Customer Reviews

The Last DJ (Includes Limited Edition DVD)

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In a world where popular rock music is dominated by the holy dollar and music executives, Tom Petty proves once again that no amount of money or flash can substitute for raw talent.

In this anti-commercialism album, Tom Petty writes about the record companies buying artists and creating new ones, and about the artists that sell out. The title track of the album shows Petty's position on the issue, and the most telling line reads, "and the boys upstairs wanna see what you'll pay for what you used to get for free".

But that's not all, it is also about human resolve and the desire to be free to express oneself.

My favorite track on the album is called "Joe", which takes a couple stabs at Britney Spears and all the boy bands out there. The chorus is so great I just have to share it here:

"Or bring me a girl
they're always the best
you put 'em onstage
and you have 'em undress
some angel whore
who can learn a guitar lick
hey, now that's what I call
music"

There is some less serious stuff here, like tracks 9-11, which range from simple love songs to a song about a "man who loves women" (bet you can't guess which one that is). But it's still good.

Now, I must comment on the music, not just the lyrics. The music is obviously tom Petty, rich with his signature guitar work. However, most of the songs on this album sound a little more subdued and laid back than some of his previous releases.

This edition also comes with a DVD, which includes video from "The Last DJ" sessions, as well as a short part of an interview at the beginning, and the rest of it at the end of some of the songs on the DVD. If you can, buy this version. It's pretty cool, and worth the extra few dollars.

If you like music that rebels against the greedy forces of society, then buy this album. If you like Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, or solo Tom Petty, then buy this. If you like intelligent lyrics and great guitars, then buy this.
It is a meaningful album that says many relevant things about this day in age and our basic rights. Tom Petty makes it clear that even if someone can take away your money, your stuff, your home, and your career, they can never take your freedom of expression. And this, my friends, is something we all need to know, especially in these days.

This truely is one of Tom Petty's best albums. Every song is great. The message is totally awesome and very truthfull. If you are looking to buy only a few of his albums this is definately one that should be considered. It really goes back to his better albums and draws his classic style from them.
One of his better songs is Dreamville....wait what am I saying they are all the best songs. Buy it, you WONT be dissapointed.

The title of my review refers to a 1970 Kinks album largely dealing with the same subject matter. Although the Kinks album carried two big hits with Lola and Apeman, their album also attracted mixed reviews and wasn't the succes The Kinks hoped for.
This is almost inevitable when you decide to write and release an conceptual piece of music, a book or film about a subject matter with the intention to attack it or uncover it to get to the truth. There are people who will agree with you and there are of course those who don't. The latter will be disappointed, hence the 1,2 or 3 star reviews.
Maybe over the years this CD will be recognized as one of Petty's best albums. Read the recent reviews about "Echo". The same could happen with this one. In 1970 The Kinks almost ended up in court for naming their managers in a song called "The Moneygoround" in which Ray Davies bluntly stated they devide his money and he ended up with nothing. Now the album is considered as being part of their classic era.
You don't have to agree with Mr. Petty. Value the fact that he still comes up with interesting CD's and great music!

Tom Petty is above all critics, a man who has shaped a Rock N' roll era, with definitive classics of the American music. Time has passed and year by year his music becomes stronger, all right, a lot of people hate it, but Petty doesn't want to please, he want to make good music!

"The Last DJ" has great songs, lyrics are depressive, ok, but the present musical scene give us no reason to laugh, music has no more artistic value at all, 'cause money has become king'...

Buy this album, with no regrets!!!!

Every time I listen to this I pick up something new. Listen to the poetry. Listen to the inescapable influences like Dylan and McGuinn. (Who knows what underriding influnces there are that most of the world has never heard of?) But then look past the theme and listen to the tongue-in-cheek allusions that you'd normally never associate with TP and begin to understand that this is one of the most entertaining and complexly layered albums in the last 35 years. I hear Simon and Garfunkel (The Last DJ/You and Me). I hear Pink Floyd (Like A Diamond, title notwithstanding). I hear some acid rock that I can't put my finger on (Can't Stop the Sun). I hear a native american thump and Deep Purple (Lost Children). I hear James Brown (When a Kid Goes Bad). I hear the Beach Boys here and there. I hear Merle Haggard and Roy Orbison (Blue Sunday). But most of all I hear John and Paul woven through the entire production. I keep waiting to hear Starr or McCartney instead of Buckingham on "The Man Who Loves Women" and I expect Lennon to kick in on the second verse of "Dreamville." The possibility of a "concept album" coming from the Heartbreakers never crossed my mind but this goes on the same shelf as "Dark Side of the Moon." No...it's not "Damn the Torpedos." It's completely different. But, it has the same soul. "Sergeant Pepper" wasn't exactly "Here's the Beattles." Be sure to check out the videos too. If you don't stop and say, "HEY! Wait a minute....was that a joint?" you're not watching and listening. Peace.

I bought this CD about 2 days before seeing Tom Petty, in concert. I received it while at work, and since that's where I am most of the time, thought I'd cheque it out. Apparently it has some kind of protective thingy that won't allow you to play it on your computer. C'mon Tom, I know this technology exhists, but you were the LAST person I thought would implement it. Boo hoo. Other than that, it's some good stuff. Just what you'd expect from Tom, with a little more corporate-n-political propaganda than usual.

TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS ARE AN AWESOME ENTITY OF TALENT WHO STILL, AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, CAN TOUCH THE SOUL. BOTH THE MUSIC AND THE LYRICS ARE FILLED WITH ENERGY. TOM HAS THE POWER TO SPEAK FOR THE REST OF US WHO'S VOICE'S GO UNHEARD, AND DOES SO WITH HIS GIFT OF MUSIC. THIS CD IS ENTERTAINMENT AT ITS BEST. DO YOURSELF A FAVOR, AND TREAT YOURSELF TO TRUE ROCK AND ROLL TALENT. BUY THIS CD.

Petty's newest album is very enjoyable the whole way through. I saw him play a couple of the songs from the album in concert this summer, and I knew then that I would probably like the album. There are some good rockers, like 'Joe' (where TP sounds i little like Bob Dylan) and 'Can't stop the Sun' (which reminds me of the Beatle's 'Happiness is a Warm Gun' a little bit). I like Petty's 'message' as a whole, as well. Some of his lyrics remind me why I have stopped listening to most commercial radio. I'm sure that most people will like this album (except for those who are fond of the groups and styles that TP criticizes, of course). I hope to hear more from this band in the future, they have always produced good music, and not the [trash] that TP laments about in The Last DJ.

I think this is the best Tom petty album and I am a pretty good Tom petty fan and I have his complete Anthology too. The last DJ has always been one of my favorite songs ever since this album was released. My dad had a copy of this when it came out he let me listen to it and I loved it i played it a lot too. I like Money becomes king too even though there are too many words.Tom Petty is a highly entertaining artist for people with good taste in music. At any costs buy this album and be sure that I want to be the last dj.

This truely is one of Tom Petty's best albums. Every song is great. The message is totally awesome and very truthfull. If you are looking to buy only a few of his albums this is definately one that should be considered. It really goes back to his better albums and draws his classic style from them.
One of his better songs is Dreamville....wait what am I saying they are all the best songs. Buy it, you WONT be dissapointed.