Customer Reviews

No Guru No Method No Teacher (Reis)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"No Guru, No Method, No Teacher" is part of the 2nd wave of Van Morrison remastered reissues to hit the shops in 2008 (see full list below). Released Monday 30 June 2008 in the UK and 1 July 2008 in the USA, it boasts truly superlative remastered sound quality, an upgraded booklet and 2 bonus tracks for the first time - one of which is an entirely new song.

Here's the layout (60:26 minutes):
Tracks 1 to 10 make up the original album - it was released in July 1986 on Mercury
Tracks 11 and 12 are previously unreleased bonus tracks - "Oh The Warm Feeling (Alternate Take)" and "Lonely At The Top" (the new song)

96K/24 Bit remastered from the original analogue master tapes; the sound quality on this re-issue is truly beautiful - clear, clean and a joy to the ears. Throw in the really strong song material, superb musicianship and bonuses actually worth owning and you're already reaching for the credit card!

The upgraded booklet has the lyrics to the Alternate Take and New Song after the rest of the album, session notes and beneath the see-through inlay is a photo that matches the original artwork. Disappointingly, there's no new liner notes, no interview, no photos - no extra history of the tracks - where they fit in - shame that.

The bonus tracks are the best of the 4 CDs I've bought so far in this 2nd batch; the alternate version of "Oh The Warm Feeling" is really lovely and sounds like a proper album track with the same production values - not like some outtake or a poorly recorded demo. The new song, "Lonely At The Top" is ok - a bit disappointing to be truthful, and although it doesn't tell us in the liner notes, I'd swear that's BRIAN KENNEDY's vocals in the background.

For my money, this is the best remaster so far - and finally gives this underrated gem the sonic muscle it's long deserved. Highly recommended.

PS:
30 Van Morrison albums are re-issued in remastered form throughout 2008 and into early 2009. Each title contains an upgraded booklet; previously unreleased bonus tracks and all will be at mid-price. The releases are in 4 batches as follows:

28 January 2008 (7 titles)
Tupelo Honey (1971), It's Too Late To Stop Now (2 CD Live Set) (1974),
Wavelenght (1979), Into The Music (1979), A Sense Of Wonder (1985),
Avalon Sunset (1989) and Back On Top (1999)
(see SEPARATE REVIEWS for all 7)

30 June 2008 UK/1 & 8 July 2008 USA (8 titles)
Veedon Fleece (1974), Common One (1980), Inarticulate Speech Of The Heart (1983), Live At The Grand Opera House, Belfast (1984), No Guru, No Method, No Teacher (1986), Enlightenment (1990), A Night In San Francisco (2CD Live Set) (1994) and The Healing Game (1997)
(see also SEPARATE REVIEWS for "Veedon Fleece", "Inarticulate Speech Of The Heart", "Enlightenment", the live 2CD set "A Night In San Francisco" and "Common One")

September 2008 - delayed until February 2009 (7 titles)
Saint Dominic's Preview (1972), A Period Of Transition (1977), Beautiful Vision (1982), Poetic Champions Compose (1987), Hymns To The Silence (2CD Studio Set) (1991), How Long Has This Been Going On (Live At Ronnie Scott's) (1995) and Tell Me Something - The Songs Of Mose Allison (1996)

January 2009 (8 titles)
Hard Nose The Highway (1973), Irish Heartbeat (with The Chieftains) (1988),
Too Long In Exile (1993), Days Like This (1995), The Story Of Them (2CD Set) (1999), The Skiffle Sessions - Live In Belfast (with Lonnie Donegan & Chris Barber) (2000), Down The Road (2002) and What's Wrong With This Picture? (2003)

PPS:
Those hoping to see desperately needed sonic upgrades of his 1st and 2nd album masterpieces on Warner Bothers "Astral Weeks" (1968) and "Moondance" (1970) or even "His Band & The Street Choir" (late 1970) will be disappointed to hear that they're NOT in this re-issue campaign - on either side of the pond. "Astral Weeks" and "Moondance" in particular have both been languishing around on crappy-sounding non-remastered CDs for over 20 years now and they're glaringly obvious omissions in this supposedly 'extensive' re-issue campaign. These universally recognized masterpieces have long deserved 2CD DELUXE EDITION treatment (some tracks in remastered form are available across the 3 volumes of "Best Of"). However, I've recently been informed by a good source that all 3 are NOW AVAILABLE since June 2008 in JAPAN in RHINO REMASTERED form. See the excellent Japanese site CDJAPAN.CO.JP for details (worded in English).

Aside from having one of the best titles in the Van catalog, it's also a great, great album. I don't know if critics (or music watchers) ever dubbed Van's 80's period his "born again" phase, but they might as well have. There was (and still is) an element of God and Christianity in much of Van's work, but in the 80's on albums like this one and the underrated Poetic Champions Compose (another great title), there's a lot of talk of the Lord in both albums. I think this one is better. It's beautifully arranged, written, and performed (like almost all of Van's albums), and it's production is one of Van's best produced albums. Despite the fact the album was recorded in the 80's, it doesn't sound like 80's music (like Dylan's Empire Burlesque did). This album just benefits from better recording technology. The spirituality starts right off with Got to Go Back. It's one of Van's favorite themes (of returning). The song Foreign Window is really moving, along with Tir Na Nog. Nog is one of Van's great epics (even though it's a rather short epic, only running 7 minutes). The masterpiece here is In the Garden. It's one of Van's best songs ever, with a beautiful piano track and precious acoustic guitar alongside. It also has the chorus of "no guru, no method, no teacher", which is beautiful and deeply mysterious at the same time. There's only one "music business ripped me off" song (A Town Called Paradise), but it's only the first verse, then it goes into a beautiful love song. Van has been pretty damn consistent his own career, and this is one of his best albums.

No Guru, No Method, No Teacher is probably Van's best effort of the 1980's and easily his best album since 'Into the Music' in 1979. As far as the bonus tracks go, "Lonely at the Top" is a great song and would have fit on the album nicely. The alternative version of "Oh the Warm Feeling" is nice, though hardly essential. This is a personal favorite of mine and one of Van's greatest triumphs. A must have!!!

I love the entire Van Morrison catalog. But this album is special. His most overtly Christian album, this masterpiece of music is haunting and beautiful. "Got To Go Back" sets the mood immediately and you realize that this isn't going to be rock on Van or blues Van or pop Van. This is pure spirituality and soul poured out one song after another. I used to wake up to foggy Northern California mornings and think "have to have a cup of coffee and listen to "Moondance"....that was before "No Guru....." the huge song on this release seems to be "In The Garden" judging by the Amazon reviews. It is wonderful but my favorite is "Foreign Window". Amazing lyrics, powerful vocals and a soulful atmosphere that is pure Van the Man. I would buy this album for "Foreign Window" alone. The highlights are too numerous to mention but it is great that Van decided to rock out at the end with "Ivory Tower". It's almost like a breath of fresh air after all of the meditative closeness of the preceding songs. This new release includes 2 extra tracks and both are worth having. This album is 5 star all the way. If you are a fan of Van then you already own this gem but if you are getting serious about collecting his material, I would suggest starting with Astral Weeks or Moondance. After all, this is his greatest achievement, and anything after this might be a bit of a letdown. It IS that amazing.....

I heard the song 'Tir na Nog' a long, long time ago, and i FELL IN LOVE. Simply put, this is my heart. Im not into Van Morrison, per se, im more of a dance/pop/alternative guy.... but i got this album when it first came out, and I have loved it ever since. Truly beautiful album. I love everyminute of it.I will always, always love this album.... do yourself a favor and get it.Its wonderful.thanks.

Van Morrison is a legend and he knows it. Consequently, over 34 years of music-making he's composed and recorded some unforgettable, great music. Morrison has also recorded some real duds. The fact of the matter is most Van Morrison records are extremely inconsistent and lacking in quality control. No Guru, No Method, No Teacher (1986) is a rare exception in Van Morrison's catalogue. From the beautiful tribute to Ray Charles that is Got to Go Back to the amazing celtic lilt of One Irish Rover and Ivory Tower, No Guru...is simply gorgeous. Songs like Oh The Warm Feeling, In The Garden and Tir Na Nog just make me melt everytime I hear them. These songs are all top-drawer compositions, spiritual and true. The arrangements are glorious. Kudos for that to Morrison the producer and the engineering team of Jim Stern and Mark Glossop. Van Morrison surrounds himself with only the best musicians and the No Guru.. sessions feature an outstanding cast: Jeff Labes (piano and synth), David Hayes (bass), Chris Michie (Lead Guitar), Baba Trunde (drums), Richie Buckley (tenor and soprano saxophones), Martin Drover (trumpet) and Kate St. John (Coranglais and Oboe). Van Morrison's singing is stellar throughout, as are the backing vocals. Make sure you get the 2008 24 bit remaster from the original analogue recording. The remaster is lovingly done, giving the proceedings more clarity and greater dynamic range through all the instruments.

Considering Van Morrison's deep commitment to his musical vision it's no surprise that during 1986,a period where pop music was dominated by a lot of heavy electronics and rhythmic song structures Van would remain on the same path he was towards the beginning of the 80's and that's just what he did here. Many of the ten songs on this album are not particularly individual musically but showcase something of a musical song cycle that,even though the songs all sound different melodically presents a certain uniformity in sound from one song to the other. What does it sound like?Well nothing you would'nt expect from Van Morrison. It's a double edged sword as that same sound that was defining him was also close to growing close to a formula. And formula was the exact opposit of what Van tended to reach for artistically. Most of the songs here are on the slow end of midtempo and present a breezy country/rock style peppered by horns and Irish style overtones that are best described as Van's own unique brand of "celtic rock" and here he sticks to it by and large like glue. Lyrically the album is one spiritually based abstraction after another yet,on the other hand the words are very accesible that look to link Van Morrison's personal romantic longings with his own romantic yearnings leaning towards Christian mysticism. Only on the somewhat bitter "A Town Called Mysticism" did he actually look to how his sound set him at odds with the music industry-a concept he'd revisit years later on the album What's Wrong with This Picture?. Only two tracks really up the tempo a little bit on the mildly jazzy influenced "Thanks For The Information" and the original closer "Ivory Towers",a light rock oriented song that's actually very catchy and it's actually one of the stronger songs on the album overall. This version of the album contains two bonus songs-one an alternate take of "Oh The Warm Feeling" and the unreleased and very beautiful "Lonely At The Top". It's not a bad album to chill or for a stretch perhaps even meditate to if your in the right sort of mood but it doesn't have the usual bursts of creative style and sprawl Van Morrison is capable of and so often excersises. That is the only quality that keeps it from being,in my own opinion one of Van Morrison's stronger albums even if it does stand the test of time more than many albums from this era do.

While it may be true that one will not find me teaching music or that I'll be mistaken for a music historian the fact is I do know what moves me . Pick up a copy of this cd or just about anything of Van's and should you like it , it won't be long before you are out picking up something else of his. There is a reason Van has been able to crank out ablum after album for 50 years. If all the music I had was my collection of Van Morrison's work I would easily travel though life perfectly happy.

This was my 80's reintroduction to Van and considering that i have most of his work, i have to admit that this one is the one that defines his immortality. Flawless musical arrangements, spiritual and universal lyrics complement his feeling tone and voice. Top 50 all time recordings by a solo artist. Up there with Dylan, Elvis, Costello, Neil, J.J.Cale, Leonard, Alvin Lee, Paul, George and John, Joni, Madonna and Michael, Prince, Marvin, Al... to name a few.

I cannot recommend this one more. Although I am a big Van Morrison fan, I find "No Guru, No Method, No Teacher" as one of the classic VM works, up there with "Astral Weeks" and "Moondance". Although this was not a great hit machine, the songs are touching, most of all "In the Garden", which is my all-time favorite song by the Belfast Cowboy. The piano riff at the beginning of the song is spine-tingling, yet so simple, so beautiful.

Van made a lot of precious gems in the 1980's, but this was his diamond.