Customer Reviews

Musical Chairs

5 star:		(60)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Okay, I'll admit it...I was one of those people who doubted if Darius and the crew could recreate the magic of their excellent CRACKED REAR VIEW on the CDs that came out after it. Well, four years after this CD came out in 1998, MUSICAL CHAIRS has become a part of my massive collection mainly because of one song...the gorgeous "Only Lonely". With its beautiful string arrangement in the background, it has simple but heartfelt lyrics about longing for someone you've seen, but don't know. I was actually hanging onto Darius' every word when I first heard it. And the rest of the CD turned out to be a pleasant surprize for me.

MUSICAL CHAIRS is appropriately named. It touches upon several genres of music: rock, blues, folk, bluegrass, country, and even a little R&B...a very nice mixture. From "I Will Wait" to "Closet Full of Fear", the songs are tight, and even if you're not a Hootie fan, you will enjoy most of the songs on the CD. I especially loved "Wishing", "Las Vegas Nights", and the R&B-tinged "What's Going On Here" and "What Do You Want From Me Now". And how could I forget "Bluesy Revolution"?? Oh my God, this song is off the chain. The tunes "Michelle Post" and "Desert Mountain Showdown" were a little too country-fied for me, so I really wasn't feeling them... but other than those two, I really loved this CD.

This is a CD that was unfairly slept on when it came out, because everyone was so down on Hootie at the time, but in all honesty, it's just as good, if not better than CRACKED REAR VIEW. This is fast becoming my favorite Hootie CD. Take a chance on it...I'm sure you won't be disappointed!

Having bought their first two CDs, I had been waiting for so long for this third album. I got the first two in the summer of '96, when I was a real Hootie fanatic, but my interest in the band had sort of faded. But this release brought back my fascination as clear as could be! "Musical Chairs" is a masterpiece, a heart-felt work of art. While "Cracked Rear View" was one of the best records of all time, and "Fairweather Johnson" was good, although a bit too much on the bluesy side, this release is a combination of style from both of them, as well as a few things never before seen from this band. I first heard "Desert Mountain Showdown" performed live on MTV, and this is really just a care-free, feel-good song. The opening tracks "I Will Wait" and "Wishing" are two of the very best on the CD, and the guitar on "Bluesy Revolution" is amazing. "Las Vegas Nights" has a distinctive Calypso feel to it, and "Only Lonely" is one of the saddest, most beautiful songs I've heard in a long time. On the whole, this is Hootie & The Blowfish's most mature collection of music, and may very well be their best effort yet.

This one is a great album. Why it didn't catch on is a mystery to me. this is the definitive Hootie and the Blowfish album with some of their best songs.
I thought Cracked Rear View was overrated. Fairweather was too hit and miss. This was a perfect album front to back.
Their latest, Looking For Lucky is a close CLOSE second. But this one is the one I will always cherrish.

I'm from Costa Rica and the songs from Cracked Rearview were known and popular in the radios even in my country but I tell you folks... this is even better than Cracked Rearview, I really enjoy listening to this record once and over again... it's amazing.. I can't get enough.. these guys are the best!

Of course, aside of Counting Crows, the best U.S. bands ever!

I really enjoyed Hootie's first two CDs, especially Cracked Rearviw Mirror. I moved overseas in the late 90s and sort of lost touch with the music scene in the US. I came across Musical chairs online. It was a very pleasant surprise to come across something 'new' from Hootie & the Blowfish. OK. This was released several years ago, but from my perspective it's a new release! Musical Chairs easily passes my 'skip a track(s) test' with there being no song that compels me to skip forward. If you liked Hootie's first two CDs, you won't be disappointed by Musical chairs. I rank it right up ther with Cracked Rearview Mirror.

Like Matchbox Twenty, who followed in their footsteps, Hootie & The Blowfish, combine alterna-pop, Southern Rock, and heartland rock, but add a folk influence to their sound. This album shows considerable growth from their first two, without losing the excitement of CRACKED REAR VIEW, but pulling back on some of the dark tones of FAIRWEATHER JOHNSON. This album has as many potential singles as CRACKED REAR VIEW, and several of its songs were hits. Get this one after CRACKED REAR VIEW.

I am continuously surprised at the relatively low sales level of Hootie's "Musical Chairs." It is, in my opinion, their best effort to date. The music is full of feeling and power and the diversity of their talent shines. If you liked "Cracked Rear View", you will love "Musical Chairs." If you ever had any doubt about just how sweet the sound of Darius Rucker's voice is, you will find out just how flexible he (and the rest of the band) is on this CD. Buy it and you will love it!

I should have wrote this when the album first came out...Excellent! I think the boys really show their range in this album. It isn't typical Hootie, which is what the fans want! Darius's voice is amazing and is showcased well on songs such as "What do you Want from Me Now". I can't wait for the next group album!

The more I played this album the more I loved it. People aren't lying when they say Home Again and Only Lonely on the Inside are worth the whole album. Their first album was great but I think I over did it (along with the radio). Their second album you needed to listen to over and over again. But this one I feel in love with. Lots of catchy songs and ballads. Darrius Rucker could make anything worth listening to.

After the disappointment with the release of 'Fairweather Johnson'(at a time when 'Cracked Rear View was still enjoying a huge successful run in the charts), Hootie and the Blowfish have come back with an impressive 3rd album. 'Musical Chairs' is absolutely great. I questioned purchsing another CD after my disappointment, but I decided they needed another chance. I was very impressed. The songs are powerful, and they have feeling. The dynamics and chord choices are impressive considering their pop history. This is going to be a big winner for Hootie and the Blowfish. Give this album a chance. The public is definitely ready for the artistry. Trust me, you won't be disappointed. Happy Listening!!