Customer Reviews

Rain

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This album showcases Joe Jackson the pop songwriter, which he's returned to after his symphonic efforts of the mid to late 90s. What I find refreshing is that the band here is only a trio, so it's a new sound for Jackson (we don't get guitar, persussion, horns, and other production elements, but each song is unique and the album definitely does not get monotonous). There are hard-driving songs (Good Bad Boy, Citizen Sane), beautiful ballads (Solo, Wasted Time), and lots of mid tempo.

What's cool is that there's something that represents nearly every era of Joe Jackson style, not entirely suprising since long-time bassist Graham Maby is here along with David Houghton, Joe's original drummer. I felt that "Volume 4", featuring Joe's original band, was a little boring in places, but that's not the case here. Some songs sound like "I'm the Man" or "Look Sharp" songs, without the guitar; some recall "Night and Day", and a lot is similar to "Laughter and Lust". The song "The Uptown Train" is a near-instrumental ditty rooted in Gershwin and similar to Joe's "Tucker" soundtrack work, or a less-swinging "Jumpin' Jive." And not all the songs are cynical, some are even a little bit hopeful.

So I'm very impressed with this release and think it's Jackson's best since Laughter and Lust.

Any fan of Joe Jackson doesn't really need to read a review of the latest release. He or she knows it's going to be great. Joe just keeps writing and performing beautiful songs that never fit into any one genre neatly. Somehow, his style of being all over the place, taking from every musical culture, has become a style of its own. With each song, he gives back more than he has ever borrowed.

This release contains 10 gems that are each as good as anything he has done before. Previous reviews have mentioned various songs as highlights. I really like them all, but I must declare there are three songs that I find to be Joe at his absolute best- The Uptown Train, Invisible Man, and the incredible Rush Across The Road.

The cd could only be better if it had more songs on it! These wonderful ten songs left me yearning for more. I almost felt disappointed when the last song finished. Then I hit the repeat button.

The bonus dvd, while not bursting with content, is a worthy companion to the cd.

Joe Jackson is one of the most amazingly distinct pop composers. As I've listened to his music back from the "Look Sharp" days, he sounds like rock, like pop, like jazz, like a bit of classical, but always like Joe Jackson. Perhaps only Burt Bacharach's pop songs sound so specifically unique that his sense of melody makes you immediately identify the songwriter. Jackson is like that for me.

"Rain" is an excellent set. The opener "Invisible Man" places his piano forward and makes Jackson think about how times change and popularity shifts, "Why did the lights go down or onto someone new? Well let them learn. I used to own this town; Now I'm watching you." "Citizen Sane" swaggers with Dave Houghton's slamming drums & Graham Maby's bass seeming like they've been loosed beyond conventional boundaries. "Wasted Time" which shines on the DVD is an angelic track with Jackson's stunning falsetto chorus, "Call it spite or call it pride; call it love that never died; Call it anything but wasted time." "The Uptown Train" starts out like classic jazz with a about a minute before the vocals arrive and Jackson brushing off the top of his register, "And they don't care to go where you go 'cause they know you're insane." "Solo (So Low)" slows the pace to create a somber stark setting for Jackson's aching vocals, "You stare into space, scared to look at your face, Scared to find someone in the mirror who you can't recall." The carries an emotional wallop. "Good Bad Boy" surges with tidal waves of energy. "Rush Across the Road" & the CD closer "A Place in the Rain" are also strong tracks. The DVD interview with Jackson is quite interesting as he talks about being classically trained and going to see bands where the musicians barely know how to play their instruments. Jackson's "Rain" is a stunning achievement, an excellent return to form. Bravo!

In Los Angeles, it has been cloudy, with rain showers. Joe Jackson's new album has been the perfect complement to the weather. As an admirer of his since "Look Sharp", I am glad to see he still has his teeth. From "Invisible Man", which talks about the fleet feet of fame, to real talk about relationships, "Too Tough", "Wasted Time", and "Rush Across the Road", then a real beaut to move to "The Uptown Train", every song is a gem, beautiful to hear with lyrics that put other singer/songwriters to shame. Yes, some themes are reminiscent of other JJ masterworks, still they are good to hear again. The best song on the album for me is "A Place in the Rain", its cadence and feeling evocative of rain falling. Buy it and enjoy. Peace to all.

I agree with DRD this album because of the similar 3 piece band setup sounds like Joe's Summer in the City New York City Central Park live album, which is a great album that also grows. Hometown on the Central Park album reminds me of Uptown Train on Rain - Both great songs with an amazing keyboards. I also can't get invisible man out of my mind can't touch, can't touch the invisible man - great chorus. Too Tough, Rush Across the Road and Good Bad boy I also enjoy.
At first these songs seemed to have rough spots, but as I've listened they become important elements of these great songs.

The great thing about Rain is the DVD that comes with it. The live performances are great and so are the interviews. These are also available on Joe's Youtube website or linked through his website. There is also a great video a comedian did that is on Joe's youtube page urging him to come back to NYC very funny and a great sampling of Rain.

Being a trio leaves out certain complexities that the night and day albums had but it also gives back a certain energy that makes this and the live Central Park album two of my favorites to play.

I have been a Joe Jackson fan for years and really enjoy his old albums so was pleasantly surprised to have a new CD out from him. I have heard several cuts on the radio over the past few months and decided to buy the CD. I can honestly tell you that some of the tunes just stay in my head for hours! I also heard a live concert he did on an NPR station that blew me away. He is a fine entertainer and a great musician.

What I enjoy about Joe Jackson is that through his long career he has been able to experiment, and push boundries and still have it come off well. There are not many artists who can even gain the artistic control to do this, let alone have the nerve, and yet still come off sounding good.

This album recalls to some of his other experimantal ventures JUMPIN' JIVE (a swing revival before swing music came back in vogue), BODY AND SOUL (recorded with only two microphones in a theatre), BIG WORLD (a three sided album?? recorded in live takes with a silent audience).

Here once again Joe experments this time using only drum, bass and piano plus his (undiminished after all these years) vocals. Even in this sparse arrangement, the sound is lush and rich, and if I weren't thinking about it, would never consider that I am only listening to a trio.

While I wouldn't say I love every track, I do enjoy most of the disc, and very much appreciate the talents of Joe Jackson.

Fave tracks for me; Invisible Man, Too Tough, The Uptown Train (LOVE THIS,,just a great-feeling, Vince-Giuraldi-sounding vibe), King Pleasure Time (takes me back to 'I'm The Man' even without the guitars!), Rush Across The Road (out of all the tracks, sounds the most like a 'hit' single to me)

Also a bonus DVD,,, hey how could you argue with that !!

Joe Jackson's new album has minimal instrumentation - just his piano, and old standbys Graham Maby on bass and Dave Hougton on drums. Yet, it sounds full and rich, with a fine complement of new songs. Just saw this band at the Apollo, and as good as the album is they were better live. Just shows you don't need guitars to rock.

This is great Joe Jackson. Period. It may not be Body and Soul (the best JJ in my opinion) or Big World or Night and Day...it certainly approaches those works and the songwriting is very, very good. And, in true "Old School" fashion (it's a shame I have to say old school, but that's the case with music because most now is artists worth a download or two) it is a collection of songs that you can listen to in it's entirety and come away satisfied...there is a beginning , middle and an end. It has been given thought and crafted well. It gets better with repeated listening. Thanks Joe.

Superb! Joe references the heights of his career, lovingly sings a few measures of Satie and the moody pianisms of the Diva soundtrack, and crafts the best tunes in years, uniquely voiced. No one writes like this guy! No one has the chops to imitate him. I've followed him since the first sides, seen him live every time he's played Chicago, and folks, he's stronger than ever. Thanks, Joe.