Customer Reviews

Fairweather Johnson

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I bought this album after its original release in 1996, and disliked it greatly. At the time I was twelve and had grown fond of their poppy tunes I had heard on the radio. After purchasing 'Fairweather Johnson', I was, more or less, bored. The songs are slow and not quite as catchy as their previous attempts, and for about seven years I placed this on my shelf and allowed it to collect dust. For some odd reason I picked this album up about two weeks ago and popped it into my stereo. I felt very much the same as I did seven years ago. Then I listened again and heard the words.

The lyrics are deep, the songs are sentimental, and now, seven years later, I can truly appreciate what this album is all about. Yeah, it's slower, but the songs have meaning. Ironically, 'Old Man & Me' is one of my least favorite tracks on this album, though I had enjoyed it when I first bought this album. It may take a while to grow on you...in my case it took nearly a decade, but I'm glad I gave it another chance.

My favorite tracks (in no particular order):
Tucker's Town
Sad Caper
Let it Breathe (my personal favorite)
Fool
Tootie
So Strange

Give it a chance. That's all I ask.

Fairweather Johnson is one of those CDs that you buy because you like the one or two songs played on the radio, but you're fully prepared to hate the rest of it and be ok with that. I was pleasantly surprised when I discovered that I loved the majority of songs on this CD. I saw a VH1 special where Hootie played these songs acoustically, and it was wonderful and convinced me to buy the CD. Now, it's one of my CD changer regulars--the ones where you can listen to the entire CD without constantly reaching for the remote to skip songs. My personal favorites are "Earth Stopped Cold at Dawn" and "Let It Breathe." The CD is mellow in most places, but it reflects a maturation in song writing ability compared with Cracked Rear View. Those looking for a repeat of Cracked will be sorely disappointed. Johnson has much more depth and emotion. This just may be Hootie's best CD of all.

Certainly no second album syndrome here, with track's like 'tucker's town', 'old man and me' and 'so strange' makes you wonder why it was ever overlooked in the first place.
other track's 'let it breath', 'tootie' and 'when i'm lonely' will (like their debut) keep you listening for month's to come.

Sure, we all remember when Hootie had their hits like "Time," "Only Wanna Be With You," "I Go Blind," etc. But it is this album, Fairweather Johnson, that amazes me so. The lyrics are intense, emotional, poetic, and tender. The music is dynamite, and very atmospheric. You can almost imagine this album being played at an old blues house in Connecticut under a cliudy sky. This album just puts you in that mood, that dark, lonely mood. Darius Rucker's voice is amazing. His talent is so underappreciated in an age where it seems rock has been taken over by metal-head, whiteboys who think they can rap. This album is a breath of fresh air to that formula, because it is so old fashioned. Songs like "Sad Caper," "Old Man and Me," "Earth Stopped Cold At Dawn," and "Tucker's Town" are wonderful tracks that really grip your heart. Themes range from death,age, and of course lost love. "Sad Caper" is without a doubt Hootie and the Blowfish's best song. It's really too bad the public didn't pick up on this album, because it is a masterwork of this genre of music. It may take time, but this album will gain it's much deserved recognition, and it will become a classic. It is simply one of the '90's best albums.

This album exhibits the group as they have peaked and are in their prime musically. They are feeling comfortable and established and it comes out on this one. They are really "in the pocket" on most of the songs. Even though I didn't care too much for the opening song (somewhat oversung to me), this is every bit as good as cracked rear view and the songs flow even better on this album. I think there are more quality songs on this one as well. I'm puzzled that this album didn't sell more, but some of the best songs didn't get radio. All in all, if you are a fan of this group, you've got to have Fairweather Johnson.

I bought this album the day it came out and I was very disappointed. After putting it on the back burner I gave it another shot a few months later and it was like I was listening to it for the very first time. The lyrics of this album are much deeper than I have ever expected them to be. I can't stop listening to this album and my fingers stay away from the skip button because every song is special in its own way. My favorite tracks are: Be the One, Earth Stopped Cold at Dawn, Sad Caper, and the most powerful song on the album called, Tootie. Old Man and Me and Tucker's Town are great but not their best. I believe Hootie and the Blowfish made this album from their soul instead of what would be a commercial success. I love this album and it is a must have if you want to slow down and completely listen to an album. Give it a few times all the way through and I promise you it will speak to you in ways that you never thought were possible.

I bought this CD the day it came out and i have to say it was one of those CD's i played once, and put it away. I said this sucks. But you know what, being the loyal fan that i am, i brought it out weeks later and listened to it, really listened to it, and i fell in love with Hootie and the Blowfish all over again. This album is not as poppy as their first, but that is because they grew as a band and as individuals, and that shows in this album. Just listen to the words, you will love it, then you should buy their third album, which by far is their best.

After listening to all of Hootie's albums this has to be their best especially when it comes to the lyric's,in songs such as" She Crawls away" and"Tuckers Town" it's almost like Darius invites you into his soul and you can feel his pain and anger in "Strange", and that's what music is all about self expression. This in my opinion is the greatest band in the world .

I bought this album the day it came out and I was very disappointed. After putting it on the back burner I gave it another shot a few months later and it was like I was listening to it for the very first time. The lyrics of this album are much deeper than I have ever expected them to be. I can't stop listening to this album and my fingers stay away from the skip button because every song is special in its own way. My favorite tracks are: Be the One, Earth Stopped Cold at Dawn, Sad Caper, and the most powerful song on the album called, Tootie. Old Man and Me and Tucker's Town are great but not their best. I believe Hootie and the Blowfish made this album from their soul instead of what would be a commercial success. I love this album and it is a must have if you want to slow down and completely listen to an album. Give it a few times all the way through and I promise you it will speak to you in ways that you never thought were possible.

This is a really cool album. It may not be as good as the other two but anything done by hootie and the blowfish is more than good. There are loads of cool songs on this album, two of my favourites are Be the one and tuckers town. they are all cool though. i can't wait till they are over in England to tour again it will be so good. anyway buy this its wicked.