Customer Reviews

Let Yourself Be Happy

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

 

 

Absolutely Fantastic! Their first album was a total treat, this one is gorgeous: McCartney melodies, Wilsonian vocals, all that a pop lover would hope to find in a record today. Congratulations folks!

Well, here it is. For those of you who who have been screaming "Why don't they make records like they used to?" - here is the CD to pop in and play. Over and over and over.

Believe it or not, the best description of Linus is "McCartney Light." For those of you who think McCartney's "You Gave Me The Answer," "Calico Skies," "Goodbye (demo)" and other charming ditties are underrated masterpieces, order this album for overnight shipping. Linus (as represented here) is also part Elton John's "Rock of the Westies," part Gilbert O'Sullivan, part Harry Nilsson's tip-of-the-hat "Harry" album, and most of all, The Beach Boys.

His songs are melodic, catchy, and timelessly produced. Melodically and lyrically, "A Whole New Country" is the most McCartney-esque, with it's innocent "A World Without Love"-style lyrics and sing-along melody. "Everyday I Fall in Love Again" is more hopeless-romanticism along the same lines with a slight-Nick Lowe/Elvis Costello touch (but just a touch) and "Thank You For Making Me Feel... Better" is pure smile-era Beach Boys produced in the EXACT same vein as their "Smiley Smile" version of "Vegetables."

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS ALBUM to all age groups. I'm 26, from Los Angeles. And this is hip stuff no matter where you are listening.

Linus has come along way since his hard rock days in the band size 14. Your favorite record was a top 10 for me last year and let yourself be happy is jumping to the top of this years list. He draws his influences from a number of obvious groups, but has his own sound. Fantastic!!!

So catchy, even my 2 year-old walks around the house singing Linus songs! That might sound like a turn-off, but there is enough to the arrangements to bear repeated listenings. what at first may sound like nothing but bubblegum reveals itself to be very intelligent, well-crafted and, yes, maddeningly hooky songs.

Linus is a one-man wrecking crew, apparently playing every instrument on this album, and doing it awfully well. And his choice of cover material is inspired: doing a torch version of the Smoking Popes' punk semi-hit "I Need You Around" and revealing Ozzy Osbourne for the pure pop genius he is with an inspired take on "Goodbye To Romance".

If you like Kinks/Beatles-flavored pop tunes. You should really check this one out!

Linus of Hollywood sounds a little Beatlish, a little Beach Boyish, and even a little like America. There are some nice moments here, but the pretension of the name--Linus Of Hollywood--comes out in the music too. There are moments on it where I feel like artist and producer sat down and made a concerted effort to include every Pop and Bubblegum pretense into each title; I keep expecting the kitchen sink to come flying out the speakers. The attempt at cute & witty is just a bit too transparent.

There are some things I really like a lot. "Building A Ship" is good, though I could do without the "Greensleeves" flute parts. "I've Lost My Mind" is kind of nice but--here comes the kitchen sink--the oh-so-whacky keyboard and synth break kills it.

This is what Emitt Rhodes would have been with too large a budget. Perhaps there's a more restrained approach in the future that will let these melodies rise above the overproduction.

Worth a listen, but don't expect to walk around humming these tunes for any length of time.

Linus has strong melodic gifts in writing and good taste in arranging, but his voice, while strong and pleasing, has a limited range of expression that fails to lift some tracks out of the background. Recommended, but nothing extraordinary.