Fiji Baby

Goodshirt | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 6, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: EMI
• ASIN: B000BRIE0A
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,102,300 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Not That Far

2. Sand

3. Buck It Up

4. Dumb Day

5. Cement

6. My Racing Head

7. How Will I See You

8. Cold Body Blues

9. Lucy

10. Fall

11. Fiji Baby

Editorial Reviews

The follow-up to the New Zealand indie-pop act's platinum selling debut album 'Good' (2001). Eleven tracks. Copy Controlled. Cement Records. 2004. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars AMAZING album, September 26, 2005

By 

mehaf (Brisbane, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fiji Baby (Audio CD)

Sorry to take so long to review this album, but I didn't realise that I would be the only one to post a review about such an amazing album. I suppose everyone else is stuck by their CD player listening to this album still. If they aren't, they should be (except for me.. SOMEONE has to write a review, you know).

After such a great album ('Good'), Goodshirt had a fair bit to live up to with their new album, entitled 'Fiji Baby'. Well, the boys have certainly lived up to the same standard as their first long player. This album is amazing. AMAZING. I've never said that about ANY album, except this one. This record is good for any mood you might be in, for any situation, and you can listen to it anywhere; relaxing on the couch, driving, going to sleep, going out.. whatever.

Starting off the album is 'Not That Far', a song that sounds like it has a tinge of Interpol-like guitars when it starts off, but then develops into a light rock tune, with the trademark synthesiser loops (synthesizer, for non-Tasman [and non-British] residents). A great song all round, one of my definite faves on the album. A definite 5/5.

'Sand' has all the makings of a really great song. Hell, pretty much all of the songs on the album do. A great slower song. Tops from start to finish. 4/5.

The next song 'Buck It Up' is a much more poppier, radio-friendly song. It annoyed me slightly at first, albeit VERY slightly. I'm not too sure why. Maybe it was the music video (haha). But I have definitely overcome my previous irk with this particular song and I've realised that it too is a really great tune. I still don't understand the meaning behind it, but who cares. Lyrical depth isn't everything - many other people would have you believe otherwise. Before my reformation of opinion on this song, it gets a 4/5. But now that I learned to stop being a whinger, it gets 5/5.

Kicking off with a phaser-style intro, 'Dumb Day' is another one of those catchy-as-hell tunes, mixing the right amount of soft chords, slightly heavier guitar riffs, controlled vocals and ZANY synth loops (just had to mention that word). 5/5.

Whoo (hoo hoo)! 'Cement'. Relatively heavier than the other songs. A true on and on singalong! Awesome song. Need I say more? 5/5.

'My Racing Head' is a very laid-back song, much more than 'Sand', but still manages to be amazing. Is he lamenting on this track? What does lamenting mean? I've never been bothered to find out. But it sounds like this song might elicit feelings of lament. Whatever it is. 4/5.

Next track - 'How Will I See You'. Another great song. In case you haven't noticed by now, I think this album is GREAT (actually, AMAZING). Slow, meaningful (I think) and overall, quite choice. 4/5.

'Cold Body Blues'. While this album is undoubtedly one of my favourite albums of all time, it doesn't mean there can't be a song here or there that doesn't quite hit the mark. This is one example. Not a BAD song by any means, but not really interesting to me. 3/5.

Russell Baillie from the New Zealand Herald quoted on Feb 21, 2004 that "'Sophie' gets a happy little sister in 'Lucy'" in the form of this next song (entitled 'Lucy'...). Indeed, he was right. This song is very happy and peppy. It takes the opposite direcion of 'Sophie', but is great in its own right. Anyway, don't siblings always seem to have contrasting personalities? Well, sometimes they do. Light guitar driven rock. Good to the last drop. 4.5/5.

Eerie is the best way to describe 'Fall'. Not the malevolent, dull eerie, but not the benevolent, provocative eerie either. I can't help but feel this particular song is filler. It gets 3/5 anyway. As the song progresses it becomes a bit better, but that general progression is the only thing that got this song 3/5, so it definitely doesn't get anymore than that.

'Fiji Baby'. If you want to name your album after a track, make sure you follow Goodshirt's lead and name it after one of the standout tracks on the album. Balladry at its best, complete with tropical island-inspired "salt shaker" maracas as backing and one of the greatest introductions I've heard. And the synthesiser gets one last go to show its stuff and prove itself as a truly great asset to the band. Sadly though, this is the final track on the record. But never fear, the Repeat button is never too far away. Enjoy your second helping, and your third, and your fourth, and your fifth, and your sixth, and your sev..........