Pink Pearl

Jill Sobule | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 11, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Eagle Records
• ASIN: B0006SSP5I
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #339,296 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Like Aimee Mann, Jill Sobule had a hit early (1995's "I Kissed a Girl") and then was dropped by her major label. Now that the dust has settled, one can only hope that, like Mann, Sobule will reap the artistic and commercial recognition she deserves. Though no slouch in the melody department, Sobule really shines as a deft lyricist. On songs that act as many self-contained vignettes, she captures life's little miseries and epiphanies with economy and understated humor. Though she isn't afraid to tackle wide topics ("Heroes" reveals our icons' feet of clay with lines such as "Heard Babe Ruth was full of malice / Lewis Carroll I'm sure did Alice"), Sobule's specialty is to focus on individuals in a way that's both sharp-witted and compassionate. In the end, Pink Pearl's greatest accomplishment is showing that there are as many good song subjects as there are people around us--you only need to pay attention. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Product Description

2004 reissue of 2000 studio album from Jill Sobule, a feisty post-punk feminist whose work brings to mind a cross between Liz Phair & Gertrude Stein. New pink artwork too! 12 tracks. Universal. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars More fun from Sobule, August 13, 2000

By 

Cavan Reagan "Cavan Reagan Reichmann" (Des Moines, IA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pink Pearl (Audio CD)

What a treat -- more Jill Sobule music. Though it's an acquired taste, it's a taste nonetheless, and I'm glad she's putting out more music for her fans.

On that note, "Pink Pearl" will no doubt delight any fan of Sobule's, with her whimsical lyrics and ability to tell stories with her songs. Starting off with catchier tracks like "Rainy Day Parade" and "One of These Days" and then easing into mellower tracks like "Mexican Wrestler," "Pink Pearl" delivers a great listen.

This CD is harder to get into than "Happy Town," though, and I found that many of the songs were harder to relate to (a trend she has here is focusing the songs on individual women -- "Claire," "Mary Kay," "Lucy at the Gym"). This broke up the rythm for me at first, and made it harder to really get into the CD, though eventually that wore down and I did have a few good listens.

I'd recommend Sobule's "Happy Town" to new listeners of her music, though "Pink Pearl" does live up to expectations of this great musician.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Too clever for the mainstream and that's too bad, April 27, 2000

By 

Captain Opinionated (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pink Pearl (Audio CD)

Jill Sobule should be a huge star - she writes great, tuneful, hook-y melodies with sardonic and irreverent, but heartfelt, lyrics. Of course, if you're too clever or ironic, you fly right over the mainstream's head. Which is just where she's flown. However, thanks to three strong releases previous to this one, and appearances on soundtracks for many major motion pictures ("Clueless," "Truth About Cats and Dogs"), she has earned a small but loyal cult. "Pink Pearl" is typical Sobule, meaning it's great. Working in a range of song styles (bossa nova, hard rock, country, pop), she addresses such topics as senility ("Dear Claire"), unrequited love ("Mexican Wrestler"), gym fanatics ("Lucy at the Gym"), procrastination ("One of These Days"), and ends it all with a sweet lullaby ("Rock Me To Sleep"). Though, personally, I don't find it as track-for-track fabulous as her second, self-titled release, it's quite a grand accomplishment all the same. As you can see, other reviews on this site say much of the same thing, but I thought I'd put in my two cents worth to prove that there ARE people all across the country who have discovered what others have yet to - that Jill Sobule is one of top singer-songwriters working today. Let's hope she gets some more commercial success. C'mon, people, let's move some units!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars great lyrics great melodies interesting voice, November 7, 2005

By 

guy that still plays with toys (maryland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pink Pearl (Audio CD)

This album was a pleasant surprise. If you enjoy female vocalists and witty lyrics you'll like this. The songs have graceful melodies and are easy to listen to yet reward attention as well. Just like the review quoted on the site says, the lyrics really demonstrate that there are interesting things going on in even the most ordinary events...just as an example from "Rainy Day Parade":
I used to have the stars in my pockets
Now I just watch them on TV
My friends, they've all run away
But they'll come back again
And we'll have a celebration
Getting back on my medication
We'll have a rainy day parade

Other songs include "Lucy at the Gym" about a woman exercising to overcome self image problems, dying and going to heaven..."Mexican wrestler" about unrequited love..."Claire" about a friendship with a woman with Alzheimer's and secrets of that life that are lost to fading memories and ambiguity...
Great stuff - really enjoy the songs - too bad Amazon doesn't have samples foryou to listen to so you could see if you like it.
I would say that the closest performer that comes to mind is the duo of Kate and Anna McGarrigle.