Customer Reviews

Fear Yourself [Vinyl]

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

 

 

Fear yourself proves (yet again) that DJ is one of the most original and consistently brilliant songwriters in this country.

Mark Linkous of Sparklehorse produced this album- and his experimental sounds mesh well with Daniels innocent voice. The biggest surprise for DJ watchers is that this is probably his happiest most cheerful album in years. Of course, this is Daniel's take on happiness- and regret and missed chances are never far away . Great drawing on the cover too! What more do you want?

Fear Yourself is brilliant. It's beautiful, honest, sad, cheerful, and everything we've come to expect from Daniel Johnston. Syrup of Tears is the ultimate song about not giving up on love. The lyrics are beautiful. "Tears fall left and right. No hope in sight. Like heavy syrup for sorrow pancakes so flat. Keep it light forever, not realizing my own fate. It's great, the weight upon me now." Brilliant. Syrup of Tears is, in my opinion, one of the most moving songs Daniel has ever written.

Anyway, the whole album is excellent. I highly recommend it to anybody who likes different music.

We love you, Daniel.

I almost didn't buy this or the equally as important album "The Late Great Daniel Johnston" because of a review below concerning his "amatuerish" singing. This is completely ridiculous and unjustifiable. I remember hearing David Byrne 29 years ago on "Talking Heads 77" and thinking the same thing...for about 10 seconds before I understood that his importance and truth as a songwriter had nothing to do with his ability to sing and emotionally relate honest his feelings. In truth? Daniel eclipses Mr. Byrne in every facet imaginable.
I'm still wiping away my tears...God bless this man!

I bought this on a hunch after reading a newspaper article about some amateur musician/artist with mental problems. This is absolutely NOT the type of music I normally listen to... yet I was completely slack-jawed and awe-struck when I first listened to this CD. In other words: I love this stuff. I didn't even have to listen to it a few times. I liked it right away. I am not saying that this is for everyone, but this material is an instant classic. You kind of have to understand this guy to appreciate the music, and if you don't then you don't... I am sure it is ok by him... he'd still ask you: "hi how are you"?

I normally dislike Daniel's later stuff, preferring his early homemade tapes to the very slow, poor articulation that marks his later work. However, it would be hard to deny that his songwriting since Fun and Why Me? has only improved. Fear Yourself features some of the best of his later career; I recommend Syrup of Tears, Power of Love, Wish, and Love Enchanted especially.

Daniel Johnston is like a modern day outsider artist. He draws and plays music and seems to have a childlike view of the world. He writes love songs and bangs chords on the piano like there is no tomorrow. He creates most of the artwork for his records too. He use to record stuff on a boombox. These tapes circulated around and Johnston ended up influencing Kurt Cobain and then recording a record with The Butthole Surfers. He's been compared to people like Brain Wilson and Roky Erickson. Mark Linkous of Sparklehorse has recorded his songs in the past. Linkous and Johnston were destined to collaborate. The result seemed more layered and complex than some of those early bedroom tapes. "Power of Love" sounds like Foreigner on LSD. The song "Mountain Top" is a feel good song, meant for driving on the open road. "You Hurt Me" sounds like Biz Markee. Let love be forever or fear yourself. It's great.

I like Sparkelhorse, which is the reason I purchased it. But I don't like much of this at all. My favorite singers are considered "bad" by many (Neil Young, Tom Waits, Wayne Coyne, J. Mascis) but Daniel Johnston's voice grates me like few voices I've ever heard. I accept that some may like it because I am very used to people telling me singing I like are bad. So, rather than go on, I'll just conclude by saying I have already retired this CD to the "will never listen to again" section of my collection.