Customer Reviews

Falling Home

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I first heard about Jude Cole from a friend who played me Baby, It's Tonight. Since then, I've followed Jude's musical career through A View From Third Street, Start The Car, and I Don't Know Why I Act This Way. Falling Home is the best record he's written to date. Peaceful In Mine hits hard, especially if you've lost anyone dear to you (I recently lost a good friend) and this is the last song on the CD! His lyrics are truly inspired. My personal faves are More Than A Breakup Song, Raining On The Moon, and Inhale. All pop classics. I doubt Jude will ever get the attention he deserves. Although I've never met the man, it doesn't appear that's what he's after. I believe he's a master at his game though, and far overlooked by the critics. I believe in Jude Cole.

It's been 5 long years since we were all treated to the last Jude Cole release, but Falling Home sure makes it worth the wait. The thing that continues to amaze me about Jude is the quantum leaps in songwriting that he continues to make from release to release. Falling Home is his best yet. His songs have a way of tugging at your heartstrings and pulling you into the music. The insightful lyrics and catchy melodies get into your head and they just won't get out. Jude really shows his versatility on this album. The tracks here run the gamut from "You Make It Easy", with it's 50's feel, to songs like "Inhale" and "Braking Wheels", which showcase the blues and rock influcences that are trademarks of Jude. Throw in a couple of beautiful ballads like "More Than A Breakup Song" and "Peaceful In Mine" and you see the range of talent that Jude exudes on each track. Every time I listen to this album, my favorite track on it changes. There just aren't any filler songs here to be found.

Do yourself a favor and buy this album!

I never write reviews but I thought this album deserved it. I keep hearing people with mixed reviews about this CD, some like it , some don't think it lives up to past material, blah blah blah. I have owned every Jude Cole album except for the first one which I can't seem to get my hands on. This is by FAR my favorite. OK it's not as in your face with flashy production and hits as his previous work but it needs to be listened to a couple times(like "I don't know why I act this way?"). Once you do that you can't help but get sucked in by great songwriting, melodies, and his amazing voice. Raining on the Moon is probably the star track of the album, but then there is so many I liked it's very tough picking a favorite. The crying shame of this whole album is the miserable promotion of it. I realize it was released independantly but how in the world is www.judecole.com out of EXISTENCE???? Come on Jude. You have so many fans out there and there only way to find out about you is through your website- communication is key to getting the music out there. I just happened to stumble on this new album two years after it was released. By doing a search I also realized Jude is managing and writing songs for bands like Lifehouse. Too bad I had to send a search party out there to find out about it. Anyway, enough said about that. If you are a fan of great music this is a MUST have and hopefully someone can track down Jude.

It's about time we get to hear from this awesome artist again. Having been slightly disappointed in his last release "I don't know why..." I was anxious but a bit apprehensive about Coles first release in 5 years. Although "Falling Home" falls a little short of "View.."and "Start..." it is still much better than his last release and a return to the quality songs you expect from Cole.

My favorite songs are in the middle of the CD.."Leave Me Alone" "Raining On The Moon" and of course the heart wrenching title track. What sets Cole apart from most other artists for me is his strong strong melodies and the way he changes the direction of his songs...its different but familiar at the same time. Couple the strong melodies with equally strong lyrics and you have some quality recordings.

The album notes by Cole that explain how his fall from fame has been his reason for not recording for so long are frank and to the point. Jude Cole realizes he has to make the music he wants whether anyone listens or not. I for one am listening and will always listen to this marvelous artist.

The four star rating is only because when you compare this to "View from Third Street" or "Start the Car", it's not quite as "good". I say that with some hesitation since a review like this about a guy this talented is subjective at best since this album, while certainly not arranged with some of the complexity of those two albums, is vintage Jude and has some absolutely great moments and in general is an outstanding effort by one of the best kept secrets in music. This album as some lyrical elements from Jude's serious "I Don't Know Why I Act This Way" and then he'll let loose with some of those great pop hooks of his, all backed by his wonderful ear for arrangements and production. There's a sweet spot of songs 6-11 that alone is worth the price of the album. Some of the backing guitar parts (Any Dark Day and Somewhere) are "tingle moments". And then he throws a couple of suprises at you with songs that are whimsical (Raining on the Moon) to a Nelson Riddle-esque sound (You Make It Easy).

So, if you've never purchased any Jude, you won't go wrong here. Also make sure you get the still in print "View from 3rd Street" and the easily available out of print "Start the Car". For that matter, if you want to hear some of the strongest lyrics in an album, find the out of print "I Don't Know Why I Act This Way", again, easily found on the internet at used stores.

Finally, another passionate record by the most underrated songwriter of our time. Maybe the layoff helped, because this music is inspired and emotional. Hope its a new beginning of many more future releases to come.

I'll keep it short: While Falling Home may not be as good as "View", and "Start the Car", it certainly qualifies as classic Jude Cole material. "Home" is a showcase for Jude's talents, playing nearly every intrument on the CD, and producing. "Falling Home" is a must have for any Jude Cole Fan!

It's been five long years since Jude Cole released I Don't Know Why I Act This Way, but Falling Home was well worth the wait. This is Jude at his best-this is one of the few CDs that I have bought in the last few years where I like EVERY song. Everytime I think I've picked a favorite song, another song will suddenly ring even more true to my ears. I guess working on his own agrees with Mr. Cole-it sure shows in his music. I'm looking forward to more great things from this talented singer/songwriter!

Now here's a "Little Gem" that deserves some attention! I was given a copy of Jude Cole's new CD, "Falling Home," as a gift; and what a gift it is! Somehow I managed to miss out completely on Jude Cole the first time around. However, after hearing "Falling Home," I plan to make up for lost time by going back and searching out his previous releases. This guy is such a wonderful musician, such a bright talent; I'm embarrassed that I did not catch on sooner! Oh well, better late that never! From listening to "Falling Home," I'm guessing that Jude Cole kind of wanted to lay down his own take on his musical career up to this point in time. He makes a kind of "personal retrospective" by means of not old music, but new music created through a journey based upon his life experiences. The songs impress me as a kind "inward" perspective on his career and his love of making music by pouring it all "outward" with a collection of 12 songs that are all winners in my musical book!

The CD kicks off with a vintage home-style recorded except of Jude Cole in his "formative years!" This little clip, from the song "My Friend Stan," sets the tone for the whole album; lots of love, enjoyment, and great music is in-store for the listener! It's kind of hard to select favorites from such a varied collection of great songs. Right now I'm hooked on three of the more up tempo offerings, "Braking Wheels," "Leave Me Alone," and the title track, "Falling Home." These are balanced out with another stunner, the final cut on the album, "Peaceful In Mine," which is a simply beautiful ballad. There are no fillers here! Each and every song is embraced with pertinent lyrical content backed with stunning musicianship (most all of which was performed by Jude Cole). In his liner notes for "Falling Home," Jude reflects on his "musical journey" by saying "...music. I eat it, drink it, sleep it, and dream it to obsessive proportions. Always have...probably always will." All I can say, as a listener and a fan, is that I hope the "probably always will" is a prediction that will come to pass. The musical world is a much better place with the likes of a performer as varied, sincere, and talented as Jude Cole.

Let it be known that "I Don't Know Why I Act This Way" was never Jude Cole's favourite project due to struggles with the label and other legal mumbo jumbo. He was apparently trying to shed himself completely of that sound that is probably a nightmare to him so. He did just that, a great deal though not completely. This record is sort of a cross between "...act this way..." and "Start The Car".

The performances are well-done and features Cole on almost every instrument. The holes however come in the songwriting itself. Jude Cole made a more than average use of the ambiguous "it". Being analytical, it's not quite clear what it is he's singing about on many of the songs. Still they're enjoyable listens and even if the rest of the songs were lemons (which is not the case), this CD is worth owning for 1) "Raining On The Moon" is a masterpiece. 2) Jude Cole is no longer affiliated with a mainstream label. He is now an indie artist and indie artists are worth more support these days than the homogenized "talent" that big record companies are signing.