Human's Lib

Howard Jones

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Original Release Date: 1984
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Elektra / Wea
• ASIN: B000002H23
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #161,438 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Nothing can match the greatness of Howard Jones' haircut, which displayed a peculiar early-'80s combo of mop-top and spikes that was so simply wrong it could hardly have been mistaken for anything else. His first (and best) album doesn't have the monolithic sterility of his biggest hits ("Things Can Only Get Better"--the woah-woah-woah song--and "No One Is to Blame," which featured Phil Collins). It's also got some of Jones' catchiest numbers, including the charmingly simple "New Song" and "What s Love." It's all of an era, of course, but let it herein be noted that Jones was singing "I don't want to be hip and cool/I don't want to play by the rules" (from "New Song") well before Nirvana and Beck turned such sentiments into a "revolution." --Keven McAlester

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hunting the Self, September 29, 2002

By	Mars Velvet (Green Tree, Blue Earth...Deep Space) - See all my reviews

.
"Conditioning" begins his first album with the rejection of what others expect of others. "Who is to say what is what? Welcome to Conditioning". Howward shows preconceptions are a nice way of saying "brainwashing"! Completely synth and cool!

"What is Love" is a fan fave. An extended mix is presented here for extended enjoyment of this great song!

"Pearl in the Shell" is a fast paced synth brass hit. Most of the songs on this album are an expression of being yourself...being your own person. A message I completly identified with when this album came out!

"Hide & Seek" is an epic allegory that combines mysticism with sentiment. A man and a woman, a creator and the creation, existance and nonexistance play through the story. It's so beautiufl and so deep that if I wanted I could write an essay right here...but I will leave that to those who could write one better!

"Hunt The Self" is a fast drum rolling jumper about finding yourself, your identity, your meaning...such a great song!!

"New Song" is basically Howard telling his friends and fans that he doesn't care what others think of him cause then he won't be able to be himself. "Don't crack up...bend you brain...see both sides...throw off you mental chains......". I learned a lot from Howard. I learned I could be myself...in my case I can be a dork! No really cause it is so much less stressful than being cool not only that but being cool is just following others. "I don't wanna be hip and cool...I don't wanna play by the rules...".

"Always Look at the Rain" is so good live! "Let the mind shut up and the heart do the rest".

"Equality" is such an amazing song it could have been a single. Fast with synth chorus and neat repeating effects this song pleads the listener that we are all just the same!

"Natural" is so mellow and such a simple song about going with the natural flow. One of my faves on this album.

"Human's Lib" is a strange song about "going to bed with a hundred women or men". A case in point where so many people say they want to shock and be shocking....and Howard askes "why don't you then?". The sorta heavy issue song at the end says it all...forget women's lib and men's lib...concentrate on human's liberty and we can all be free.

"China Dance" is an instrumental bonus origianally from the 12 inch single for "Hide and Seek".

Hope this helps you decide to try out this amazing CD!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Beginning of a Humble Artist., February 22, 2000

By	Jason Stein (Chula Vista, CA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

It's difficult to choose between Human's Lib or Dream into Action as the best Howard Jones disc, but I have to say Human's Lib. First, it's brief and to the point. 11 tracks and each one compliments the others. There's no filler on this album. Second, Howard shows off his playing and songwriting abilities inviting the listener into his world of utopian ideals. Third, the energy and enthusiasm is rampant on this disc. True, Dream into Action is just as infectious, but Human's Lib is slightly better I think. After Human's Lib and Dream into Action, Howard began to grow and change, and not necessarily in a better way. Human's Lib stands out as a classic new wave cd. It contains the American hits "What is Love" and "New Song". The other 9 tracks display a range of topics and sounds and it all still sounds great after 16 years. This is worth the money.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Integrated Pop-Synth Masterpiece, November 30, 2003

By	ILikeAmazon "ilikeamazon" (Arlington, VA USA) - See all my reviews

Human's Lib has my vote as one of the top pop-synth albums to come out of the English new-wave explosion of the early 80s. The whole album rings with insight and its beautifully crafted songs span from the instrospective to near rock-out instrumentals. Sure; you could buy his greatest hits, but then you'd miss out on equally terrific songs such as Equality, Don't Always Look at the Rain, and Conditioning (which won't appear on any hits albums). As others have mentioned, this album hangs together with the theme of Human Liberation and the concept works here, the sum greater than its parts.

The other albums at the top of my pop-synth list:
o Thomas Dolby's Golden Age of Wireless
o Human League's Dare
o Scritti Politti's Cupid and Psyche '85