Customer Reviews

Damaged Goods

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

With a highly anticipated return, Lennon brings her latest effort, "Damaged Goods," with a full volume audio assault that few artists can match. Lennon's hallmark is multi-facetted. Take her deep bluesy vocal ability, rich lyrical content which echoes pain and promise, marry these with catchy hooks and you have a powerful album.

High production quality and smart mixes accentuate the subtle and sonic on this recording. There are few artists out there today that can pull off delicate keyboard and vocal efforts, and then transition to bone crunching rock groves.

Musical aficionados will appreciate the fact that Lennon writes, play's and sings. She is a survivor in the rough and tumble world that is the fickle music industry, staying true to herself and earning industry respect along the way. There is a reason she has opened for Alice Cooper, Tesla, Motley Crue and others. It's more than looks, its groves, hooks, and a raw spirited talent.

Buy the album, she her live on tour, enjoy a genuine musical experience.

Can I just say one thing first? I hate typing 'Lennon' in the search bar and every single John Lennon CD comes up instead of the Lennon I wanted. It's annoying.

I quietly was hyped up beyond reason for Lennon's new full-length CD, Damaged Goods, to hit the shelves. Just the thought of NEW music from her got me all sorts of excited. Needless to say, when I began the first few seconds of No One Knows I immediately knew that the overwrought wait was well worth it. If you've yet to hear this CD, just know that Lennon is back and has a lot to tell us about.

I've been a fan of Lennon's for quite some time now. I found out about this CD a few months before the release date and I found myself praying that she didn't compromise her style, as it is one of the more distinctive styles of late. After hearing this CD countless times now it's easy to say that she more than outdid herself. Damaged Goods is everything any Lennon fan could ask for. Her lyrics continue to be achingly personal, her vocals are more touching than ever, and the band does an excellent job of complimenting her voice throughout.

If you love 5:30 Saturday Morning as much as I do then I can almost guarantee you won't be disappointed. Songs like No One Knows, Just One, and Another For Another are sure-fire signs of growth. Yet Lennon doesn't completely abandon the darker side seen on 5:30 either. Down The Line, One Or The Other, and Over And Over all cry back to those days. Seeing Brake Of Your Car and Where Do I Fit In (formerly My Beautiful) kind of upset me. I don't like seeing people revisit past recordings unless they're performed live or shown in early form on an EP. This is neither. So I don't really know, the songs are great but I don't know if they should've been included. Another fairly new addition to Lennon's arsenal is that of radio-friendly songs. Take Nothing Out Of Me for example. It has a nice riff through the verses that kind of blows up at the chorus. The chorus also has that `sing-along' quality to it. Love the song though, so this is proof that the radio isn't all bad. The semi-ballads show Lennon at her most vulnerable. No One Knows is a song that gives me goose bumps every time I hear it, thanks to the gorgeous chorus. Just One is honesty in its purest form with Lennon's voice really shining. Long Run is the other true ballad that is sure to inflict some sort of emotion in you. Other than that, heck, this is one of the most solid CDs throughout that I've heard in a while.

My favorite songs are No One Knows, Just One, Nothing Out Of Me, Long Run, and Another For Another. Damaged Goods is one of those releases where you can skip through and stop at random and as the song starts you know you like it already. I couldn't have imagined this CD being any better. I hope that she doesn't take this long to release another one though. Also, you gotta respect someone who loves music enough to release a CD without any label support. Damaged Goods is highly recommended.

I have to agree with previous reviewers, while "My Beautiful" is an amazing song, I kinda wish Lennon would stop remaking it. I have literally 4 versions of it now. The one on this cd renamed "Where Do I fit In?", a live accoustic I found on the internet (really pretty if you can find it), a duet with Travis Meeks off of her import "I Am", and the original on "5:30 am". I think I'm in the minority though; I prefer the "I Am" version, the addition of a male counterpart does add to it in my opinion and the guitar sounds better. Also, there is a different version of "No One Knows" on "I Am" that in my opinion, is much better. I love that song and I believe the reworked version on this album is missing something.

All that aside, I think it is a great album and I hope Lennon has more to come. If only she'd do a show near me so I could see her live.

I was a little worried about buying this CD because it has been a while since I have heard anything new from Lennon. I didn`t know what I was going to expect, but when I put this CD in the player, I was blown away. I drove around the town just listening to this CD. In all honestly, I haven`t listened to anything else since I bought this CD. I loved 5:30 Saturday Morning, and I think that Lennon has progressed a lot since that CD. I can`t pick just one song as my favorite. This CD is amazing from start to finish. If people are new to Lennon, this would be a great CD to start with.

I was a fan of her first cd and I also liked "Commerical Suicide" but I kinda lost track of her until last week when I was at a cd store and I happened to see a new cd by her. I was interested in hearing her new songs so I picked it up and I must say that I enjoyed it. The years since 5:30 came out when she toured on her own as well as opened for the likes of Alice Cooper and Heart have paid off. Her vocals seem stronger than on 5:30. You can feel the emotion and you know she means everything she sings and she's able to covey that feeling with her voice without overdoing it like some other piano playing female fronting a hard rock band(not naming names). I'm glad to see Lennon still around and kicking it. And I'll try not to lose track again.

Her first album released States side since 5:30, this album is well worth the purchase! Plus, you really can't be the price either. :) One thing I like is how the tracks balance out, meaning that you've got your fast and slow mixed throughout, not all separated. You will definitely not regret purchasing this album. I've had mine since last Friday and it has not left my CD player since. A true female rocker among very few.

There is just one Lennon Murphy. She is more authentic than Amy Lee and more listenable than Lacuna Coil. Unfortunately, as a female rock artist her niche is going to be a hard one to carve out. I say this because VERY few female rock artists hit mainstream success. This demographic is sorely ignored. That said, no one is more deserving or talented. Lennon is personal with her music, she is personal with her live performance and she is personal with her fans. Onto my review.

The album artork is almost perfect. There is 1 thing missing: Lennon. No pic! Maybe it's a statement to show she's selling her music and not her image. This is unnecessary though because anyone that hears her will know there's much more than appearance to this performer. All lyrics are included I love but sometimes take for granted. Liner notes are worth reading. You can feel her appreciation and her frustration.

No One Knows: Personally, I think this would have made an excellent first single. The real "My Beautiful" of this record. Long-time fans know what I mean. The piano's great, the intensity is refreshing and the lyrics are top notch.
Where Do I Fit In: I know this song was overlooked in its original form but I don't think remaking it repeatedly will garner more acclaim. I LOVE this song and had I never heard the original version I'd rate this attempt higher. However, I have heard the original and this pales in comparison. It's more guitar driven (I love the solo!) but lacks the build up and some of the passion that the piano-inclusive "My Beautiful" has. I'd have left this off.
I Say: For me, filler. It's decent but not of the same caliber the majority of the rest of songs on this album have.
Goodbye: Very melodic and memorable. Ballad. Co-written by Jeff Garner, Techs. Thank goodness he returned to the fold! He adds a lot to the stage show and is a better guitarist than Lennon's other hired guns.
Just One: I like this song quite a bit though it's not in my top 5 fav.s. I like her live, intimate piano version a little better. Still good and solid.
Down The Line: I asked Lennon if she had a fav. song on the cd and she named this one. I really like it. It's in a similar vein as her debut album cuts stylistically. Great lyrics and arrangement.
Rain: I LOVE this song! Great live concert opener! Back-up vox and co-writing by Techs again. He's 2 for 2 on this release! Heavy yet melodic.
Long Run: Ballad. I love it. A lot.
Reason: The only song on here I skip repeatedly. It has a cool riff and the bass/drums are sweet too... but I don't like it.
Finish What We Start: The "5:30" of this album. Piano ballad. Excellent and a little more polish in the production than the Career Suicide album.
One Or The Other: Fast and unrelenting. Churning guitars, pounding drums, great vocal!
My Sins: This one hasn't grabbed me yet. It's decent and some other reviewers mentioned digging it. I'll let you decide. It is well-written.
Another For Another: LOVE IT! I think this is the most commercial track on the disc. I'd still pick No One Knows as the first single and a great representation of Lennon... but I think this track could lead to airplay. EVERYONE I've played it for digs it on the first listen.
Brake of Your Car: I loved it on 5:30, it has no place on here. I don't really notice any retouching either. If it's not the same exact cut I'd be surprised. Any diff. is very subtle.
Over & Over: For me, mostly a skip.
Wrong Way: A wonderful close to a wonderful album! The "Asking You" of the cd maybe. Drum loop is cool and the main melody is haunting. The vocal absolutely melts.

Summary: This is a solid and awesome release. If you deduct the songs I wasn't as thrilled about you'd still have a normal album's # of tracks left. There is something or everyone on here. It's almost a greatest hits album in and of it's own. Pick it up and decide for yourself!

Lennon can do no wrong in my eyes. I was a little annoyed that some of the songs on here are reworked versions of songs from 5:30 Saturday Morning (one of the best albums ever recorded). But, they stand up so well on their own, that it's really okay.

Every song on here is beautiful. Lennon has so much talent it's hard to imagine how she is not given more recognition.

I have had the pleasure of seeing her live and she puts so much into her performance it is mesmerizing. I've also been lucky enough to meet her and she is extremely gracious and sweet.

Apparently she's being sued by Yoko over using her own name. What Horse-cr@p. I have never been looking for a John Lennon album and bought a Lennon CD instead (maybe because I have never looked to buy a John Lennon album?)

If you don't know her go see her in person. Lennon puts all into her performances and always makes time for fans. A couple songs here were remixed but over all her best yet. Lennon Rocks!

i am one of lennon's biggest fans, i can honestly say that she is my favorite artist! i own all of her cds, and this new release along with 5:30 saturday morning are the best. i have to say that the version of "my beautiful" off the 5:30 saturday morning album is the best version of the song.

'nobody knows' is a great song. as the rest of the songs on the album. i recommend this album to anybody! great piece of work from lennon...