Customer Reviews

Good News From the Next World

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is one of Simple Minds' better albums (and they have put out plenty over the years). "New Gold Dream" and "Sparkle In the Rain" are still their best but, "Good News From the Next World" is definitely no slouch. Much of the attention from MTV on this album was directed toward "She's A River", and rightly so. The key difference is, the version of "She's A River" on the album is different from the radio version. If you want to find that version, you need to get the "She's A River (edit)" single VSCDG 1509 in digi-pac with a cover similar to the album but, with smiling Jim Kerr on the left (also with a great non-LP song "E55"). The other notable highlight is "7 Deadly Sins". The remaining seven songs flow rather well with a heavy emphasis on guitar work. There are plenty of polished power chords and riffs that the 1980-84 Simple Minds were well known for in their anthem-rock style. Charlie Burchill ably plays those guitars and keyboards throughout the album but, most notable is the great bass playing done by four (yes, four!) different bassists (one for each string?). The drumming is also done by three different guys and, somehow, it all flows quite well. Jim Kerr's vocals are great and commendably passionate.

Pick this album up if you can get it on sale if you have been a fan since the 1980s. If you are not familiar with Simple Minds beyond "Don't You Forget About Me", give it a try. It's also great night driving music. The other single to "She's A River" is VSCDX 1509 in corrugated cardboard digi-pac with the S'sAR album version, S'sAR (Duo Mix), and the excellent non-LP instrumental "Celtic Strings".

Sometimes walking the razor blade between ponderous and transcendent, Simple Minds nailed most of the songs on this CD--a must-have for fans of early U2, Alarm and other heartfelt anthem-rockers. Charlie Burchill's economical guitar (short on leads, long on stirring power riffs) leads the way, and the drumming (not Mel Gaynor but a couple of session guys, I think)is absolutely great. The production is rich and deep. Simple Minds is always good driving music, and 'Good News from the Next World,' while typically moody, is no exception. When are these guys coming out with something new? Long overdue.

"Good News From the Next World" is another great album from Simple Minds. The Mind's continue to grow with the release of this album, while the minds of the band are Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill. This album seems to have a lot more edge to it than to previous releases. Kerr and Burchill pen nine songs that continue in the style of the Mind's from the past while taking them to new heights of sound.

The album opens with a crescendo of sounds, drums and guitar before Kerr's voice cuts through the mix with "She's a River". The song is a powerful wall of sound with Kerr's voice sounding rich and full. Kerr has always had a great voice, but it has aged to near perfection, and this single becomes a playground for his vocal acrobatics. This fist cut makes the album worthwhile in it's self. "Night Music" sounds a little more like Mind's past material, yet with an edge to it giving it separation from that 80's sound. Burchill's guitar work is prominent, taking a few short riffs to add color to the song. He opens "Great Leap Forward" with another great riff. The song sounds like vintage Mind's. The growl in Kerr's voice for "And the Band Played On" makes the song.

I've always been a big fan of the Mind's, and like to see bands experiment with new sounds and material without leaving their fan base behind scratching their heads. Mind's does exactly that. "Good News" is new, yet has enough of the stuff that made us enjoy the Mind's of old. An excellent album for any Mind's fan, or anyone who enjoys good rockin' music.

I am an all around fan of Simple Minds, and have been for almost 20 years now. I have loved their progression through the years as the band have expanded, explored, and grown as human beings. 'Good News from the Next World' is one of the BEST albums of their career in my opinion. Jim Kerr really explores the depths of his voice on this CD, and the lyrics are haunting, hopeful, and soul searching. It grabs you by the ears from the first bars of 'She's a River' and doesn't let you go. My absolute favorite song on the album however is '7 Deadly Sins'...it's really a wonderful showcase for the full spectrum of Jim's voice, and just a good, pure, fun rock romp. 'Criminal World' really got to me as well, espcially the line:

"Is it my fascination, or does love come inspired."

I know that this album has been a sore spot for the dividing line of Minds fans over the years, but as a long standing fan I have to say hats off to Jim, Charlie, and the boys...you will not be dissapointed.

Not one of their better ones, but still good nonetheless. Anyways, Jim Kerr and company still display the exuberant passion in their music particularly on this CD. From "She's A River" to "And The Band Played On" to "This Time", the band kicks up a storm that leaves you wanting for more! Much kudos to Jim Kerr for keeping the fire inside alive all these years...

Simple Minds tried to make a comeback of sorts with this pseudo return to real rock n' roll. The results aren't too convincing. "She's a River" kicks things off nicely, but songs like "Night Music" lack power and fail to ignite. Things improve somewhat on the second side, especially with "My Life." However, this album is mostly for fans collecting their music. Casual listeners should check out some of their other stuff first. Basically, their career went from underground electronic rock to underground dance to rock to U2-style bombastic rock to dance rock to more ambient rock to this. Take your pick! And don't forget a lot of thier stuff since this album is great too!

Simple Minds Rock! This CD is an excellent demonstration that these guys can rock. Because of lack of airplay, I did not purchase it until six months after its release date. I happened upon it in a favorite CD store. The first track "She's A River" rocks steady and soulfully moreso than classic Simple Minds tunes like "Sanctify Yourself" and "Stand By Love". After that, tune the well penned music continues with "Night Music" then that's followed by a rock steady low beats per minute groove called "Hypnotised" which features a great guitar riff.The next three songs are lame then a power groove starts off with an electronic gurgle akin to The Fixx's "Deeper & Deeper". The song "My Life" is the bread of rock and "Criminal World" is a fluff of a wierd dirge followed by a good penned tune to conclude the set entitled "This Time". This ranks high among Simple Minds best recordings.

This is the last good record from simple minds. The record is made for driving a car in the dark.

After the release of the much underrated "Real Life" and the subsequent tour, longtime drummer Mel Gaynor had departed the band for "a spell" and singer/songwriter Jim Kerr and multi-instrumental musician Charlie Burchill faced the fact that their band had dwindled from 5 to 2 members over the last 8 years and they were a voice and a guitar now so what did they do? They penned one hell of a rock record with great musicianship, singing, songwriting and production.

There is not one song I skip through on this disc and that does say something since I am picky and impatient when it comes to music. For any Simple Minds fan who may have fell away from the band as they struggled to recover from the major drop off in exposure in the states following "Street Fighting Years" to listen to this one they are in for quite a surprise. The majesty and vision of the words and music are still there but with quite a different influence in the music.

Grunge was in full swing at the time as well as some of the more guitar driven music coming out of England and it really found its way into this record. Much more steady and polished percussion with major fills as well as plenty of layered guitar on this one. There is that great Burchill guitar heard throughout this one, the same that was heard in Street Fighting Years but this time with a much harder edge.

Like I said there are no weak tracks here but my favs on this one are Great Leap Forward, Seven Deadly Sins, And the Band Played On, Its My Life, Criminal World and Hypnotised. I can listen to tracks 3-9 without ever tiring There are some great lyrics here as well...one of my favorites "a coward dies a thousand times but the brave they die just once" exemplifies a clarity that runs right along with the much more straightforward playing.

This is a fun and powerful record for any fan of the more thoughtful side of rock and is another testiment to the resiliency of the core of my favorite band.

This record came off the heels of the very competent and keyboard heavy Real Life. Mel Gaynor had departed the trio and session musicians filled the void. Just listen to the guitar work and keyboards on this album......perfect. Both handled almost exclusively by Charlie Burchill who I conisder to be THE most underrated musician alive. I look for musicians who play their part, no overbearing solos to spotlight themselves, just play to complete the song. This record rocks. The vocals are spot on, the rythym is great although different from what most veteran Minds fans are used to. This cd is one I insist on having within reach at all times and I recommend it for all those who like thoughtful rock.