The Magazine

Rickie Lee Jones

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Original Release Date: September 1984
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Reprise / Wea
• ASIN: B000002L6C
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #26,606 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing., April 2, 2001

By	Chel Micheline "gingerblue.com" (SW Florida) - See all my reviews

First I must preface this with a warning- this cd is supposed to be a departure from Jones' work in general, although I never found it to be so. But nothing I can say in this review can do this cd any justice at all.

I feel very blessed that I found this album 11 years ago, at the age of 16. Why? Because it was a hell of a soundtrack to grow up to. "Magazine" is just glorious as a whole, and it's always reminded me of the soundtrack to a play, the way in which the songs seem to be carefully ordered. I'll never forget the chills I first got when I heard the 'Prelude to Gravity', and then how the song soared. In fact, I still get them. The song remains one of my all time favorites, and it's impact on me is still just as serious as it was back then.

Another highlight on the album is 'Deep Space', which is incredibly moving. I remember first hearing this song on my schoolbus (yeah, I know) and just wanting to cry. I didn't back then, but this song always pops up in my head at appropriate moments. While the song is sparse, the lyrics are breathtaking.

"Where the Lord's face
Is an all-night cafe
There's a woman who will wait on
What you have to say
And your dreams are like marbles
In the pocket of a little boy
And they whisper when you hold them
Like a beautiful girl"

I must warn you that this album is NOT for everyone. I've played/bought it for many, many people who just don't understand what makes it so special. It's not an acoustic folk album. There are horns. It's quite jazzy, and at times, something you can sing loudly to. 'Jukebox Fury' seems especially made for singing, and I belt that out quite often, whether or not the cd is even on. You have to be the kind of person who appreciates and pays attention to lyrics in order to get a lot out of this cd, as Jones is an incredible poet, as well as singer. For me, this cd is timeless, but I've heard others who say it isn't.

If you like Rickie at all, or are looking for some music that you can make a connection with, this is your cd. Amazon should be selling it for a lot more, but the price is right, so what do you have to lose?

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sparkling, crystalline perfection., July 3, 2004

By	Damien Bjorn Ruud (Boulder, CO United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This album along with Rickie's most recent release Evening of my Best Day are crowning achievements for one of America's most inspiring talents. She's been criminally underrated throughout her career, but anyone who has been exposed to her work will know the power and the presence she possesses. This is probably her most emotional release and definitely her most personal. Deep Space, Prelude to Gravity, Gravity, infact all of the cuts are great. Amazing production job and vocal delivery contribute to one of the best albums of the 80's. if not all time

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Doesn't get better than this..., February 10, 2005

By	Christopher J. Benz "CJB" (Melbourne, Australia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This album, which I first heard when I was 15, like the other reviewers on this site, has been one that I always come back to. It is, in short, a masterpiece of poetic, jazzy, unforgettable and unpredictable composition, and for all that, it constantly guts you with it's intimacy. Like Steely Dan compositions, RLJ has a way of investing changes that are so unorthodox but so perfectly suited to her music, that the sounds are always fresh, even almost 20 years on. Runaround is my personal fav because no one can match Rickie on this type of funky, streetwise pop song, but I can't fault the first nine tracks on this CD at all. The playing on this record is incredible - you can feel the musicians using the space allowed them on these tracks with sheer joy and inventiveness, yet the whole thing hangs together with ruthless self discipline. The final enigmatic Rorschachs song cycle is a journey that may be too challenging for some, but is rewarding and passionate at a level that popular music very rarely reaches. This LP is probably my favourite album for Rickie Lee and that's really saying something.