17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An excellent and highly underrated album, October 8, 1999
By A Customer
Perhaps it just became popular to over-criticize Julian Lennon's work in the late eighties and early nineties, and that's too bad because the young Mr. Lennon put out some great music in those years.
Help Yourself includes a wide variety of musical styles from the bizarre "New Physics Rant," to the beat driven "Get a Life," to the beautifully melodic "Would You." It is also a rather intelligent album tackling issues of dealing with difficult people in "Listen," dealing with your own problems in "Help Yourself," the environment in "Saltwater," politics in "Imaginary Lines," relationships in "Other Side of Town," and insecurities in "Take Me Home."
Julian Lennon stretches some musical muscle on this album, both in terms of lyrics and score, and what came of that is a truly excellent album. Unfortunately, lack of commericial promotion by the record company has left this work in the shadows all these years.
If you already have Photograph Smile and you're looking for another CD by this artist, this is the one to get.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Other Side Of Town., March 20, 2000
With his fourth cd, Help Yourself, Julian Lennon created his landmark recording. Always being compared to his father, Julian broke from his father's music and created a niche for himself. The excellent "Salt Water", "Listen", "Take Me Home", "Keep The People Working", "Imaginary Lines" and "Would You" make this Julian's most solid effort. 1999's Photograph Smile is a close second, but it isn't as original as Help Yourself. Here, Lennon matures musically and lyrically, creating a classic recording. This is a must have for any rock collector.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best of His Pre-Photograph Smile CD's - Good Music, July 7, 1999
By A Customer
While Photograph Smile is by far and away the best work of Julian Lennon's career, Help Yourself is a close second. This body of work shows him moving toward his current sound, with his melodies and lyrics showing a maturing and depth previously only glimpsed. Several of the songs were emotionally haunting. You can hear and feel the loneliness in Take Me Home and the despair and heartache in Maybe I Was Wrong - both are beautiful songs. Help Yourself is an upbeat and catchy anthem of taking control of your own life. Saltwater makes you think about world problems without being preachy - I found the verse "what will I think of me the day that I die" to be very profound and thought provoking. The cuts show a versatility in style and voice - I thought he had definitely improved and matured as a singer, as well as a songwriter. This CD got better with every listen and I recommend it to anyone who liked Photograph Smile.
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