Customer Reviews

Restless Eyes

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

 

 

This album was originally released in 1981. Opening track 'under the covers' is one of the best songs on the album, and was released as a single in Ireland and got a lot of airplay. 'Passion Play' shows Janis's clever use of poetic lyrics.The whole album meshes a pop, rock and folk mix, with excellent lyrical, vocal and musical standards that were lacking on her last album, 'Hunger'. It is her most mainstream offering to date. I would rank this as her best body of work along side 'Breaking Silence' Janis toured extensively with this material in 1981-82 and was at her most polished stage performance during that period. This was before she came out of the closet, so the songs have a lot of man/woman relationship themes, Which Janis wrote of so well. Underlying religious themes that talk of looking for God are prevelent throughout the album. Janis is also dealing with the turmoil that was in her personal life in 1981. The album was released on the heel of her divorce and financial ruin by her ex-manager and husband. 'Dear Billy' talks to a lot of this in humorous, vitoral tones that Ian sculpts so well. Throughout all the tracks, you can hear and feel her frustration and angst. A powerful, moving body of work by a woman that stands out alone as the consumate female singer/songwriter of our generation. She is in a class of her own. With all the hype and hoopula of 'Lilleth Fair' and talk of woman performers, Janis is an artist unmatched by any other. Indeed, she is her own Lilleth fair. Every Janis Ian fan needs to have this album in their collection. I rate it five out of five.

This album includes folk tunes that border on country. Again proving music, and Janis Ian music in particular, doesn't stick to linear categories. "Under the Covers" is a fun, erotic tune that almost was banned. "Down and Away" is haunting and unlike anything else I've heard. She writes of her not very pleasant stay in L.A. in "Bigger than Real" which she now says is a place where everyone walks around trying to find someone famous and the ultimate question is "Are you somebody?" If the title track was true in 1981, it most certainly is timely today. She looks so young, and yet had at this point had 15 years in the business.I enjoyed this album immensely.It ranks among my favorite Janis Ian CDs.

"Restless Eyes" is a surprise fan favorite. In 1981 Mare Winningham starred in a tv movie called "Freedom". Janis wrote 6 pieces for that movie and most of the soundtrack. "Dear Billy", and "Sugar Mountain" were covered by Mare, and are on this album. There is a country & western flavor to this recording, but there's also some salsa "Under the Covers", some scat "I Believe I'm Myself Again", hard core rock and roll "Get Ready to Roll" and the haunting title track, that I think is one of the best love songs that Janis Ian has ever written. One of the most clever songs I've ever heard is "Passion Play". If you were impressed by the better selling Ian works, "Between the Lines" and "Stars", I think you'll enjoy "Restless Eyes". It may not be Janis' favorite, but it's certainly one of mine!

If you like the music of Janis Ian, then this CD is a must own. It would be hard for any album to beat Ian's Between The Lines, but Restless Eyes comes in a close second.