I'm Happy & I'm Singing & A 1 2 3 4 (Bonus CD) [Extra tracks]

Jim O'Rourke, Akira Sakata & Jim O'Rourke | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 12, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks
• Label: Editions Mego
• ASIN: B001UGIRLC
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #291,700 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. I'm Happy

2. And I'm Singing

3. And a 1, 2, 3, 4

Disc: 2

1. Let's Take It Again from the Top [*]

2. Getting the Vapors [*]

3. He Who Laughs [*]

Editorial Reviews

Of course, Jim ORourke needs no introduction being well known as a performer, producer and all round top chap, as well membership of various pop and rock combos for more than two decades. Im Happy, and Im Singing, and a 1, 2, 3, 4 was called by many common folk Jims laptop record or his powerbook album. We prefer the simple term computer when referring to the instrument used for the creation of this milestone album. Equal parts - schizoid pop, cracked minimalism, concrete drama and melancholic contemplation. It strikes us as a highly personal release. Given the nature of this warm beast, it seems likely to appeal across the board - electronic nuts, indie rock kids and yes, even the good folk of the established experimental world may take pleasure in the delicate nuances of Jims hard drive. This reissue is long overdue (the album being out of print for 5 years), and comes with a bonus disc featuring rare and unreleased material from same period sourced from Jims vast archive, as well as new artwork. This album will not be available as a download.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Learn about the possibilities of electronic music, February 16, 2005

By 

Benjamin D. Collins (Fayetteville, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: I'm Happy & I'm Singing & A 1234 (Audio CD)

Jim O'Rourke is honestly one of the most impressive people working in music today. I won't go on for too long telling you how amazing he is if you don't already know, (for further information look up his discography). But the guy plays all sorts of instruments, produces and engineers amazing records by other artists, has dabbled in every musical style possible and he can still suprise me.

This album is a collection of three live, solo, laptop performances, (each piece in a different city) and whether or not you are familiar with electronic music I think these works will impress you. I know, I know, everybody and their brother can make music on the computer these days, "you don't even have to know anything about notes or keys or time signatures, it's all just loops!" But no matter what you've heard people make on the computer there is a vast difference between some kid making house music on fruity loops and an experienced musician/composer like Jim O'Rourke using the medium like he would any other that he has mastered.

While still feeling definitely electronic, the pieces all have an element of control and precision that feels organic and human. O'Rourke avoids the cold impersonal feel of most computer music and really makes the laptop feel like an instrument to be played, not an interface to load files and sequence them on.

If you think you know about electronic music, give this a try.