Customer Reviews

Help Yourself

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

(actually 4 1/2 stars) OK, here's a review for all of you out there (and you know who you are!) who voted my little essay on JL's Photograph Smile as "not helpful" because you didn't like what I said about Julian (which I didn't think was all that negative) and not because you found the review helpful in regards to whether you wanted to buy the CD or not... When this came out nine years ago, nobody expected anything from Julian. Atlantic had already given up on him as a viable cash source, as evidenced by the lack of promotion this album recieved, and apparently Jules himself adopted a "what the hell" attitude toward his career. So it seemed he had nothing to lose at this stage. To the interested observer, however, there was a definite progression in his work from the inanities of Valotte and Secret Value of Daydreaming to the almost Bowieesque Mr.Jordan (where the few people who were still listening began to perk up a little...there are some fine songs on Jordan, there just aren't enough of 'em!)...and everyone was hoping Julian's new one would continue the slow march to respectablilty. The first thing I heard from Help Yourself was when I saw the video for Saltwater late on MTV one night. I was amazed by its beautiful melody (with its Harrisong slide accompaniment) and nice vocal work...and the video was nicely understated and moving as well. This time, I knew Jules had something going on. When the radio station I where I worked got a couple of promo copies, I took one home and listened to it for months. Couldn't stop! This was Lennon's best batch of songs ever: Rebel King, Bowieish again...very dramatic; the wittily rocking title cut (which features gorgeous BV's);Get A Life, which reminds me a bit of Squeeze; Take Me Home (beautiful, sad and melancholy; JL actually evokes these emotions rather than forces them down the listener's throat a la Photograph Smile) and the emotional centerpiece of the CD Would You, which speakes to Lennon's emotional state at the time, but is understated enough to win sympathy rather than inspire disgust...special mention must also go to the New Physics Rant, which is quite unlike anything Julian did before or after; aided a lot by producer Bob Ezrin and his ever present children's choirs, Jules manages to channel Eno-era Bowie and create a maniacal funk tune that is just this side of deranged. You may or may not like Rant, but you won't forget it...I think it's as good as anything he's ever done. However...based on the evidence of Jules' music before and after this album, I've almost come to the conclusion that this CD might not have been as inventive and clever if it hadn't been for the help and arrangements of his collaborators Bob Ezrin, Michael Kamen, and others...I docked this a half notch because there are, in all fairness, some slow stretches with songs such as Maybe I Was Wrong, Other Side Of Town and the muddled closer Keep The People Working. Whatever and whoever is responsible, though, that doesn't change the fact that Help Yourself is, in my opinion, one of the best albums of the 90's and is an underrated gem. If you think Photograph Smile is hot stuff and you haven't heard this, then make sure you're sitting down, because you've got a surprise coming!

By making this purchase, I have finally completed my collection of Julian Lennon albums. Except, of course, for his new album that is due to be released sometime this year. ;)

After only listening to "Help Yourself" the first time through, I have already come to love this CD just as much as I do his previous ones and "Photograph Smile". With "Mr. Jordan" Julian was trying to find himself musically and vocally; but on "Help Yourself", he's trying to find himself more personally. As you listen to it, it takes you on his personal journey of self-discovery. Musically he also has matured even more from "Mr. Jordan" and seems to have finally found his niche with "Help Yourself".

I love all the songs on this album! Even the very odd "New Physics Rant" has a charm to it that makes it a fun song to listen to. The Girl Scouts troop singing backup is so cute. :)

Although, I guess if I had to choose my most favorite songs from this album, they would be: Saltwater, Get A Life, Would You, Maybe I Was Wrong, Help Yourself, Listen, Other Side Of Town, Take Me Home, Imaginary Lines & Keep the People Working. I told you I love them all. I think I mentioned almost all of them. :)

As with "Mr. Jordan", it is a real shame that Atlantic Records didn't promote this better. I keep asking myself..."What were these people thinking?!" If it had been promoted better, I think it would have done very well. Shame on them. :/

So if you love Julian's music, you will definitely love this album just as much as his others. It's a definite, must have, for any Julian fan. :)

I don't use the word fan, but I do own all of his albums. This is my favorite. The romantic journey found in "Take me home" is so touching it became "our song" in a relationship which has become an 8 year marriage. "Salt Water" a song I sat alone in the mountains listening to in the dark when I needed to think.

This album really is his best to date in my opinion. It is a blend of lilting optomism, and joy. Just plain well written, performed- lovely!

This is the definitive Julian Lennon album. It fulfills the promise of the Lennon legacy with supreme confidence, ability and charm. It is a far-reaching album that collects all the varied styles and influences at play on previous discs and delivers them in a distinctive package that is singularly Julian. It's a complex work of breathtaking sweep that even his father never really achieved, taking on a number of subjects both social and personal. The arrangements and production are as intricate as anything on "Photograph Smile" without the addition of saccharine. In its day, the advent of Q Sound made this album swell from the speakers and fill the room with song. Considering how successful "Mr. Jordan" was, it's a shame this didn't find a bigger audience.

BTW, am I not the only one who thinks it's an uncredited George Harrison playing the guitar solo on "Saltwater"?

Still in the player after 2 months says i liked it. I am a Julian fan from the Valotte single and have been intrigued by his writing style.... I was rekindled to his musical heritage (guess?) from friends who then rekindled sooo many memories and then influences upon me. Then I saw this man in the "saltwater" video and heard and knew what i had been missing since "Valotte"..it was JULIAN!

After buying and loving Photograph Smile, I bought this CD and my only disappointment is that I didn't discover it in 1991. Displaying an amazing vocal versatility and showing remarkable progress and maturity as a singer and songwriter, this CD shows him moving closer to his current sound in Photograph Smile. You can feel the emotion of Maybe I Was Wrong and Take Me Home and the positive energy of Help Yourself. This man is incredibly talented and probably one of the most under-rated musicians out there. Buy this CD and see if you don't agree and wonder why it didn't hit big when it was originally released. The best of the four pre-Photograph Smile CD's, including Valotte, in my opinion.

Help Yourself is awesome. for people who think Julian is just a son of John lennon, this album is going to change your mind. he is a great musician, and he deserves the better attention! listen to the second song"saltwater", it's just so beautiful. With Paul McCartney, Julian is the one who knows the beaty of music and there not many of them out there. Be patient if you think you dont get his music. it takes time to really know a great music sometimes.