Customer Reviews

In My Head

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

It seems that some of the reviewers are listening to a different album. This is a re-issue of the 70's LP "Skinny Boy". This came out in between Chicago 7 and Chicago 8. What's really great about it is that the tracks feature Robert and his buddy (the late Chicago lead guitarist) Terry Kath on bass. 2.0 adds some demo tracks and a public service ad....surely designed to be used on the the follow-up to "Skinny Boy". When I first got the LP, "One step Forward", "Someday I'm Gonna Go", "Temporary Jones", and "Brother john" were my favorites. Now I'm also liking "The Door" and "Some of What" in addition. What you've got to remember is the transitionary period in which this came out.....Chicago was one of the top Columbia acts at the beginning of the 70's and most of the songs were Lamminations....but by this time they were starting to lose popularity, they had just built their dream production facility in Nederland, Colorado, other members of the band were writing hit songs, and Chicago albums had a fair amount of production techniques. On this one it is basically Robert, Terry, and a drummer.

In case you don't already know, Robert is the one original member who is not from Chicago.....he's from Brooklyn, New York (and his hometown inspiration really comes through on "Fireplace and Ivy").

Robert Lamm in his third solo effort displays his diverse musical talents, with his new sound and always distinct voice. Though different than his Life Is Good album,a few of the tracks seemed familiar in form. The cuts that caught my ear were, Love Of My Life, Love To Call Your Own, and Will People Ever Change. This Cd is for the open minded Lamm fan, that realizes that each Chicago member's solo album is not going to reflect the band's sound .All in all a worth while effort on Robert's Part.

Robert Lamm has created a thought provoking album with incredible lyrics. Phoebe Snow and Carl Wilson add their talents to this very gifted artist. When is he going to do a fourth album? I for one cannot wait! This was his best solo effort by far!

What a wonderful mix of songs that will appeal to all ages. All aspects of this CD are superbly done--vocals, mixing, instrumentation, arranging, cover art and all with that Robert Lamm originality. If you like great guitars, fun-to-sing lyrics and good rythym, "The Love of My Life" is one that will stay "in YOUR head" for days! Then add the sparkling voice of Phoebe Snow to duets like "The Best Thing" and "Swept Away" and you definitely have hit material. This CD is fast becoming "The Best Thing" yet by Robert Lamm! Congratulations to you Robert, and to Mystic Music! Looking forward to more like this in the future. Thanks!

I first heard rumors about Robert Lamm's upcoming solo album probably three years ago; it's finally here. And although it wasn't what I expected, I'm pleasantly surprised.

Most of the songs have a hip-hop or world music influence to them, but the instrument tracks are much more interesting than on "Life Is Good...". Lamm is in great form vocally -- maybe the best I've heard him. Despite what other reviews here have said, the songs are upbeat, and most of them get a great groove going.

One caveat: this album sounds absolutely nothing like Chicago, but in this case, it's not necessarily a bad thing.

What a pleasant surprise this is! 4 years after the somewhat disappointing "Life is Good in My Neighborhood" Lamm presents material that contains some soulful grit, energy and originality. The album's appeal is not that the good old Chicago sound is back. Lamm shows us new material with an accordingly "new" sound. The titles to such tracks as "Love of My Life" and "Love to Call Your Own" suggest they are ballads - they are not. Both contain an aggressive upbeat rythym with an exuberant electric guitar to move the songs along. The funk/rock "Sacrificial Culture" and "Sleeping in the Middle of the Bed (Again)" (off the never released "Stone of Sisyphus" album) are rivoting. You will not recognize them as typical Lamm songs. A slower ballad, "Watching the Time Go By" contains amazing harmonies with America's Gerry Beckley and the late Carl Wilson of the Beach Boys. Get this one! P.S. Does anybody feel the folklore regarding the failed release of Chicago's "Stone of Sisyphus" is starting to become as irritating as the Beach Boys' "Smile" saga? We are made to believe the album would be legendary without having the ability to make that decision objectively ourselves. As with "Smile", various "Stone" tracks are also beginning to rise to the surface on Chicago solo albums and import compilations.

Cd has a jazzy vibe that I could hear being played on the local smooth jazz station. Seems like Robert Lamm's solo efforts are what Chicago could have been doing had they been releasing new records all along since the 90's. Many of the songs sound like what you would find on a Chicago record.

Okay, so Chicago have been resting on their laurels for over a decade now, and the thought of them ever releasing an album of new material again seems destined to be unfulfilled. (Prove me wrong - please!)

What makes that a double tragedy is the fact that Robert Lamm - always one of Chicago's most talented members, has rediscovered his immense songwriting talents, as this album demonstrates on all but two tracks. (One of them being a song he didn't write!).

It IS a shame that the version of "Watching The Time Go By" is not half as good as that found on the Beckley-Lamm-Wilson album, but it's still a great song, and the harmonies are fantastic. Robert's voice still has great feeling and warmth, but he can also use it in a manner reminiscent of Don Henley's "Dirty Laundry" style (Witness "Sacrificial Culture" as the best example here). My personal favourites come in the albums second half, namely "Sacha", "The Love Of My Life" and "Standing At Your Door".

And, in an example of a typical Lamm paradox, the worst thing about this CD is "The Best Thing".

All Chicago and Robert Lamm fans have been waiting for Robert to write another "25 or 6 to 4", "Dialogue" or "Saturday in the park", and he still hasn't.

However this CD has some music that compares favorably to songs like "Another Rainy Day in NYC" and "Hot Streets". There are four songs here that I absolutely love. I really enjoy all the songs (with the possible exception of Sacha) but find myself skipping around to my four favorites. "Love of My Life" and "Watching the Time Go By" could both receive airplay if released. These are the best songs Robert has recorded in a long time. I hope he has gotten his muse back and comes out with another CD soon.

This new effort by Lamm totally blew his other two solo efforts off the shelf. Robert never wavers in his excellent writing and he adds to that and his great voice by adding modern, funky beats to bring his career into the 21st century. From social commentary on "Will People Ever Change?" to ballads like "Watching The Time Go By" and "The Best Thing", this is one you will leave in your player for days.