Customer Reviews

Home

5 star:		(49)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

This is the best album that Simply Red has done since Stars! The title track "Home" is great, and reminiscent of "Holding Back the Years". I normally don't like sampling, but in their song "Sunrise" it seems to work really well! The Hall & Oates tracks blend in well, and this song is already topping the charts here at no. 3 on one radio chart! Another great track is the cover of You Make Me Feel Brand New, my favourite Stylistics song! Mick Hucknall's voice is superbly suited to this song. I also love Lost Weekend. You can almost feel the pain "blowing away" as you listen to this song. Something for You starts off really great, but gets a little boring towards the end. I would like to hear that great chorus at least one more time. But, overall the CD is great and Simply Red are definitely back!

A little radio station near Columbus has been playing "Sunrise" and for the longest time, and i didn't know who the artist was. then i found out and couldn't believe it. then i thought i'd buy the "Home" album. i have never pruchased a Simply Red album, even though i loved them in the 80's. i love this CD and think it's one of the best ones i have purchased in quite a while. "Home" is a nice rainy day song and of course "Sunrise" gets you going. mick's voice is a little strained on "you make me feel brand new" but is still a grand effort. "home loan blues and positively 4th street" are real good songs that do not insult my intelligence. i highly recommend this CD if you want to hear good music from a singer and group that has talent and professionalism. It Would Be Nice To See This Album Get More Airplay In The States!

So what happens when your record company drops you after a couple of disappointing selling cds in "Blue" and "Love and the Russian winter"?

Answer: Set up your own label (Simplyred.com) and get back to basics with an album sure to please long time Simply Red fans and possibly, just possibly help restore their place in the world charts.

Interestingly, their old label, Warner music, is licensed to distribute this cd(in Europe for starters), perhaps knowing they might hit the jackpot this time.

As soon as I heard the lead off single "Sunrise", (sampling "I can't go for that" by Hall and Oates) with a chorus that sticks in your head, I've been eagerly anticipating the rest of the album. By and large it hasn't let me down.

Here's a brief critique of all the tracks:

Home- Just like "Holding back the years", something in this song makes me want to remember my younger days. The fact that Micks singing about lost love, he yearns for the "safety" of familiar surroundings. A nice easy listening tune to start of with (8/10)

Fake- The pace picks up a bit here. Add some brass and backing "doo doo doos" that could be lifted off "Baby I need your lovin'". Kinda retro yet contemporary. The musicianship here is first rate. It's also great to hear live drums on most of the tracks. (9.5/10)

Sunrise- Great song. Heard it heaps and never tire of it. For once, a sample that is used to great effect. Top 10 in the UK, I hope this repeats that success world wide. (10/10)

You make me feel brand new- A cover of the classic "Stylistics" song. A pretty faithful version is all I can say about it. However, his voice is sounding better than ever. (8/10)

Home loan blues- Almost re-visits the "Money's too tight to mention" theme with a groove not too dissimilar. Absolutely love the line "You can have it all- but you gotta pay". Nice sax solo too. (8.5/10)

Positively 4th Street- Yes- it's the Bob Dylan classic! Now this is done with a nice little twist. First its just his voice with violins. Then the acoustic guitar kicks in- with some "country" touches. Later on a full on brass section plays! Not sure what Dylan would think of this, but I think this is a great version (9/10)

Lost Weekend- Highlight of the album!!! The Brand New Heavies will think someones ripped them off!!! Acid Jazzy feel that beautifully compliments Mick's voice. I can imagine crusing the highway in a convertable to this. Just makes me feel happy. (10/10)

Money- Seems a re-current theme. Either money or girl problems. This is maybe the only "darker" song on the album. Probably the only song I don't really like. (6/10)

Something for you- At 6.00 minutes long ,this starts of sounding like "Brother Louie", that morphs into a rousing Motown like chorus only for it to go all laid back and jazzy (complete with an extended cool electric organ and Santana like guitar solo). Sensational!!!! Waiter, can I have a martini please.(10/10)

It's you- A lovely song to complete the album (I don't think the 53 second reprise of "Home" really adds much). Certainly one for romantics. (8.5/10)

I hope I've been able to paint an accurate picture of this album. Long time fans should be happy with this and anyone looking for a mature pop record can't go wrong with this one. Highly recommended!!!

This is by far the best album I've purchased in the last ten years. It's a breath of fresh air to hear REAL instruments, REAL vocallists, NO profanity, and to hear an album that sounds great from track one to the end. Simply Red has brought back a sound that has been missing in popular music for a couple of years. You Make Me Feel Brand New is a beautiful remake of the original. Sunrise is also excellent. Lost Weekend has a nice laid back groove to it. One of my favorite tunes on the album is "It's You". Has a very nice vintage touch to it, and it always puts me in a good mood when I listen to it. I'd give it 100 stars if I could.

Like most of the other reviewers here, I have been absolutely
enthralled by this latest album from Simply Red.

Mick and the "band" have combined their unique talents once
again and put together an album that crosses R&B, pop, jazz,
and funk genres - into territory that belongs solely to
Simply Red.

"Home," "Fake," and "Sunrise" start off this album superbly.
As I write this review, I am listening to the silky smooth
"Sunrise," my favorite track on the CD. Without giving away too
much, I didn't think anyone could improve classic Hall & Oates...
but Mick and company definitely have!

This CD will be a hidden gem for U.S. purchasers, who will
probably not hear much from "Home" on the air.

First, I have to admit I was really surprised to find out that Simply Red was still around. I have their greatest hits CD, but was only really familiar with a few of the tracks that charted here in the U.S. back in the 80's. So, imagine my surprise when I was vacationing in Europe this summer and came across not just Simply Red being played on radio, but also music videos.

I fell in love with "Fake" which is why I bought the CD when I returned to the U.S. and although the CD version is not the one that was featured on the video, it's still a great cut that has a 60's Motown feel to it. "Sunrise" immediately became my favorite track on the CD. As mentioned by others, the sampling of Hall and Oates' "I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)" really works here, definitely dances up the song. "Home" is also another standout and is reminiscent of Simply Red's earlier U.S. hits. The cover of "You Make Me Feel Brand New" is good, but if a Stylistics' tune had to be covered, I think "You Are Everything" would have suited Mick's voice a little better. "Lost Weekend" has a jazzy, Sunday-brunch feel to it, Mick's voice complements the music really well.

Overall an impressive work by Simply Red. Glad to know they're still around.

When I heard "Sunrise" on a smooth jazz station, I was surprised to hear it was Simply Red. I love Mick's voice in this song. Then when I bought the CD, I have to say, it is the best CD I have heard in a long time. I usually don't like remake songs, but "Positively 4th Street" is almost as good as when Bob Dylan sings it. My favorites are "Home", "Sunrise", "Lost Weekend" and "Money in my Pocket". I would strongly suggest this CD for any jazz or easy listening music fan.

I enjoyed this CD very much, and was so glad to see a new release by Simly Red. Some of the tracks are classics they have redone, and others sample from other artists (like 'Sunrise', which is taken from Hall and Oates). The CD provides 1st class entertainment, and I love that I can listen to the entire CD without wanting to skip any tracks. IMO, there isn't a bad track on this.

I must say, I cannot quit playing this great cd! The year 2003 has had a few nice cds, but until I played this one, I hadn't found my FAVORITE of the year, but now I have a winner!

Like other reviews have stated, the first 4 tracks are the best. The single "SUNRISE" samples Hall & Oates' "I Can't Go For That(No Can Do)" and although I HATE sampling, it works here......and his cover of "You Make Me Feel Brand New" is simply wonderful.

Mick Hucknall has put out the best soul album this year, he could show these kids a thing or two about how to do it and do it right.......

I have been waiting for this cd all year and didn't even know it.

I recently purchased this CD and I must say that this is a great
purchase! Being a long time fan since the Picture Book days, "Home"is a refreshing listen. Mick Hucknall's vocals and musical arrangements do not disappoint. Long time fans will definitely enjoy this one! The title track reminds me of something in the like of Carol King/Jimmy Webb with it's melancholy feel."Fake" had a nice sunny 60's soul groove feel to it with it's slight use of the "Baby I Need Your Loving" hook in between. They were also clever in emulating some of the Philladelphia soulsters such as the Stylistics and Hall and Oates. For some reason, the sampling of "I Can't Go For That" seems to work well for "Sunrise." Not being a big fan of cover versions (even though this band has done it's fare share of them), I was completely blown away with their version of "You Make Me Feel Brand New." Mick seems to hit the mark on this track! "Home Loan Blues" is a great socially soulful song since "Money's Too Tight To Mention.""Positively 4th
Street" is a great self-comeback song with a nice and strong horn arrangement. In "Lost Weekend" the band takes on a nice big city Heatwave groove feel, perfect for that sunny drive in San Francisco!"Money In My Pocket" is a nice ambient dance music piece. "Something for You" is a nice number that has that great 70's latin-soul vibe with it's jazzy improvisational instrumentation. After all that, we return to that pleasant melancholy sound in "It's You." Overall, this is a wonderfully thematic CD, perfect for listening anywhere or anytime. Simply Red is one of the few significant bands that have long continued to produce and perform wonderful music with an amazing freshness.