Customer Reviews

Night & Day 2

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

What makes this album ineteresting is how Joe Jackson has revisisted the themes of Night And Day, scenes of New York City as if it was compiled into a series of short stories. While the album doesn't have the romantic qualities of "Stepping Out" or "Slow Song", it has a painful but beautiful side to it. Especially worth noting is the guest appearance of Marianne Faithfull on "Love Got Lost", a song of a wealthy but lonely woman. Joe follows the pain on "Dear Mom" about a runaway daughter and "Happyland", loosely based on the tragic social club fire in the 90's. He does pick up his amusement of NYC in "Stranger Than You" about the odd people that make NY so interesting. It's not an album to listen to at parties. It's more like reading a book or walking through a museum of fine art. Put headphones on, sit comfortably, and let Joe Jackson take you through his visions of such an interesting place.

Amazed at some of these reviews here on Amazon. If anyone expects Joe to do the same thing over and over, don't buy this cd! People that expected this release to be "Just like Night and Day" are fools. "Foolish songwriting"? How so? Makes you feel like you're walking right down the streets of New York!

Borderline masterpiece.

This is a great effort by Joe Jackson, but the title is somewhat misleading. Although it has that New York City feel from this born again New Yorker, Night and Day II is no sequel. It's obvious that JJ didn't want to duplicate the original classic, which was his most commercial success -- though not his best in my opinion (listen to Big World and Blaze of Glory to understand why)

What disappointed me about this CD is the reason I didn't give it 5 stars. The best written track here is Love Got Lost, one of the most touching and powerful songs of Joe's illustrious career. Unfortunately, the song is butchered by Marianne Faithfull, who doesn't do justice to this wonderful prose. I recently downloaded an MP3 of JJ singing this song in a live performance, and his version blows hers away. Switch Joe's vocals for hers, and you have a 5 star CD here.

Hell Of A Town and Glamour and Pain are standouts and overall the CD is quite enjoyable. You'll have to wait for the next live album to hear Joe singing one of his greatest songs -- but for now, I'd recommend this one for the casual listener or die hard Joe Jackson fan.

It's interesting that Joe Jackson decided to capitalize on his most successful cd, 1982's "Night and Day" by doing "Night and Day II". However, this cd is more like an updated version of the classical forays he's been experimenting with over the last six years. There are some hints of the original "Night and Day" on this recording. Joe tinkers with Latin keys and the "Steppin' Out" chords appear in a couple of songs for effect. Mostly, "Night and Day II" is synthesis of classical, drum & bass and new wave components. Even with all the guests and gadgetry on this disc, Joe somehow loses the charm that "Night and Day" had in 1982. He might as well have titled this cd something else because it's not a remake and the music seems to stand on its own. There are the usual Jackson touches like "Hell Of A Town" and "Stranger Than You"--which could be the best single on the disc. In other places Joe attempts some strange stories like "Dear Mom" and "Just Because...". This is a cohesive cd, with every track blending into the next, but there just seems to be a lack of charm present. If you are a long time Jackson fan it's probable that you will enjoy this, but new fans should start with his first five discs. Joe never relents in his pursuit to stretch new boundaries in music and this is no exception. Though it doesn't match the edginess of his first five albums, "Night and Day II" makes a good successor to 1989's "Blaze of Glory". It's better than "Laughter & Lust", "Heaven & Hell" and "Symphony No. 1". Good work from Joe, but not great.

Those looking for a musical counterpart to Jackson's enormously popular NIGHT AND DAY will listen to this in disappointment. Though musical phrases from that album are littered throughout, this "sequel" has much more in common with the classically oriented material he's focused on of late. The biggest difference is that this is essentially a solo album, built by Jackson in the studio with electronic instruments and a good deal of programming; stalwarts Graham Maby and Gary Burke, who made the live SUMMER IN THE CITY album so terrific pop up on just a few cuts. There's an unfortunate sterility to the record that has dominated Jackson's recorded work since NIGHT MUSIC. One can't help but want to hear these songs played by a live band.

And there are songs here that demand repeated listenings. Jackson has always written crushingly beautiful ballads, sung in a voice of hopeful longing, and there are several of them here. The album's closer, STAY, is worth the price of admission, and the duet with Marianne Faithfull, LOVE GOT LOST, is a beauty. And for a blast of the cynical Joe of old, DEAR MOM is more than satisfying.

The album, though, is meant to be heard as a whole is unlikely to receive much airplay. Those who have followed Jackson on his circuitous musical journey will enjoy this part of the ride, but NIGHT AND DAY II is unlikely to appeal to those that its title means to draw in.

Joe Jackson's "Night and Day II" is his greatest work thus far! A lot of people have complained that this CD is in no way a sequal to Night and Day from the 80's. It really doesn't matter! Night and Day II is a mini-musical, a work of shear genius! Each track describes a different character's view of their own life in New York City. Having lived in New York City myself for about 6 months, I feel transported back there each time I listen. Each song is beautifully crafted in a way in which the music mocks the lyrics and vice versa. The first track, a typical fast paced New Yorker....outa my way...I'm talkin' here! The second, someone falls in love with someone even stranger than that strange someone that they already know! The third, the heartfelt wishes of every immigrant, performed with a middle eastern flare. The fourth, a transvestite hooker dreams she is floating down the street looking through the window of one of her clients. (check out the pic in the CD booklet, it's Joe in drag! His voice is speeded up on the recording as well!) The fifth, a boy is sent to New York by his mother to find his sister and ends up staying instead. There is much more, including the song "Happyland" which is in itself a mini-musical based on a true story about a hispanic disco burning down and a heroine going back in to rescue her lover from the flames. Night and Day II is classified sometimes as classical crossover, as well it should be. Regardless, its definitely one of his greatest works!

At first listen I was dissapointed and intimidated by NAD2. I saw a dark and moody place I was afraid to enter. As a JJ fan from the beginning, however, I figured Joe would make it worthwhile. After several listenings, I discovered a collection of gems that transcends his earlier works in insight and musical skill. Joe's musical experience comes to fruition in a collection of songs that trancends barriers. I love good classical music, but I'm grateful Joe has not turned his back on pop music. While the lyrics of NAD2 display no hope for the future, the music is entirely full of hope.

Any music that reveals its worth in the first listening is probably too shallow to retain your interest for long. Spend the time with NAD2, and you will find songs that you'll likely be listening to for the rest of your life. NAD2 is not only a revealing collection of character tales, it's beautiful music.

It seems that a lot of people were looking forward to Joe Jackson returning to his eclectic new wave/jazz/pop roots with this sequel to the first Night and Day album. Does it measure up? It does...almost. With songs like Hell of a Town, Stranger Than You, and Dear Mom one would almost think they were time warped back to the period of Night and Day I, as Jackson comes close to capturing the infectious appeal that was the selling point of that album. Unfortunately, where the CD comes up short is Jackson's decision to do the bulk of the instrumentation including drum programming, himself. Part of the appeal of the first Night and Day, was that one could feel the intensity and adventure of living in New York City through the tight instrumentation of a four piece band that was crammed into a New York City recording studio. Even though returning band members from the first Night and Day record, Sue Hadjopoulos and longtime stalwart Graham Maby, are used on various tracks, the direction of the songs gets lost in Jackson handling more of the instrumental duties than normal. As a result, Night and Day II has more of a clinical feel than its predecessor, which becomes painfully evident after one hears songs such as Hell of Town, performed live with a full band. Even though the usage of guest vocalists (Dale DeVere on Glamour and Pain; Marianne Faithfull on Love Got Lost) provides some nice variety, I would've rather heard Jackson sing these songs. Although Night and Day II does thematically hang together just as well as Night and Day I, the potential pop sensibilities that this album has are unfortunately marred by a lack of a full band in the studio and Joe Jackson's tendency to incorporate ideas from his explorational forays into classical music. Joe Jackson fans will most likely enjoy this offering, even though it may take awhile to sink in, while more casual fans might want to stick with the first Night and Day. In short, Night and Day II is a worthy (enough) successor to Night and Day I as it shows Jackson as an artist continually pushing the boundaries of his songcraft and growing as a composer/song writer.

I wouldn't suggest starting your Joe Jackson collection with this one. We got Night and Day II to get ready for Joe coming to our town in concert. I was somewhat upset at first, second, third listening because the sound and style of music was different than the type of Joe Jackson I tend to like. The last Joe album we bought was Night Music ('94)which I couldn't get into and the one before that was Laughter & Lust('91), which I really could get into. I found this newest CD bizarre and personally I didn't like the guest singers Faithful and DeVere. In concert Joe did Love Got Lost (Faithful)and his talented violinist/vocals/keyboard player did Glamour and Pain (DeVere). BETTER!! BUT after listening to this CD many times (I wouldn't say 100 times)I really came to like it. People who don't like too well at first may be like myself, not too concerned with composition breakdowns and reading into themes between songs and albums; they just want something good to listen to. If you want something good to listen to, not too mainstream, a little on the dark side, I would suggest this album. (This all coming from someone who's favourite Joe Albums include Night and Day and Big World)

I've been a JJ fan for 15 years, but was underwhelmed by most of his 90's stuff. Then, we get the incredible symphony last year... and now this!

On first listen, NDII is disjointed and strange. It's not "Blaze of Glory", or "Body and Soul", or "Night And Day". But on second listen... maybe it's the sweetness of "Love Got Lost", or the hook of "Dear Mom", but the album starts to lure you in. By the third or fourth listen, you finally get "Glamour and Pain", and the album matures. Much like JJ. I was disappointedthe first time I listened to this album. But now, I regard it as the best album of the last two years, period. And like "Blaze of Glory", I bet I'm still listening to it 13 years from now....