Customer Reviews

Chris Isaak

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

During my days as a radio programmer, a 45 by some guy I never heard of before crossed my desk. It was called "Blue Hotel." I put it on the little turntable in my office, and listened. When it was over, I got up, closed the door, and played it again. Loud. After that, I was hooked. Chris Isaak had made me a fan with one 45.

I then went out and found this CD in a Rehoboth Beach Delaware boardwalk record store, and was blown away. The music was dark and sexy, evocative and moody, and rang of broken hearts drenched in reverb. "Chris Isaak" was so beyond anything being released in the period that I had to play it for friends, to show them real musicians still made rock the old fashioned way. Isaak even took a classic chestnut (The Yardbirds' "Heart Full Of Soul") and completely reclaimed it.

This was the CD where Isaak and his band Silvertone found their voice. The album sounds full and rich, both deliciously retro and thoroughly modern at the same time. He was able to tread that line perfectly here and on the follow-up, "Heart Shaped World," so if you ever wondered where all that original excitement about Chris Isaak sprouted from, just pop this CD into the player and cue up "Blue Hotel." Hearts in agony never sounded this good.

I only vaguely knew who this "Chris Isaak" guy was, prior to a dear friend of mine turning me on to "Speak of the Devil" and "Baja Sessions".

Those two CDs blew my mind, so naturally I HAD to to go out and buy his entire cataloge.

Let me tell you about this title - this one ROCKS! It's really just a perfect CD, nothing but great songs all the way through.

I found it hard to get past "Lie To Me", "Fade Away","This Love Will Last" and "You Took My Heart". I just keep playing those 4 over and over and over.

One special note - the guitar work on this CD is nothing short of awesome. James Calvin Wilsey and Chris really put out some serious sound here.

All in all, this one is WELL worth the money. And then some, actually...

Rock on, Chris. Good stuff!

This album was a landmark recording for me. I heard (and purchased) "Silvertone" while living in the Bay Area. When this record came out, I was blown away. The production values are outstanding and the music is unbelievable. Although you can't deny Chris and his fabulous voice, kudos have to go to guitarist James Calvin Wilsey and producer, Erik Jacobsen for creating an awesome space on top of which Chris can shine. Well versed in the ways of creating the "sound" full of reverb, twang, gently bent notes and ambience, Chris and the band take you back in time, while still keeping you in the present.

This is Chris Isaak's most consistent record, and his best, in my opinion. "Fade Away," to me, is the best Chris Isaak song ever. You'll never get sick of it. The rest of the album is great as well.

If you have never heard Chris Isaak or OF him (I can't imagine) then I would highly suggest you start your salad bar right here. That's why I've chosen to review this CD and not any of the others, although every one is excellent in content and rates 4 or 5 stars themselves.

This CD is not as full of woe as Heart Shaped World, the tempo on the collection is just a little bit more moving, and his anguish just a little more sonic.

I first met Chris, as with so many other fans, on Twin Peaks, a heady television show that seemed to fit Isaak's music perfect to the "T". There is a spooky resonance to his material that will haunt you and keep you playing his music over and over.

There is not one track on this album which would let you down, he carries you along with his heart to the very end, from the pleading yet accusatory You Owe Me Some Kind Of Love to the rhythmic finale Waiting For The Rain To Fall.

His cover of The Yardbirds is even better than the original, seemingly written for his voice and just waiting for him to arise and eschew every note with the Heartful vigor that only a singer of his calibre could carry over.

And then there is Blue Hotel. From the first note to final Orbison guitar exit, this man, like every critic here feels, brings The King and James Dean to life. This is a landmark song, a signature that says "I Am Chris Isaak!" His voice has the clarity and emotion of Roy Orbison, the power and delivery of Elvis, and certainly the sad and haunting attitude of Dean.

By the time you hear the gentle ghostly Lie To Me all the way through, if you are not sold on Chris Isaak you better just shut off the CD player and go back to watching American Idol. Chris is no "pop" star, he is truely devoted to his music and sound, whether he is rocking out "Baby Did A Bad Bad Thing", doing a Bayou Boogie like "Voodoo", or Bo Diddleying, his sound is one of a kind, not retro, not modern, just simply a heart full of soul!

Oh, darling. This was my first taste of Chris Isaak while in Texas after having my heart smashed into a mazillion teeny bits. Driving home to LA in my '63 Lincoln at night, this just floated out of the air and knocked me galleywest. This guy was a combo of Tang & Cool-Whip, Kookie Burns & Rick Nelson. It was just too perfect. From the eerie opening of " You Owe Me Some Kind of Love" surf guitar sinously floating with lyrics that meant what they said. Oh send me someone like this! As addictive as candy, there ain't no going back. Well, of course I was a convert and had to have it all. Even going up to SF to Slims on the offchance...well, a girl can DREAM, can't she? It all just sounds better and better as you keep listening. Excuse me, I have to slip on my heels, gas up, pull down the top, and go for a ride under the stars.

This second album from Chris Isaak is his best! Every song played with hartfelt sorrow, but still rawer and with somewhat more boost than his later and a little softer albums. I like to think of this album as the most genuine Chris Isaak album. If you're to buy just one Isaak album, this is the one!

I have all seven of Chris Isaak's albums and this, his second one, is my favorite. There are so many stand-out songs here. Lie To Me and Fade Away are haunting, beautiful songs. I love his soaring voice on the strong opener You Owe Me Some Kind Of Love, and the closing song Waiting For The Rain To Fall will set you adrift in thought.

If you're looking for another Chris Isaak album to buy, I'd recommend this one next.

Chris Isaak's self titled second album follows the pattern set forth on his first album, deep, dark, brooding songs about being broken hearted. Mr. Isaak has a voice that perfectly conveys a sense of longing and heartache and his backing band, Silvertone, paint a musical landscape to match. "Blue Hotel" is an amazing song and with its dark sound and intense vocals, it should have been a hit. He gets into more heartache on "Cryin'", "Waiting For The Rain To Fall", "You Took My Heart" and "Fade Away" while on "This Love Will Last" he actually sings about a relationship that will last for a long time. Chris Isaak showed on his second release that he was built for the long haul as well.

I first heard a recording of "Blue Hotel" being played in the background of TV detective show called "Private Eye" in 1987. I was blown away by the song, but never saw it listed on the credits. I later taped the show on re-run and still no credits for the song, BUT I never forgot the song or the sound of the artist. Aproximately 3-31/2 years later I was in a restaurant in Big Bear Lake, CA. and heard this song being played. I immediately asked the owner who was on the album. He took the CD ("Chris Isaac") out of his music machine and gave it to me. I like 99% of what Chris does; a great artist for his genre. I have everything he has released, except for the Christmas Album.I recently watched his duet with Trisha Yearwood on his new TV Show; great job by both.

This is totally great music. I listen to it all the time and would buy it again and again.