Brainwashed

George Harrison | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 19, 2002)
• Original Release Date: 2002
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Capitol
• ASIN: B00006LSM3
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (356 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #12,698 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Completed by George Harrison's son Dhani and Jeff Lynne (Traveling Wilburys, Cloud Nine) after the ex-Beatle succumbed to a long illness in November 2001, Brainwashed is a bittersweet reminder of the myriad contradictions that made Harrison such a compelling figure. One of the most warm, melodically rich albums in a career pockmarked by personal frankness and professional indifference in its latter years, Harrison finds rewarding ways here to reconcile bitter assessments of the material world (the title track) with more fleshly concerns, as his jaunty take on the Arlen-Koehler chestnut "The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea" ably demonstrates. Pushing the singer's distinctive dry voice to the forefront, and with Harrison's trademark slide guitar riffs as sinewy as ever, Lynne's showcase production is mostly spot-on and refreshingly restrained, while Dhani brings his own fresh, touchingly personal insights to the record. He double-tracked his own voice onto an old recording of his father chanting the traditional "Namah Parvati" and appended it as the album's spiritual benediction, a touching reminder that while musicians come and go, music can truly embody their spirit forever. --Jerry McCulley

Product Description

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

128 of 129 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Dark Horse finishes with a sublime set November 20, 2002

By Fred Rudofsky

Format:Audio CD

Posthumous releases always seem to have the ghost of their author aboout them, with the inevitable questions: What if he or she had lived? Then what?Fortunately, George Harrison remained a creative, energetic spirit till the end (see "Horse to the Water" on the Jools Holland cd from last year) despite the challenges of recovering from a horrific attack at his Friar Park home and later facing the ravages of cancer. This album has wry and heartbreaking allusions to his bittersweet acceptance of his mortality. It's an incredibly moving, daring album about love, faith, and humor that not only will appeal to long-time fans but also to those new to Harrison.With assistance primarily from his son, Dhani, and friends such as Jeff Lynne and Jim Keltner, George delivers 12 songs, one of which is a spirited banjo-driven cover of "Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea." The album bears repeat listening, and there are many notable moments when one can hear George expressing his fun in simply rocking out on the songs, which makes one think of the simple love he had making music in previous performances such as "Apple Scruffs", "Crackerbox Palace", and the Carl Perkins and Friends session from 1985. It appears the finality of working with his son inspired George to go for broke--it's a shame they had only worked together recently. Some of the standout songs include the rocking "Any Road", the surreal Dylanesque "P.2. Vatican Blues", the candid "Looking for My Life" (which would make a great single), and the scathing title track which attacks the hypocrisies of the material world with vigor. Harrison's guitar work is magnificent (check out the heartbreaking slide instrumental "Marwar Blues") and his vocals and harmonies soulful ("Rising Sun" and "Pisces Fish"). "Stuck Inside this Cloud" (perhaps an allusion to the rigors of chemotherapy and radiation treatments he endured) is one of the most distinctive, unusual pop songs to be released as a single in the new century. As a longtime Harrison fan, I'd rank this among his very best works, solo and with The Beatles. Sonically, it comes across as mixture of ALL THINGS MUST PASS and THE TRAVELING WILBURYS, and co-producer Jeff Lynne opts for an understated mix this time around. In terms of melody and lyrics, there's plenty to enjoy, too-- real turns of phrase and shifts in tone that show a deep appreciation of blues and jazz. Thank you, George, for your music, humor, and ongoing quest for the truth in the sound and the fury of life.

43 of 43 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars The Light that Has Lighted the World, continues November 20, 2002

By Richard Borden

Format:Audio CD

There is no 'buyer beware' here. Often with posthumous releases, you never know how 'ready' the artist had his work. 'Brainwashed' from the legendary George Harrison has everything but a George here on earth to promote it and possibly tour with it. It's great, not 'All Things Must Pass' great, but great compared to much of what passes for music in 2002. If you liked The Traveling Wilburys, you'll love it. If you liked 'Cloud Nine' you'll love it -- in many ways it's 'Cloud' Part 2. And if you loved him as a Beatle, there's no way you won't like it. Lots of juicy slide guitar. It's also very topical. Stand out tracks are: the perfect album opener, the kicking "Any Road"; "Rising Sun", with its topical commentary; the weepy "Never Get Over You", and a personal favorite is his demo-sounding cover of "Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea", reminding one of "For You Blue" from bygone days. Jeff Lyne, of ELO fame/Wilburys, lends the production hand and, fortunately, doesn't make it into an ELO album. It's 'solo George' pure and simple, and there will never be anything like it again. As the sticker bluntly says: The Final Studio Album. Thanks for leaving it behind, George. A tip: spend the extra few bucks and get the enhanced/with DVD version rather than just the audio CD, absolutely beautifully packaged and makes a better 'gift' to give.

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars 4 1/2 stars for George's last album November 19, 2002

By Wayne Klein HALL OF FAMETOP 100 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD

Although it doesn't have the scope or depth of Harrison's solo debut (All Things Must Pass although technically speaking Wonderwall was his first solo album), Brainwashed is one of the best solo albums Harrison made. The sad part is that he'll never be able to follow up on this terrific album. None of this is being said after looking through rose tinted glasses; the songs on Brainwashed are among his most accomplished and lyrically adept since ATMP, Living in the Material World and Cloud Nine).

Although finished by Jeff Lynne in collaboration with Dhani Harrison (they both added additional touches such as rhythm guitar overdubs, strings whether appropriate and backing vocals on some of the uncompleted tracks), Harrison's distinctive slide guitar playing and singing are never buried or obscured. Lynne and Dhani Harrison have lovingly applied their musical craft to finish this terrific album in a style that Harrison would have approved of (although Lynne does mention in the DVD included that Harrison might have thought the production touches a little too much and apologies by saying, "sorry George but they were such beautiful songs". They still are and, I don't doubt, that Harrison would have approved).

It's as he never quit recording. Brainwashed sounds like the logical successor to Cloud Nine and the Wilbury albums. Harrison, Lynne and Dhani Harrison build an accomplished and tuneful musical ladder that allows George to climb to the top. When he gets up there he lets his playing speak for itself. Brainwashed features some of George's most affecting and powerful playing.

The opening track Any Road, Vatican Blues and Stuck Inside a Cloud (a personal fav of Dhani's, it's track number 7 as 7 was George's favorite number)are all outstanding. Harrison's collaboration with Jools Holland and his band on the standard Devil and the Deep Blue Sea isn't camped up. Harrison plays "uke" (as he and Dhani call it). Holland and his band give a nice swing texture to the track.

The magnum opus, though, is the title track. Brainwashed manages to roll all of Harrison's favorite topics into one. The use of sitar and other Indian musical textures both look back to Pepper and acknowledge that Harrison's affection for Ravi Shankar and Indian music was never a fad for George. It's a powerful 6 minute piece and still manages to end the album on a positive note.

George's tasteful slide playing is all over the album and reminds me what an accomplished and talented player he was. He may never of had the chops of Hendrix but then he didn't need them. His lyrical and melodic playing always was a highlight of his solo work.

The DVD in the deluxe backage is a short documentary on the making of the album. It includes glimpses of the recording of the album both when Harrison was recording and Lynne & Dhani were finishing it. There's a number of brief interviews of George situationed throughout the video. We also get to see a music video that George recorded with Jools Holland and his band for the song Devil and the Deep Blue Sea. Additionally, there's clips for Any Road and Stuck Inside a Cloud that uses footage of George on his estate.

The big question will be is the DVD and extras worth it? Certainly if you're a big Beatles or Harrison fan. I wish the DVD could have been longer and included any number of the videos being created for the album. The sticker, poster and guitar pick are nice additions.

Given a few more listens, I might change that 4 1/2 star review to a five!