Customer Reviews

Eric Idle Sings Monty Python

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

 

 

When I first heard about this CD -- when Eric appeared on Conan O'Brian -- I thought, oh great, Eric's cashing in on his past. Turns out, it's actually pretty good.

Accompanied by a backing singers and a band lead by John Du Prez, Eric tackles the musical heritage of Monty Python with good energy and, more importantly, good humor. Even though Python is best known for its sketches, they/it had a way with a tune.

The concept of a live recording of Python tunes 25 years after the fact is helped by the fact that Eric was the most musically-adept of the group, and was the original singer of most of the songs on the new album. (Though his version of "Medical Love Song" makes me long to hear the late Graham Chapman's original.) Eric intersperses short commentaries between songs that, while not totally breathtaking, do give some interesting factoids. (His history of the "Eric the Half a Bee" song in particular is kind of funny.)

Unfortunately, this album is aimed at a very narrow nitch -- a brief introduction to the musical contributions of Python -- that is already filled by "Monty Python Sings..." However, "Eric Idle Sings Monty Python" is filled with such bonhomie that I'm willing to overlook the fact that it's somewhat redundant.

You shouldn't look at this as a failure because Eric is only 1/6 of Monty Python, in fact it should be veiwed as a success because of that. I've always loved Eric more than the other Pythons, so I didn't mind the lack of the others here. Sure, a few songs felt lonely, but most were awesome. Eric is a very talented and wonderful man, who's heart is in the right place. I love this CD, and if you've ever enjoyed any Python song, you will too. Lets face it- who else did he need for the songs? He certainly carried The Lumberjack Song well without Michael. He didn't need John's awful out of tune voice (Sorry, but John is a HORRID singer) for the Eric the Half a Bee song. He was great. Buy this CD if you love Monty Python or Eric Idle. Don't buy this if you're a die-hard Palin fan because you will be dissappointed. He does not show up and make a guest appearence, but to all the right thinking fans, it shouldn't matter. Of course this isn't as good as the stuff the guys did together, but with Graham gone we'll never see anything that good again, so just sit back and enjoy yourself.

Allright, I have just recentely got into Monty Python and I am totally hooked! He is my favorite and when I heard this CD was out and ran to buy it. I mean this was the first (most likely not the last! ) Monty Python CD that I have bought. I love how it is done live and you kind of get the feeling that you are actually there! This CD has the words in it so you can sing along, but it doesn't have the words to all of them...... It has some classic favs like the Money Song, Every Sperm is Scared, I like Chinese, and the infamouse Lumberjack Song. The Lumberjack Song was a spontaneous encore which they had rehearsed for three days. He was like "I never wanted to be a musician.....I wanted to be a Lumberjack!" and then everyone started cheering and it made me smile! So if you are a Monty Python fan, this is the CD for you! So go buy it you little buggers!

I saw Eric's fabulous show in SF and was ready to dash out and buy the CD just for these two songs (The Getty song and the Vagina song)... After all, I already have lovely original MP versions of most of the others either on CD or video... but these new numbers aren't on the CD! Why? Otw, great fun that holds up beautifully... Brilliant lunacy.

I love Monty Python. I saw Eric's show live in Boston, and I must admit he did a great job with it. However, Monty Python loses something when it's remade... I have seen all their "original" work and nothing they've done with their material since has lived up to their movies or the flying circus. Eric did well, but he's only one man- he could never on his own live up to what all six have done together.

as a dedicated Eric Idle Estrogen Brigade I felt I had to get this CD!! my love of Eric accompinies a love of Monty Python so naturally I loved this CD. it is part singing and part stand up comedy, a great mix when you throw a Python/Rutle in. hooray!! all the best songs with Eric who has proved he's not dead yet. all the humour, satire and down right silliness of the old days.

I bought this CD and I have to say that I am absolutely blown away! I have just recentely got into Monty Python and this is the first CD I chose to buy cause I love Eric. He is absolutely the best. The songs are great (of course what could you expect from Monty Python) and I love the Meaning of Life poem. If you like Monty Python this is the CD for you. So buy it you little buggers!

Imagine, if you will, that five of the six Pythons, save Eric Idle, have passed on. Ceased to be. Gone to meet their maker. Now, imagine, Eric trying to keep the group going -- by himself. Also imagine, if you will, the only Rutle not to perform on the Rutles LP carrying on without any of the actual playing Rutles. That in a nutshell is the feeling one gets listening to this CD.

But the other Pythons (save Graham Chapman) are still alive and producing. Check out their recent BBC special if you can and also check out Neil Innes' recent solo compilation, "Recollections 1" (available through neilinnes.org).

As for this album, this is not an album for listening to. It's an album for laying down and avoiding.

I listen to the cd on the way back to Santa Cruz, CA after picking my mom and sister up from the air port and I was laghing the whole way