Customer Reviews

Closer to You

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

 

 

Cales stuff has always sounded a bit demo -ish except for maybe the last 2; "Guitar Man" and the new "Tulsa" disc which are more produced . the dreaded (for some)drum machine also was part of the original J J' magic .. I still get a kick out of 'Call Me the Breeze' ..and I love the anti- production sound of the man, this one is a little gem, and has been with me since it was released . I go back to it , as I do all of em' time and time again. His stuff always sounds fresh and funky every time I put it on the player.

Closer to you is a 'not too bad' CD. I read one time that most of this CD was recorded in a day or two. In a way, it sounds it.

First, lets consider what I like about this CD. I like 'Like you used to', very nice, laid back (when isn't it?) accoustic, jazzy blues number. Some nice accoustic picking from Cale...a nice song.

Track seven, the 3/4 timed (almost waltzy) 'Rose in the Garden'. Very pretty, maybe a little too pretty for some; again a primarily accoustic number.

In less happy moments, Cale elects to fool around with a synth and drum machine. I guess this is no surprise - remeber that terrible drum machine on 'Call me the breeze'?

At any rate, Devil's nurse, Brown Dirt, Hard Love and Clsoer to you all feature this - and it sounds terrible; it completely screws up the mixes. Imagine a clunky little drum machine sound - in MONO!

Steve's song, the instumental closer with a 13 piece band is quite nice. As a rule though, it's the accoustic based songs that really work here.

All JJ albums have something worth listening to, and this is no exception. "Brown Dirt," "Devil's Nurse," are typically laid-back, enjoyable JJ efforts, filled with tasteful licks and gentle melodies.

But as one reviewer has noted, poor JJ decided to record this in a day, using a crappy drum machine and what sounds like a dime-store Casio on several tracks. Do these tracks become unlistenable as a result? No, but you sure wonder as you listen to them how much better this record could have been with minimal production techniques and a couple of session guys for a day.

Still, there is a low-key charm to this record that keeps me coming back, despite its flaws.