Ordinary Man

Day One

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 29, 2000)
• Original Release Date: February 29, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Astralwerks
• ASIN: B00002DFMT
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #264,912 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Day One's underground hip-pop debut is the kind of literate yet accessible rainy-day disc that slowly insinuates itself into your life. You find yourself singing along to it even when it's not on the stereo, or trying to picture what a character in a particular song looks like in person. Ordinary Man borrows equally from the upbeat, lyrical hip-hop of De La Soul, the moody, intricate trip-hop of Massive Attack, and the melodic, laid-back storytelling style of Wyclef Jean. "In Your Life"--a positively sweet ditty with lyrics that wrap slice-of-life love stuff up with a taste of self-deprecating humor--is a musical update of Cornershop-style multicultural indie pop. The rhymes are wordy but slow; the beats are phat, dance-world-savvy, and downbeat; and the melodies are original (i.e., they're not all stolen from Sting or Bob Marley). It's quite a record. --Mike McGonigal

Product Description
Debut release from UK act signed to Massive Attack's Melankolic label. For fans of Beck, Eels and Massive Attack. Featuring 'Bedroom Dancing' from the 'Cruel Intentions' soundtrack. 2000 release. Standard jewel case.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Extraordinary, March 9, 2000

By	Tim L. Haas (Saint Paul, MN United States) - See all my reviews

I can see why this group was embraced by Melankolic (Massive Attack's label). The hyponotic, electrical power showcasing poetic lyrics defines today's pop music at its best. I especially enjoyed Bedroom Dancing and Trying Too Hard, but there were no weak cuts on the disc.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bob Dylan 2001?, May 12, 2000

By	Dsc "dsc" (New York City) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I bought this CD on import about six months ago. I'm still listening to it every day. These guys are simply brilliant. Narrative lyrics weaving through sometimes hip-shaking grooves or sometimes mellow, down temp beats makes this album a perfect piece to showcase on your mantel. Though Massive Attack found them, their sound hardly intersects the Massive sound. Instead, these guys seem to have accomplished the impossible: they've taken elements of folky Dylan-esque narrative story telling and simple instrument layouts and combined them with current electronic techniques. Beautiful.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars No ordinary debut!, April 1, 2000

By	Ian Creamer (Dublin,Ireland) - See all my reviews

Another new group from Bristol-this duo have taken the best sounds of Massive Attack and added their own brilliant,witty,songs to make a really excellent debut C.D.The album's first few songs sound very like Massive-minimalist heavy bass sound.The first songs are accompanied by Phelim Byrne's witty stories about unusual relationships,one night stands and 'arty' parties where people discuss Russian Animal Welfare.All these songs are delivered in a dead-pan rap form.Then the songs change to more guitar keyboard and strings backing Byrne's singing,which I have to say can be pretty dodgy at times as he can hit many off key notes.But this just adds to the mood that here we have two 'ordinary' blokes making a record,telling stories about normal every day lives and not the usual rock star pomp.The album starts off really well and unusually gets better with each track.Track 6 I'm Doing Fine has a really good string background.Track 7;'Autumn Rain' is a really good rock song.Track 9;'love On The Dole' is an captivating story with an ending even more surprising than the movie Sixth Sense.Finally on track 11;'Ordinary Man'-Byrne wishes he had better looks and a greater ability to sing properly-but if he was the great rock star type this album would lose much of it's appeal.This album deserves to sell by the bucket load so listen to this album by Day One while they are still 'Ordinary Men'.