Customer Reviews

Help: A Day in the Life

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

 

 

I have never been a big fan of the compilation album genre, be it movie soundtracks, charity albums (such as this album) or whatever multiple artist compilation. But when I saw this album on a recent trip to London, I couldn't resist, and for once, I am happy to say that this album is worth every nickel.

"Help: A Day in the Life" (20 tracks, 78 min.) is the sequel to the 1995 charity compilation album "Help: War Child". The line-up of artists contributing to this album (with every single track recorded in a 24 hr. span of September 8-9, 2005) is just outstanding. Among the many, many highlights: Coldplay's "How You See the World, Pt.2" (which, contrary to the Amazon editor's review, is NOT the bonus track of the Japanese version of "X&Y"--that track, "The World Turned Upside Down", can be found on the "Fix Me" single); Radiohead's down-trotten "I Want None of This", Keane's charming cover of "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road", The Magic Numbers' "Gone Are the Days", The Coral's little gem "It Was Nothing", and towards the end of the album, the 1-2-3 punch of Bloc Party's "The Present", Hard-Fi's "Help Me Please" and Babyshambles' "From Bollywood to Battersea" (giving a glimpse of how good Pete Doherty can actually be, if only he could stay away from drugs long enough). But the outstanding track on the album is the Kaiser Chiefs' cover of "I Heard It Throught the Grapevine", with a riveting guitar lick throughout.

There is really no weak track on here, as hard as that is to believe. Even the non-rock tracks such as Tinariwen's "Cler Achel" and Emmanuel Jal's "Gua" don't sound out of place. "Help: A Day in the Life" is an outstanding album, frankly one of the better CDs of 2005. And that the proceeds help a good cause, only makes this so much easier to recommend.

Recorded (and retailed) in a 24 hour period by every act involved to raise money for children from war torn regions, this is the fastest recording ever. Amazingly, the quality of the music is superb!!! This is probably due to the stellar line up that includes Radiohead, Keane, Coldplay, The Magic Numbers, The Coral, Bloc Party, Elbow to name a few; loads of my favourite acts.

The ultimate piano rock group, Keane (with alien effects from Faultline), handle a ballad by the ultimate piano rocker, Elton John. `Goodbye yellow brick road' fits choir boy voice of Tom Chaplin to a `T'. It doesn't stray too far from the original.

`I heard it through the grapevine' by Kaiser Chiefs is another story; a rollicking fun reworking of the Marvin Gaye classic which works superbly.

Radiohead provide a dirge like ballad, the brief `I want none of this'. Coldplay perform `How you see the world no.2' and make the song their own, there's the eastern guitar drenched `Hong kong' from Gorillaz, and the summery harmony laden 'Gone are the days by The Magic Numbers.

Most touching story from the line up is that of 25 year old Emmanuel Jal, a former child soldier from Sudan who performs the hip hop laced `Gua' (which means peace in Nuer) which surprisingly fits in rather well. He raps in his native Nuer tongue, as well as in English and Arabic, with a lovely children's backing choir (and he also wrote the CD liner notes). With lyrics hoping for an end one day to an to conflict, fear (especially in children) and for peace, this just about sums up this entire brilliant CD.

Oh and I'm not a kid by the way.

Anyway, I first heard of the album in the radio and got to hear the track "Heard it through the grapevine" from The Kaiser Chiefs. Then I didn't hear much of it (as I'm living in Germany) but I kept it in mind. But when I remembered it I didn't wait long and put it on my christmas wishlist. To tell the truth , I didn't even really look at the artists or the songs. All I knew was that the Kaiser Chiefs, Maximo Park, Bloc Party and Hard-Fi had tracks on the album.

So when I did get "Help-a day in the life" for the First Advent I was rather surprised to actually find non-brit pop tracks, such as Emmanual Jal or even the Gorrilaz. No ofence but upon listing to the album for the first time I didn'T love it. But after listing to it for a couple of times it really appealed to me. Altough I'm not such a big fan of some of the music I actually really liked the tracks!

Overall I can only recommend "Help-A day in the life". It's not your average "Various" Album because of the great artists. Only thing I don't like about the album is "Happy Christmas, War is over" from ??? ( I can't think of their name just now). I'd like to listen to the album without always having to think of Christmas. But still worth the buy!

3 1/2

Certainly a step above generic rock benefits, Help could still use some after the disproportionate first segment prepares for a letdown, even if it is a gentle one. All and all this one is worth getting if more then a few of these artists appeal even if it can play like a glorified b-sides disc.