Customer Reviews

Deja Vu All Over Again

5 star:		(43)
4 star:		(37)
3 star:		(19)
2 star:		(15)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

Another decade, and another John Fogerty album. Since he seems to make one album per decade these days, "Deja Vu (All Over Again)" is a pleasant reminder of Eisenhower, Leave-It-To-Beaver nostalgia. This is exactly what John excels at--simple, memorable and endearing folk/pop/rock songs with political statements, social statements and sentimental familial and nostalgic reveries of times long gone.

"Deja Vu (All Over Again)" leads off the album with Vietnam/Iraq observations and general statements about war in general--that it will never, ever end, but it sure would be nice if the human race COULD put a stop to it. "Deja Vu" contains echoes of Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Have You Ever Seen The Rain?" This is Fogerty's masterstroke, taking his past and putting it in the present, and it worked extremely well with 1985's "Centerfield" and the musical references between "Old Man Down The Road" and Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Run Through The Jungle". This is why Fogerty is an American treasure, he is one of the few artists who can remind us effectively in the present of how we felt in the past.

The other socio-political song is "Nobody's Here Anymore", and how true this sentiment has become today. Talk of internet, cell phones and kids listening to music in the back of the classroom instead of learning something rings so true today, and I'll bet it's only going to get worse.

Two of my favorites are the ultra simple, yet enjoyable tunes "Sugar Sugar (In My Life) and "I Will Walk With You". These are easy, pleasant songs that you can just sit back and relax to. "Rhubarb Pie" is a third, but less effective pleasantry.

Three songs about women fill in the album. The hilarious "She's Got Baggage" about women who carry the world on their shoulders and lose control of their emotions in an unhealthy way certainly wears thin, but it's surprisingly hard rocking for this old fogey! "Radar" has this reggae groove that's a new direction for John, and it works pretty well. "Honey Do" is another hilarious take on being married and "yes, dear" and "yes, dear" and "yes, dear" doing things for your woman all the time just when you think your time is yours!

My least favorite songs were "Wicked Old Witch" and "In The Garden" where he slips off the track. Yet, this is the case with all Fogerty albums, there's always a few duds on every album, and this one is no different.

My recommendation is that if you are a long time Fogerty fan, then owning this one is imperative. If you are a picky fan, perhaps waiting another 10 years will satisfy you. Don't be a picky fan.

Déjà Vu All Over Again, John Fogarty's first studio album in seven years is being panned by many listeners.

That is in some ways understandable. It is the follow up to the masterpiece, Blue Moon Swamp. Fogarty irks the political right by having the gall to compare the war in Iraq to Vietnam. Many tracks pay homage to past tracks from CCR to Dire Straits (some might say they are derivative). The lyrical content is rather light on most of the tracks. But it is an exceedingly enjoyable listen. Fogarty is in great voice, the melodies are enjoyable, the guitar work (both by JF and his sidemen) impressive and the range of styles makes this a very accessible work.

Fogarty rocks on "She's Got Baggage" and "In The Garden", he brings out the old style bluegrass for "I Will Walk With You" and "Rhubarb Pie" and for "Wicked Old Witch" he goes back to the Bayou and lays down a classic CCR style romp (okay it sounds like Green River...but why is that so bad?). "Nobody's Here Anymore" is basically Sultans of Swing II (Mark Knopfler playing half of the lead to lend authenticity). The strangest track on the CD is "Radar". I say strange because the style is decidedly non-Fogarty evoking the B-52s style dance music.

If you want melodic heartfelt tracks from the old Swam Dog...this CD will not disappoint. No it is not Blue Moon Swamp, but why would you expect that? If you expect Fogarty to cow down to the Bush apologists ("immature = opposed to needless war) then go buy a Brittney Spears CD (she supports the president, I suppose that must mean she has "mature" political views). 59 and still growing creatively...I hope we will not have to wait seven more years for the next Fogarty effort.

How fortunate we are that John still chooses to enrich our lives with his music. How many of the old rockers are kickin, much less writing? The title song "Deja Vu All Over Again" is Iraq's answer to Vietnam's "Fortunate Son." The rest of the music shows he's happy with his wife and young children. Good for you, John. You don't have to apologize to me for being happy and content with your life. Keep on rockin John, I love you!

Another classic CD by John Fogerty. This man is a marvel in the way he can delve into many diverse musical styles and come up with songs that are truly his own but sound like they have always been around. Every song on this CD is well-crafted, hook-laden, and catchy. After a couple of listens you'll be humming them and hearing them in your head over and over. Rather than rehash Blue Moon Swamp or CCR, Fogerty sounds very fresh, and the singing and playing is first rate. The softer acoustic songs will open up a whole new audience and be well received by women, particularly as they are about them! The title song gives me goosebumps with its evocative lyrics, but is typically Fogerty-like in the way it doesn't preach. The more I listen to this CD the more I like it, and the more convinced I am that Mr Fogerty is in a league of his own when it comes to singing, songwriting, and musicianship and contribution to popular music.

There's no doubt that John Fogerty is a great American songwriter. His work with CCR and some of his best solo work are examples of rock 'n' roll at its best; Fogerty's "Who'll Stop the Rain?", "Fortunate Song", "Green River", "Proud Mary", "Rockin' All Over the World", "The Old Man Down the Road" all are thoughtful/fun with a groove that's difficult to resist. So how does "Deja Vu All Over Again" hold up in comparison? While it has some weak material on it, the album doesn't shame John and although it's darker than his last album, it's not as dark (and tuneless) as "Eye of the Zombie". It's an average album with some stand out tunes such as the title track (which does, indeed, recall his work from CCR)the lilting "Sugar, Sugar" (which seems like a natural sing-along for kids just because it's so darn catchy)and a handful of other songs either meet the expectations of this Fogerty/CCR fan or surpass them.

The weak material on the album doesn't damage Fogerty's reputation. He's just coasting along. At nearly 60, he's doing better than many of his contemporaries and better than singer/songwriters/performers less than half his age. Think of "Deja Vu All Over Again" as the work of an older musician who doesn't have anything to prove but just wants to pass along his thoughts on what's happening in his life and world. Settling down made John happy and no one would begrudge him that. If some of the material lacks the bite of a 20 year old, it's because John Fogerty isn't a 20 year old. To expect him to produce the same music nearly 40 years on just isn't realistic just as it isn't realistic for Paul McCartney, Roger McGuinn, Van Morrison or any of Fogerty's contemporaries to produce the same stuff. If he was producing exactly the same type of songs he did in 1969, everyone would be howling about how he hasn't changed. His artistic vision has become crystal clear to him so more power to him as he tries to pursue whatever drives him now.

"Deja Vu" is aptly titled because Fogerty's music has much in common with the songs he produced before. His music isn't radially different from album to album (and when it does venture too far astray as in "Eye of the Zombie" fans aren't really happy, either). Instead, he adds the perspective of someone who has crossed the threshold of middle age without growing old.

This is not Fogerty"s best effort. I am a loyal fan. It is growing on me. It doesn't have that hard edge, but it is still what I consider good. The title song is haunting for those of us who lived through the wasteland of Viet Nam. When you understand the"Wall" is the one in D.C., you better understand his message. This is not "Fortunate Son", but a very powerful statement of what is going on right now with Iraq. I pray his vision is false, but know better. Buy the CD just for this song.

After listening to the great John Fogerty's latest album, I had the same type of feeling I used to have the day after Christmas. The anticipation was always more fun than the day itself. With only ten tracks, and none of them what could be called outstanding, "Déjà vu (All Over Again)" is oddly disappointing. I didn't want it to be, it just is.

There are four or five fairly good songs, with the title song being the best. "Radar" and "Honey Do" for instance, both have a catchy rhythm and are fun to listen to the first several times. Unfortunately, I grew tired of both songs rather quickly because the lyrics aren't up to par with the music. In fact, it would not be a stretch to say that the lyrics make John sound more like a hen-pecked husband than a legendary rock star. The strange thing is that Fogerty's voice is as good as ever. It's the mundanity of the material that disappoints. "Rhubarb Pie" is pleasant enough, but doesn't hold up well after a dozen or so listens. "I Will Walk With You" and "Sugar-Sugar (In My Life)" are two of the more pleasant surprises, somewhat gentle country rock tunes that John does well. "In the Garden" features some heavy drums and guitars and it's fine if you like that sort of thing - "Woodstock" music if you will. Sometimes it's fun to listen to. Other times, it's jarring. Given the magnificence of John's last release, "Blue Moon Swamp" perhaps I'm just expecting too much. All I can say is I've listened to "Blue Moon Swamp" hundreds of times and I never grow tired of it. "Déjà vu (All Over Again)" on the other hand just continues to gather dust.

I can understand why many people are perplexed and put off by this CD. However, I think that this is a great CD, Fogerty plays his signature swamp rock, but there are some absolutely beautiful bluegrass numbers which really stick out. John Fogerty doesn't completely re-invent himself, but he is expanding what he knows, and is refining and perfecting what he knows best.

I give the CD 4 stars, because it is a bit uneven, but I think the good songs definitely outnumber the duds.

Deja Vu (All Over Again) starts the CD, and this, unfortunately, is a familiar theme: the waste and tragedy of war. This song expresses the sadness of seeing history repeat itself. (To the reviewer who called Fogerty's political views immature, I should remind you, that this is a man who dutifully served his country when his draft number came up!)

Songs like Sugar-Sugar, Honey Do, I Will Walk With You, and Rhubarb Pie show Fogerty at his Country and Bluegrass best, as a matter of fact, I would like to hear a whole CD of him doing bluegrass and country western numbers.

There are some rockers like Nobody's Here Anymore, Radar, and Wicked Old Witch. Wicked Old Witch, reveals Fogerty's swamp rock roots, and evokes such classics as Run Through the Jungle, and The Old Man Down the Road.

Fogerty drops the ball on a few songs, but over all it's a strong record. And I would recommend this to John Fogerty and CCR fans.

I've been a Fogerty/CCR fan since 1969. I will buy anything he puts out, no matter the reviews, here or elsewhere. Fogerty is a great songwriter and still has the skill to write memorable tunes. This new album shows his influences: there's a protest song, a rockabilly shuffle, some swamp rock, a finger-picking gospel, a psychedelic guitar-fuzzing progressive, and an acoustic blues of a black-folk's-southern-sweet-rhubarb-pie kind of mood! Tasty stuff. Finger lickin'.

It's been said that Fogerty is a master of the two and half minute pop song. Most of the songs on Deja Vu are short. I found his last album too long and over produced, a disproportionate amount of highs and lows. With Deja Vu there's a let-down-the-hair-get-your-hands-dirty-in-the-kitchen feel. The melodies are good--I'm already singing some of them as I walk around the house, bugging my kids ("Wicked Old Witch" is going to be great on Halloween night). Stay outta that swamp chillun. The old man's got his guitar back.

The advance reports on John Fogerty's latest studio album were mixed; as a long-time Fogerty fan, I was hoping he had assembled a transcendant, socially conscious theme album like Springsteen's The Rising. Well, Deja Vu is not that at all; but like the Beatles' White Album, it is an eclectic sampler that is so full of charm and melody, it is very hard to resist. The best of Fogerty's songs have always sounded from first listening like something you have known and loved for years, and to my ears there are at least four numbers here as good as anything he has ever written: the title track Deja Vu, about the Iraq War, with conscious references to Who'll Stop the Rain; Sugar-Sugar, a song about the power of love with a lovely acoustic guitar solo; I Will Walk with You, perhaps the most beautiful love song from a father to his daughter that I've ever heard; and Rhubarb Pie, a timeless bluegrass tune about rhubarb pie and -- maybe something else too... The balance of the songs aren't quite in that rarefied league, but they're all catchy and meticulously crafted, and IMO they're still head and shoulders above most of the me-too garbage I hear on radio and MTV. As others have noted, this album has more acoustic stuff than most of John's other albums, but the acoustic songs are some of the best cuts on Deja Vu. And any album that makes you laugh ("Honey Do", about working in the "Honey Do Patch"), cry ("I Will Walk with You"), and stomp your foot ("Wicked Old Witch," "Nobody's Here Anymore") has to have SOME mojo working. Highly recommended...