take him farthest away from his own songwriting style. They are songs that he obviously loves, but generally doesn't attempt. They come out sounding fresh, energized, and rocking.

Isaak also says in the liner notes that he tried to stay away from rote "covers" of the iconic tunes that everyone knows. And that approach generally works. On "It's Now or Never," Elvis' great homage to Mario Lanza, Isaak doesn't try to out-bombast the King. He pulls back a little, and his version of the song shines a new light on an old chestnut without being self-consciously different.

We can thank Chris Isaak for loving a music that was "uncool," so much so that he has devoted his career to it and written a great many songs that are very cool along the way. And we can thank him for taking a deliberate step away from the relative comfort of his own particular songwriting style this time around and giving us an album devoted to exploring some of the other styles that make up what we call early rock and roll, or rockabilly. Highly recommended.

I'm a huge Fan of Chris Isaak, and Elvis, Cash, Roy, Jerry Lee, and the whole Sun recording catalog. When I heard that Chris was paying tribute to his idols and recording their work in the original Sun Studios, I was excited and couldn't wait to get my hands on the recording.

Though the wait seemed like forever, I wasn't disappointed. This is a great release from Mr. Isaak and a fitting tribute to Sun Records and its many artists. I've been listening to this all day, and there isn't a bad track on the whole recording.

I really appreciate that fact that this is a deluxe double recording with lots of material to indulge my sonic appetite.

Chris makes these songs both tributes and his own in a very subtle fashion. The music and vocals are sublime.

Sun earned its place in musical history by the material it produced, and Chris does that tradition honor.

"Beyond The Sun" will reach and delight a wide audience of people. Older listeners will remember the original songs. Younger people will appreciate these covers performed by Chris Issak. My favorite is "Live It Up". This is not a classic song, but it has the same upbeat tone of a song from the fifties. His guitar playing on this track is superb. Chris covers the Roy Orbison classic "Oh Pretty Woman". This is one of my all time favorite songs. This is the best tribute for pretty women every where. "Great Balls Of Fire" is a song that makes me want to dance. The keyboard playing is excellent on this track. "Can't Help Falling In Love" is simply one of the best love songs of all time. Chris really moves me on this song. Chris covers a few Johnny Cash tunes here. He sings the song "Ring Of Fire" with such liveliness and expression. "I Walk The Line" is one of the coolest country tunes ever. Chris introduces me to a new song entitled "Dixie Fried". I have never heard this before, but I love it. It is a song about a man who is fearless. "That Lucky Old Sun" is another song I have never heard before. It is the kind of song that soothes my mind. This song is so laid back. I love the way Chris croons this tune. "I Forgot To Remember To Forget" is a song about how a woman can stay on a man's mind forever. The bass playing is great on this track. "Miss Pearl" is a song that pumps me up with energy. Issak rocks on the guitar on this track. "Miss Pearl" sounds like a brand new song. It definitely does not sound like a fifty year old tune. This is all because of the spirited delivery of the song. This is great rock and roll music.

Although I 1st heard his music when "Wicked Game" came out, it wasn't until this past July that I finally got to see Chris & the band live. I waited 7 years for him to come back to town & luckily got to meet him before the show. As he was saying good-bye, he mentioned in passing that he had a new CD coming out covering Sun Studio artists & that he was going to sing some songs during the show. I expected to hear just a few songs but they did a whole set & it was AWESOME! FYI....I'm a recovering Elvis freak. I lived & breathed Elvis back when I was a teen in the 80's. So I know A LOT of his songs. I was surprised that he sang "How's The World Treating You" & I think I was the only one at the show singing along to it. I went home that night w/a better appreciation for Chris' talent. He's the real deal. He proved it when he sang to us backstage & when he hit those long high notes on stage. There was a good turnout of young & older people & EVERYONE was clearly having a good time. He's truly underrated in a world of the autotuned "talent" that gets all the overrated hype....

So I excitedly counted down the days for the CD release. I think most musicians would've naturally gone to more famous Elvis' Sun songs like "That's All Right", "Good Rockin' Tonight" & "Mystery Train". I love that Chris went for lesser known ones like "I Forgot To Remember To Forget" & "Trying To Get To You". In going beyond Sun Studios, "Can't Help Falling in Love" & "It's Now or Never" were perfect choices. I also liked Jerry Lee Lewis growing up & have added Johnny Cash in the last decade. It's a testament to Chris' talent as to how wide-ranged his voice is when he can sound a bit like Johnny in one song & Elvis in another. Props also go out to the rest of the band, especially Hershel for capturing the sounds played by Scotty Moore. Growing up, listening to this kind of music was "uncool". I guess it still is now but to know that this is what influenced the talent that is Chris Isaak, I'm proud to own this CD. It's even made this recovering Elvis freak fall off the wagon. I ended up dusting off a few of my Elvis LPs (I own 40) & most of the words came back to me like in my teen years. I could definitely imagine him doing so many other songs. So if there's a downside to this CD, it would be that it may feed into your addiction to good old-fashioned rock & roll....

Chris Isaak has said that the Elvis Presley "Sun Records" recordings are the Rosetta Stone of Rock and Roll. His understanding, love of the primative essential sound of the backroom tapes at 706 Union Ave. , Memphis TN, is soul deep.
Chris deciphers the raw and the rare and places his interpretations square (baby I don't care) in the forefront of modern day roustabout rebels.
Chris may not have the deep tremelo of EL P or the high vibratro of Roy O, but he hits more than he misses in the mid range of nicely done fun.
We suggest the full 2CD with the bonus recordings and the grins that accompany it. (My Happiness !)

If you are a Chris Isaak fan, you will find his new album "Beyond the Sun" a real treasure! He is one of the most underrated and unappreciated artists of all times, like many artists we know.

Being one of his younger fans, I didn't expect to love his music as much I do. I grew up in the 80s and listened to a lot of Pop music, r&b, rap music and such. I was totally clueless to the world of Rockabilly and Blues because I feel that it was before my time. But Isaak puts a modern twist to his songs. Then all of a sudden, he sings classics like "Pretty Women", "Can't Help Falling in Love", and "Its Now or Never" which shows how versatile his voice can be and sings them as beautiful as the originals.

If you haven't had the chance to go to one of his concerts, then you are missing out! I was surprised to hear that his voice is exactly the same in person if not better, its sooo magical. Many artists of this generation with voices and lyrics filtered and computer generated, its refreshing to hear the band and his legendary voice.

With any record you desire with Isaak, you won't be sorry. It will be hard to turn back, you will become a fan for life!

I've liked Chris Isaak for a long time. I went to one of his concerts in Portland, ME a few years ago. Got to meet him after the show and got him to autograph his CD I brought with me. He's a nice guy, very personable. Ironically, Lisa Marie Presley was the opening act. She was in a rush to get to her next gig and so she was gone before I could try and meet her.

What I like about this 2CD set is the music. I grew up with Elvis, Johnny, Carl, Roy and Jerry Lee. Chris Isaak has the right type of voice to pull it off. What I mean is that you can hear a little of each of these great performers of the past in his voice. What is great is that he doesn't try to mimic or copy the songs. He does them in his own way, yet you can still recognize them.

If you are a fan of the great Sun Records Million Dollar Quartet, or any of the other stars like Roy Orbison, then this albumis a must have.

This album met and exceeded my expectations. My husband, who grew up listening to the original artists, put them on and listened to both CD's twice in a row. What an amazing job Chris does with these classics.

I've been a Chris Issak fan for many years, and this is a great CD for the most part even though I do prefer original content to cover titles - he does a great job with Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison and others, and I love the ones I wasn't familiar with. I have to say that some of the Elvis covers struck me too much as "impersonations" in that they were just too true to the original and the similarity was overwhelming. Not to say that one can necessarily improve upon Elvis, but if you sound identical, why bother?