Customer Reviews

Fuse [ENHANCED CD]

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

One of the professional reviewers revealed how utterly out of it he--like most mainstream pop critics--is when he said of this album,

Joe Henry lacks the killer instinct of a great songwriter. For all his atmospherics, he's yet to compose a song worthy of propelling him into the mainstream. This sixth album seems mostly to be a sulky reaction to its predecessor, 1996's Trampoline, which was a blatant attempt to crossover.

I don't know where to start with my objections to such idiocy. Somebody tell this cat to stick to reviewing Brittany, or Christina, or, for that matter, Madonna (with apologies).

Joe Henry writes lush, literary music that sounds like it was made on Mars. I've heard nothing like it before. None of his work is an attempt at crossover, blatant or not. The critic has it exactly wrong: it's the mainstream that's not worthy of Joe Henry, and we can count ourselves blessed that Henry hasn't flattened out in order to sell. This is his best album, a brilliant, thoughtful, often comic take on the modern world. Would that more songwriters would take such risks.

I walked into a Ben & Jerry's one night and heard the pounding guitar of 'Monkey' busting out of speakers in the ceiling. I immediately demanded to know who was singing. After making a killer milkshake for me, the guy behind the counter brought out the CD case, smiling like a little kid who was delighted that someone else wanted to play. I wrote the album name down and bought it within a matter of minutes.

A new language is needed to describe the ethereal soundscape of this album. While "Monkey" is likely to immediately impress the most stubborn listener, the rest of the album will slowly sink into your mood; and then it will sink YOU.

Heavenly songs like "Skin And teeth," "Want Too Much" (produced by the brilliant Daniel Lanois) or "Fat" sound as if Joe Henry stuffed the night sky into a silk bag, moon and all, and ran off into the studio with it. Fuse is the result.

The lonely trumpets, thumping bass and funky, echoing guitar licks sound like they were played by musicians who just happened to pass by Henry as he was singing in a dark alley at night. There is desperate solitude pervading every layer of this album, right to its core.

I haven't a clue as to why brilliant tracks like 'Monkey' or 'Like She Was A Hammer," containing the most brilliant lyrics put to tape since Pink Floyd's last album with Roger Waters, didn't assault the charts. Though I doubt that is of serious concern for Henry. I hope to God that it stays that way. Henry is a private treasure for anyone who buys this album, or 1996's "Trampoline," which is equally as indescribable. So, to hell with the critics who see only black and white, successor failure. Maybe this album should have been released 20 years from now, when the world might be ready for it.

Trying to throw adjectives at Joe Henry is a difficult proposition - Henry is an elusive talent, a wordsmith, with a very diverse style. Perhaps you could think of Henry as Tom Waits' slicker more urbane nephew - perhaps I could be way off the mark, in any case what we have here is another great record to enjoy from Joe Henry. Expanding on his excellent '96 album 'Trampoline' and it's forays into more urban, sampled territory from his previous alt.country/folk leanings, 'Fuse' finds Henry even more at home in a dark, brooding, smoky jazz club, than the twang of a small town bar&grill. Ever the inventive lyricist, Henry clearly enjoys wrapping his lips around evocative phrases - take "... her fingers on your lips are like a penny for a fuse" from the delicious title track, or "rolling over granite there's a smell like plums and clay" from 'Angels'. Not to forget the songs - simultaneously taut and multi-textured grooves that are beautifully composed, very catchy and blessed with the perfect companion in Henrys deep, one of a kind voice. Standout tracks would have to be 'Fuse', the delightful 'Skin And Teeth' and 'Great Lake' all ruminations on fragile relationships carried off with an effortless cool.

I couldn't say it better than the other posters below me. Joe Henry's best effort and most complete recording to date. This one is over the top in great songs that will get under your skin and stay there! 2 elements that add a huge amount of polish and atmosphere to this cd are guitarist Randy Jacobs and producer/mixer T-bone Burnett. Randy Jacobs guitar playing equals Joe's enormous talent. He is masterful, subtle, and, oh so tasteful. Burnett knows how to get everything out of the music, and, he does get it with this recording. I could go on and on, but, I think I'll go listen to 'Skin and Teeth' again.

Bob Dylan once said something to the effect that the key to being a great band leader is to surround yourself with musicians so good that you are the least talented player in the band. And on Fuse, Joe Henry takes a giant step forward because the musicianship is so remarkably strong. The hallmarks of Joe's best earlier work are still present - intelligent literary lyrics, creative song structure, impassioned singing and wonderful phrasing. But Fuse is stunning in its original sound. People are calling it folk "hip hop" but I'd argue that term is misleading. This is live musicianship that recalls the best of early 70's Stevie Wonder and Curtis Mayfield in its ambitious soulfulness. Yet it is thoroughly modern in production sound and use of beats. Of course any record that Daniel Lanois and T Bone Burnett both worked on has to sound great. I'd call Fuse urban contemporary folk music. This record will appeal to any music lover ranging from fans of Lauryn Hill to Lucinda Williams. I've turned a lot of people on to this record (many of them musicians themselves) and every one of them has been as enthusiastic as I. The best record of 1999.

This is the album where Joe Henry stepped out of the shadows of alt country and delivered as good an album as you will find in contemporary pop music. The songwriting is outstanding, the production is superb, and this album is just plain too smart and good for popular consumption. Strip Tom Waits of sentimentality and obviousness and this is what you'd get.

What Joe Henry lacks is the ability to pose and act cool. He's just a regular guy making some of the best pop music in the country. And that's just fine by me.

Joe Henry's Fuse has the soul of jazz music ... Miles Davis "Kind of Blue" jazz ... understated messages in every note, music that is uncrowded, beautifully textured, and adventuresome ... traces of hip hop, tasty fuzz tone guitar licks, atmospheric fills, Memphis soul organ, bouncy base lines, even a little strings. The way Joe Henry brings this mix all together is extraordinarly tasteful and never strained. Over this colorful sound scape, he paces perfectly a melange of poetic story telling. What I have always liked about Joe Henry are his lyrics. But Fuse brings it all together ... the polydemic musical influences, the commoner tales told in snippets of dark revelation, the sly humor. No bad tracks. It's all here.

I heard Joe Henry interviewed on a local radio station and was intrigued by his spin on music, family life, touring, and writing lyrics. He did "Like She Was A Hammer" live and acoustic in the studio, and I was hooked. I bought the CD simply for that song (and I am not an impulse buyer), and the rest of the album continues to surprise and delight me. The bonus is the DVD clip on the CD featuring live performances ("Like She Was A Hammer"...woo hoo) and Billy Bob Thornton. Try it, you'll like it.

Even for the few of us who've been Joe Henry fans for years now, FUSE is everything the critics are calling it and more. A masterpiece. This is his best work and that's saying alot. We hate to share him with the rest of the music world, but with the release of this CD it appears we must. Long overdue, for Joe. PS. Think you don't like instrumentals? Wait until you listen to "Curt Flood," it'll change your tune.

It's rare to find a brilliant songwriter who also knows how to work the melody to perfection. I was immediately pleased to see that Daniel Lanois was behind the scenes on this. He and Brain Eno know just how to serenade our senses.

"Fuse" is a savory feast of songs, with the right dash of sarcasm...