Customer Reviews

Famous Last Words

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

After some years of relative obscurity Al came back with this wonderful work. I think 'Trains' is the best song in the album, but don't miss 'Charlotte Corday', 'Trespasser', 'Peter on the white sea' and the more cheerful 'Feel like' and 'Genie on a table top' Definitely a great album, which was followed in 1995 by the absolutely wonderful 'Between the wars'. Unfortunately, neither of the two had a great commercial success, and he continues as a 'cult singer/songwriter' In a few weeks he'll be releasing 'Down in the cellar' which I hope will be just as wonderful. I'm a hardcore Al fan. Did you notice?

Famous Last Words is a welcome addition to my Al Stewart collection. He has depth of meaning and humor. My teenagers really enjoyed the Hippopotamus Song even though this is not their usual style of music. Trains begins with a meloncholy sound reminiscent of his early work and ends with deep sadness. If you like this, you probably will also like Songs from the Cellar. Enjoy.

Al Stewart just never misses! There is a very upbeat feel to this entire CD; it's refreshingly energizing (in contrast to Al's more thought-provoking productions, even when the topic is more serious than silly. The charmingly effusive "Feel Like" is a sets the cheery mood for the album. "Don't Forget Me" is a lovely, unexpectedly romantic tune, compelling me to remember my own partings, inevitably wiping away a tear as the song fades. "Genie on a Table Top" never fails to make me laugh with its sometimes outrageous similes (a simulated what????). "Trains" is evocative and haunting. And it's impossible not to play "Charlotte Corday" over and over again, a gentle little gem, beautifully performed.

As always, an excellent offering from Mr. Stewart.

With this CD, Al Stewart starts to turn away from some of the harder-edged production styles that had marked his two prior CDs ("Russians and Americans", "Last Days of the Century" -- though one will never mistake Mr. Stewart for a heavy metal practitioner) and back to a folk-rock mix characterized by his well-known 70s classics "Year of the Cat" and "Time Passages." "Famous Last Words" features the usually excellent musicianship (just check out the guitar-work on "Trespasser") we've come to expect of Al Stewart albums, as well as historically-oriented subject matters ("Peter on the White Sea" (Russian czar Peter the Great), "Charlotte Corday" (about the murderer of France's Marat), "Necromancer" (the resurging neo-Nazi movement in Germany) and an epic and sure-to-be-classic "Trains" that fits in the mode of "Roads to Moscow"). Somewhat unexpected are some lighter-themed, mood-lifting songs that should have been radio hits -- "Feel Like" (which opens the CD) and "Genie on a Table Top" (which manages to work in references to such things as a "marathon runner rolling in a field of snow"). "Hipposong" is a humorous take on the life of the average hippo and how misunderstood he is (find someone else to write about that!). The CD's only less-than-outstanding efforts are a couple of acceptable but somewhat forgettable pop-style offerings, "Don't Forget Me" and "Night Rolls In" (which closes out the CD). Fans of Al Stewart will embrace this one; non-fans will probably find take to it to the extent they took to (or didn't take to) the albums "Year of the Cat" or "Time Passages."

I really love this album. I thought that is was just as good as YOTC. Hipposong is a cute and funny song to listen to. It shows that he does have a sense of humor about things. Don't forget me, and Angel of Mercy are great contempory songs. I found this to be a lot better then Between the Wars... I have been a fan of his since the tender age of 5.

As a fan of Modern Times and Year of the Cat, I wondered what Stewart had been up to lately and bought this CD to find out. It took only one listening to realize that this was as good as anything I'd heard by Stewart. I agree that 'Trains' is excellent. But I love the rest of the album too. It's a worthwhile addition to the Stewart catalogue, but probably a good intro for someone who's only heard Year of the Cat and is curious enough to want to hear more.

This is one in a long line of great lps/ cds by the most under rated song writer this side of Steve Forbert , Its a great cd . The 7 minute + song '' Trains '' is worth every penny - '' Feels Like '' , "Peter and The White Sea" and "Charlotte Corday" are also very good . The recording itself is good , not quite up to Al Stewart standards , but good . Like I said , get this one for the song Trains - its a song that only Al Stewart could write, no other writer writes so effectively about history

When I first popped in FAMOUS LAST WORDS in my player I knew it would be one of Al's best, and indeed it is. This CD is truly entertaining, especially in the evening hours with a sunset, I've found. It hits all of the right notes and leaves us wishing for more. There is one song that didn't seem to do it for me, and that was "Peter on the White Sea". The song is merely good but doesn't seem to have the punch the rest of the album has. "Genie on a Tabletop" and "Feel Like" are great songs to sing along when you are driving because of their fun energy. "Like Louie Armstrong playing trumpet on the judgement day" (from Genie) is probably my favorite line from an Al Stewart song. "The Hippo Song" may have been written for one of his daughters, but it deserves songcraft credit. The use of spanish guitars is one of Al's trademark sounds included here, but alto sax seemed to be missing. No matter, the album holds up quite well as it is. I want to give this cd a 4 1/2 star rating because it is better than just a 4 star rating. Ross Hogarth was an excellent choice for producer for this recording, and I do wish Al would do another with him. I truly hope this work will acheive gold status(if not platinum).

After the release of LAST DAYS OF THE CENTURY in 1988, Al Stewart fans had to wait several years for this album. Fortunately it was worth the wait!! Highlights here are TRAINS(Al is always good at telling a story),GENIE ON A TABLETOP (which has a racey melodie that just makes you long for summertime partying), and FEEL LIKE (which is just a real feel good song). Other songs on this album are moody but one can't help but get caught up in the imagery. Overall, great stuff!!

Like some other reviewers of this CD I have been a fan of Al Stewart for many years. He has always struck me as one of the best poets in pop music. I came upon Famous Last Words only last year, but was immediately captivated by it. It is clearly his best work in years. Genie On a Table Top, for example, demonstrates that he has not lost his knack for wonderfully imaginative and poetic lyrics. The Hippo Song is humerous but with a sharp bite. Feel Like is a great "feel good" song and I loved Trains with its sense of nostalgia and lost innocence. If you have ever liked Al Stewart's work this is definitely a CD you will want in your collection.