Customer Reviews

Jim Noir

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

 

 

Thanks to the last World Cup Soccer tournament, we discovered the guy singing the wildly catchy song Eenie Meanie for Adidas and his even wilder catchier debut 'Tower of Love'; so catchy that adidas was not the only corporation plucking his songs and overhauling them for commercials. That album kept things simple, melodic and irresitably jovial to the point that any 5150 wing of a mental institution should've pumped this through their PAs to keep their saddest patients from making nooses with their Adidas shoelaces.
His latest has a simple enough title, but that's where it ends. Given all the lucre the corporations and TV networks gave him for selling his tunes, our Jolly little droog had time to noodle, taking vocals to new multi tracked Beach Boy harmony glory, it's as if the Beach boy meditation classic Feel Flows is given a funky groove. No doubt Happy day Today and Same Place Holiday manage to provide the same wanky, no-hangups psychedelic breeze he dosed us with on the debut.
Lyrically he's got SLIGHTLY more to sing (notable exception Day by Day by Day when he sings his apparent credo about not needing the hang up of having anything to say) and picks the perfect melodies and lines to repeat and cram your head with the cookie dough gooey music. The lyrics often mix in like choclate chips and jimmies, never detracting from the confectious music. His love of French electropop like Air and Mellow cross up with his guitar fuzzy freak beat influences like the Marmalade, the Pretty Things and Blossum Toes this time out as well, as Welcome CJ will attest to his more trippy bombastic side.
All in all this music will stay in your head and not go away. For anyone bogged down by the daily grind, this release will keep those miserable bullets from flying through your skull.

Jim Noir's eponymous second album was a bit of a letdown after the soaring melodies of his TOWER OF LOVE. Yes, there are still pleasant, lively melodies here ("What U Gonna Do"). Yes, he still sounds like a cross between the Beach Boys and the Beatles. This second album, however, seems to lack the diversity of the first. It's difficult at times to distinguish one song from another. By the end of the album, I was definitely ready for a different sound. This was a disappointment, but I'm still ready to hear what he comes up with next.

So many of you may not know Jim Noir and I can't blame you. I found out about him 2 months ago while playing the video game "Little Big Planet". It turns out Jim turns out more than just catchy quirky songs for the latest platform game. In this self titled CD, Jim shows us influences from many popular Brit bands such as Blur, Super Furry Animals, Electric Light Orchestra and Alfie to name a few. Jim also has a way with the blending 8 bit tones and synth pop grooves with catchy and honest lyrics. The track "All Right" is ambient and groovy and seems like a likely candidate for the Perennial "Buddha Bar" and "Hotel Costa" compilations. Mix this all with a nice 60's blend of accoustics and drum tattoos and you have an album that has something for everyone.

listening to this really sends me somewhere. the closest thing it reminds me of is a modern-day Beach Boys, but it's a lot more than that, and the production quality is tops... enjoy!

Jim Noir's second album, Jim Noir, sounds a lot like other bands' albums. His influences are clearly discernible upon first listen. This cuts both ways: catchy tunes with poppy, psychedelic melodies, but falter as they directly invoke their predecessors. Whether it's the Beach Boys on "Happy Day Today," or Revolver/Sgt. Pepper on "What U Gonna Do," the markers are unavoidable. And, with refrains such as, "I've broken all my cds..." and "I'm like a kid who knows exactly what he wants for his birthday," I gotta pass.

I've read some interesting things about Mr. Noir and the quirkiness and likeability of this album--but I don't get it; too many of the songs sound like they didn't make the cut for a Bowie, Kinks, Beatles, or Beach Boys record. It's undeniably difficult to absorb your strong influences and churn out a unique sound, but Mr. Noir seems to be letting his fandom get the best of him.

--David Levin

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I really like this cd. The artist doesn't necessarily meet up with the needs of contemporary pop but he definitely knows what he's going for. Reminescent of church meets rock. An Older style with updates. Listen to ' Midnight Juggernaut ' They sound similar.