Customer Reviews

Figure in a Landscape

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am not a regular fan of John Waites. I wouldn't even make a tape of his earlier albums (1980's) because, yes they had some great songs on them, but also a lot of filler. This cd is a different story. Good songs (a few great), great voice, and stripped down music. The album has a good feel to it. When I first heard the song 'Key to Your Heart' this summer, I had to have the album. Why this song was not the top selling, most played summer song I will never know? This is his best song ever (solo or group). He even sings a beautiful version of a Vince Gill song ('Whenever you come around') and makes it his own. All of these songs are sung with a deep conviction that oozes out of the speakers. This cd will make me buy his greatest hits cd next. This is smooth pop for adults...and anyone else who has good musical tastes!

I let this cd pass when it came out a couple of months since I'm not a fan of John Waite's solo-work (too much pop-music to me). I don't even own most of his solo-records. But Figure in a Landscape reminds me of his work with The Babys and Bad English. Less bombastic than Bad English and more up-to-date sounding than The Babys. To me, this album ranks up with his best work: Head First (Babys) and both Bad English releases.

Listening to these songs in this album reminds me of the days when I first recognized John Waite. It was around 1984 and at first listen I didn't feel the song was so much special. It was not as catchy as my favorite rock hits at the time such asgEye Of The Tigerh (Survivor) or gJumph (Van Halen). But as I repeatedly heard this on the radio I found myself hooked to the song and gMissing Youh eventually became #1.

It is true that he doesnft rock hard as Bad English releases, but it is a fine album. If you like vocal featured rock such as Rod Stewart, Don Henley, Richard Marx, Eric Clapton you will love this CD for sure. The album is something like gInside Jobh (Don Henley) and gOut of Orderh (Rod Stewart) mixed. It is very sentimental album overall and might take some time to get to you until the lyrics of the song touch your heart. "Always Be Your Man" standout track from this album is one of my best songs of the year. "Fly" now featured on radio is fine as well. Upbeat tracks "Key To Your Heart" "Thinking About You" "Special One" are also good. "Godhead" "NYC Girl" will find adult contemporary stations' heavy rotation.

Recommended for wide range of pop rock and classic rock fans.

I'm not exactly John Waite's biggest fan, but I really enjoy listening to his music. I was turned on to "Missing You" when I was younger, and I saw him live on the Journey tour this summer, so I was real anxious for this CD to be released. It was definitely worth the wait and the money! It's one of those albums that you may be a little weary about at first, but after a few listens, the songs really seem to grow. "Thinking About You," "NYC Girl," and "Special One" are my favorites from the album, but all the songs are at the same calibur, and there are no filler tunes. Some may complain that the disc is too ballad-heavy, but I think John is exploring a different direction, and this album is a great relaxer. Also, I think Waite is one of the most underrated singer/songwriters out there today, and I'm really hoping that Figure in a Landscape will bring some attention to how talented he really is. I bought the CD the day it was released, and it hasn't stopped playing since. Thanks for giving us some great new music, John!

John Waite, in my opinion, has always been a step ahead with his music, which could mean that he may miss the boat on the ride of current popularity but he writes and records music true to himself and not what is "vogue" for the "day" or the "minute".
Figure in a Landscape, his new album, is definately in that catagory. It is a mixture of of mid-western pop/rock/country, heart-rendering ballads and pop/rock, an unusual blend, but one that seems to indeed blend.
Waite's strong line, are his ballads, it's what has made him his hits previously and this album has a number of soulful one's , written and sung in a way that you can only help but feel the pain.
That's not to say that John Waite can't power it up with the best of them, the track "Godhead" adhere's to that fact.

Great album for any John Waite die-hard fan and for those who remember him from the "Missing You" and Bad English days, well, he has been making great music since then as well. Do yourself a favour and buy his recent, previous albums, "Temple Bar" and "When You Were Mine" . These albums are different again, but they showcase John's gifted song writing and great rock/pop voice.
But, for now...go out and buy Figure in a Landscape..its a Masterpiece.

This CD FIAL is John Waite's Best Yet (Overall)! If you don't know who he is then you really need to give him a listen he has sung such mega hits as Missing You, When I See You Smile, and Change. And he currently has a hit with the single Fly off his new CD Figure in A Landscape. The man can really sing, if you love great vocalist that can belt out a love song and touch your heart then John Waite is the man to listen to. I have been a big fan of his for years and just really enjoy his music from his old stuff with the Babys up to his current solo stuff! FIAL is great from the opening song Keys to Your Heart that is an up beat love song until the end with the haunting Masterpiece of Loneliness. Favorites of mine include FLY, TOUCH, NYC GIRL, AlWAYS BE YOUR MAN, and THINKING ABOUT YOU. These songs are all well crafted with lyrics and beautifully sung. So I would highly recommend John Waite's FIAL to anyone who loves hearing beautiful music and someone who can really sing. Because John Waite is one of the best at accomplishing just that, writing and singing beautiful tones, on everything he's done. So check out Figure in A Landscape and get addicted to his get voice.

This CD is the absolute archetype of what thinking, passionate people want in their music.

"Figure In A Landcape" is a brilliantly executed, emotionally moving piece of contemporary art that serves to underscore several important points:

1) John Waite's literally incomparable vocal purity, passion, and intensity has gotten even more poignant with the seasoning of time (now utterly distilled, it is even more gut-wrenching honest than in his "Missing You" heyday);

2) Waite's evident evolvement as one of the best purveyors of truly authentic, poetic (yet highy accessible) lyricism/songwriting in the pop/rock/blue-eyed soul genres;

3) Waite's still eye-opening stylistic versatility;

4) The fact that melody and "commercial appeal" can still be highly compatible with integrity, substance, and soul;

5) That--Yes, Virginia!--some things (well, at least artists like Waite) CAN get even better with age;
and, finally,

6) John Waite, who is as creatively relevant right now as at any other time in his tempestuous but illustrious career, is LONG PAST DUE to be esteemed and categorized right up there with the creme de la creme, elite-level singer/songwriters of his generation (or any other, for that matter).

With many top-notch tunes of varying moods and perceptions that evoke life in all its nuanced joys and sorrows (i.e. "Thinking 'Bout You," "NYC Girl," "Always Be Your Man," "Godhead," "Fly," etc.), this is an album for those who know "real," intelligent, and exquisitely crafted music from the heart when they hear it -- and ones who don't need Rolling Stone or corporate radio to tell them they had best grab it up and hold it dear as soon as possible!

Yes, for those of you out there who deeply desire passionate realism - along with true aural beauty - in your music, this one is most definitely for you!

John Waite is one of the most under-rated rock vocalist of our time. This release is John at his best. The band is tight, the songs are exeptional, consistent from start to finish. If you like sentimental, album rock, you will love this CD. This is far above anything he put out with the Babys. I have seen John in concert 2 times in the past few years and he just keeps geeting better.

What a CD. Since I got it I can't stop listening to it. John's voice still sounds great. Always be your man, godhead and fly are stand outs. The CD from top to bottom is great.

I've followed John's career for a number of years and I must say that his latest release is his best. Fly and Thinking About You are two sure fire hit singles.