Customer Reviews

Laughing Man

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was told about this album through some fellow XTC fans and let me tell you, from the first listen I was hooked! The songs are catchy, the music is terrific and the words are brilliant!

A great record! If the world were just, we'd all be looking at David Yazbek's bare midriff instead of Britney Spears'. OK, perhaps that's not such a good idea...but, I'm tellin' you, this CD is a keeper (as is "Tock"). If you like one or more of: XTC, Aimee Mann, Crowded House, Prefab Sprout, then I guarantee this CD is for you!

What a wonderful surprise to come across such an excellent, unheralded disc. What a talented musician and writer! This CD restored my faith in rock/pop. Lovers of Beatles and XTC will rejoice. Also check out his more recent but equally fine effort, Tock.

An exciting album from David Yazbek, brimming with energy, vitality, and intelligence. It is music that is iconoclastic, provocative, and just plain fun. The lyrics are rich with marvellous imagery and are quite thought-provoking, but also catchy. Listen to the album, and before long you'll find yourself singing "Black Cowboys on the Beach" --it's irresistable. And XTC fans should listen for Andy Partridge, who plays guitar and does vocals on some tracks.

When I discovered this gem way back in '95 (thanks, again to Chalkhills, the XTC site) it didn't leave the cd player for a good two or three months. There just wasn't anything else out there at the time that could touch it. It still gets a goodly amount of headphone time, along with his three subsequent releases, each better than the previous, i.m.o.

Great gobs of discordant keyboard heading in unexpected directions, along musical pathways no one else had previously tread. One of the greatest freshman efforts the pop music world has seen. I'm baffled that almost no one knows about this guy.

Give it a listen. And try Tock, The Full Monty, and Damascus too. All 5 stars.

If you like catchy, hook-oriented pop music, then David Yazbek's Laughing Man is for you. This magnificent album forces you to tap your foot and sing along. The crappy cover art belies the excellent tunes within. Check out "Black Cowboys" and "The One-Armed Man". This album's a real find.

Get it!

[DW]

Great hooks, witty lyrics and a better voice than Any (not that Andy needs a voice coach)Nearly every song has moments of brilliance. My only complaint is that at times he is trying too hard to be XTC. A noble affliction that many artists should be lucky enough to suffer from. I have ordered Tok and am sure I will not be dissapointed. A genius on the rise.

This is about as good as it gets. The Holy Grail for all of us fans of intelligent pop music. Better than XTC. Better than Ben Folds. Stream-of-consciousness wordiness ala Paul Simon. I can't decide if I should recommend this disc above it's follow-up disc, TOCK. What the heck, order them both, NOW. IT'S BEAUTIFUL FUN! What more can I say?