Customer Reviews

Karma

5 star:		(88)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Finally, a Rick Springfield album that will not only satisfy Springfield fans, but (hopefully) win over music critics as well. Gone are the songs that pander to teenage girls and, in their place, thoughtful, evocative lyrics about life and living. Springfield, now 50, has segued from "Jessie's Girl" to "Ordinary Girl," a song that celebrates the beauty of a long-term relationship. ("I see her there in her plain print dress and her fading youth. Something about her opens up my soul. Something about her speaks the truth.") The thread that runs through this album is in its title, KARMA. Almost every song is filled with religious imagery and a clear message that one's actions carry consequences. As Springfield sings in Karma, "Another wheel set in motion with every single thing I do." Much of the album is autobiographical as in "It's Always Something," in which Springfield sings about his often-frustrating musical career. "When I was a boy, the teachers and the priests said, "Why do you let him run around like that? My father said, 'If the boy wants to play the guitar, I say we let him.' Through the hard years, he was my rock when I just could not win. So it goes my father died just before my leaky ship came in." Stand-outs on this album include "ItsAlwaysSomething," "Act of Faith," "Prayer," "Shock to My System," "Ordinary Girl" and the hidden track, "Big Beautiful Friday Night." Bottom line: Fans will buy it and love it. Others should, though given the lack of air-play and promotion, probably won't get the chance.

Holy James Taylor, Batman! Has the libido rocker grown up? Happily, I say the answer is yes.

"Karma" is latest effort from Mr. Springfield after a 10 year absence from the recording studio as we know it. In that 10 years, "life" has happened to Rick and it runs like a thread through the tracks on this CD. Everything is touched on here, from religion to death to marriage to incest. Don't be fooled into thinking RS has gone Nirvana on us. There are some honest to goodness love songs here, with the very moving "Free" and "Shock to my System", which every guy sould play when sipping wine with his gal in front of the fireplace. Springfield has not forgotten that rock brought him to the dance as is shown on the more guitar oriented "Prayer", It's Always Something" and the title song, "Karma". In my opinion, It's as good or better than anything on the radio today.

A kinder, more gentle Rick; I think so but we all have to grow up sometime.

Back in 2000, I saw Rick Springfield in concert on his Karma tour. I'll admit it: I went only because I'm an 80's girl and who doesn't know Rick was the man in the 80's! After "experiencing" Rick live, I was blown away. The man puts on an awesome show. I left there totally psyched and wanted to get my hands on all things Rick. Since I had a lot of his older stuff, I figured I'd pick this one up. I love this album! I think it shows a much more mature Rick, but at the same time it keeps with his pop/dance sound. I like all the songs on here. Do yourself a favor and go out and buy this. You won't regret it.

I was truly shocked. I bought this CD because it was the only one I didn't have and figured I should listen to it. I was not expecting to love it. It is so good I cannot stop litening to it. I still listen to alot of the older Rick stuff and heard bits of this cd and knew it was going to be different. Being used to the older stuff, I thought I may not like it. I was surprised to realize I like it as much if not more. If you buy this I'm sure you will like it.

I have to admit when I ordered this cd it was just for nostalgia's sake; but, upon listening to it I really was surprised! It is an awesome cd, and I think it is really one of his best ever! I like 'shock/denial/anger/acceptance' but this album really says "Rick Springfield" to me-true, raw emotion and it is musically arranged well. I love this album, and it is a shame if other fans do not discover this gem.

After waiting 10 extremely long years for a new CD from Rick, the day this CD hit the stores I was there, bought my copy and ran to my car to put it in the CD player. "It's Always Something" is the classic Rick sound. It's a song to really get moving to. When "Beautiful Prize" started and I listened to the words, my heart almost stopped when it got to "she's a heart trying to soar with a broken wing". Every song on this CD moved me and really made me stop and think about things and people in my life. The song "Karma" was truely one of the more moving songs on this CD. If you are truely ready to stop and think about what goes around comes around, then this is a MUST have. This is one of my favorite Rick CD's that I listen to the most. We all grow up and Rick sure did, but he did put a few "classic" Rick style songs on here also. I was NOT in the least bit disappointed.

80s rock has become so distant from public view a sales clerk of a CD shop placed this CD next to Kharma's Wonderland (see my reviews below). How would I like to shout to him "Hey, Karma is the title of Rick Springfield's album not the name of the artist." I take no such chances because a clerk around 20 would counter " Who's Rick Springfield?"

10 years break is such that I got the CD only a couple of months ago. No radio airplay made this great comeback CD unnoticed so long.

My first pick is Itsalwayssomething--typical Rick Springfield styled rock track which might have become huge hit if properly promoted. Shock To The System is my second favorite reminding me a bit of State of the Heart from Tao album. And In Velonica's Head made me go back to Working Class Dog era(1981) excellent uptempo fun pop rock. Prayer is a great adult pop well representing his state of mind. We want Rick back to Top 40 again.

Why is it that the popular music industry is in the crapper? Well, lots of reasons. However, one of those is the fact that people like Amazon.com critic Rickey Wright actually get paid for their opinions.Garbage like Marylin Manson and a CD of WWF songs (?!) linger near the top of the charts while critics continue to give bad reviews to honest musical efforts. And once you have the disdain of music industry insiders, like Springfield has for about a decade and a half now, no level of effort can save you commercially. Radio won't play your records, and your label will eventually drop you.Case in point:"Karma". A solid effort from a talented singer/songwriter that is doomed to obscurity. Some who hear it will be surprised that Springfield has grown past the fluffy pop rock that put him on the map, but those who hung around for "Tao" and "Rock of Life" know that this happened over a decade ago. Alas, without the benifit of a major label, and with the disdain that the music industry still harbors for Rick, "Karma" is relegated to a sort of cult statis. You have to admire Springfield for continuing to record at all.Still, if you have ever liked Rick Springfield, or if you're willing to give this album a chance, you can't go wrong with it. I guarantee it.

Springfield's 1999 release is an excellent one! With this disc, he explores a more spiritual side of life. Rick's spirituality throbs with passion & joy. The title track has some searing electric lead & pops with great energy, "As the smallest stream runs to a river & every river runs to the sea, so every little bit of love I give to another...comes back to me." "Prayer" has an original melody & driving beat & the delightful chorus, "Now I send the prayer to heaven for the chance to be a better man than the man I see. I send the prayer to heaven, lay your hands on me." My favorite track is "Act of Faith" that starts with an eerie chorus and builds as Springfield explores emotions of adjusting to the loss of a loved one. It is tremendously emotional and powerful, "Love is a healer." The other tracks are also excellent Springfield vehicles like the excellent "The White Room" with its catchy melody and an edge in the lyric, "In her head is the same obsession & all the bottles & pills won't heal her heart; She heard his last confession & every word just tears her apart." "In Veronica's Head" makes me hit the repeat button. "Karma" is an excellent set; one well worth discovering. Enjoy!

I bought this cd in September of 2002. I could kick myself for not getting it any sooner. WOW. It is amazing. The public sure missed out on an amazing cd. Rick continues to kick butt with his music. My favorite song on this cd is KARMA, but the whole cd is spiritual, peaceful, Gosh, just amazing. I know I have said it many times, but it is true. Every song is great!!!!

GET THIS CD. you will NOT REGRET IT AT ALL. I wish the radio would just play it now-it would be a hit.
Rock on Rick!