Richard Butler

Richard Butler | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 18, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Koch Records
• ASIN: B000E6ESJY
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #164,698 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Released way back in 1980, the first record from the Psychedelic Furs was a blunt and beautiful thing. Its punk fascinations were subverted by solid musicianship and a lead singer whose sandpaper growl couldn't cover up the Bowie-esque sweetness in his tone. Through the '80s and '90s, as the Furs broke up and he re-emerged with Love Spit Love, Richard Butler kept that growl. But the sweetness was getting more prominent. Butler finally smoothes out entirely and becomes the crooner he always threatened to be here on his debut solo CD. Nearing 50, his voice sounds clean and easy as he opens the record with a deft falsetto over the soft, adult alternative bounce of "Good Days, Bad Days." The entire record is well-produced--maybe a little over-produced, even--but it's also cut with a disarming electronic edge; check out the digital spit-and-polish on Postal Service-lite tracks like "California." Butler's lyrics are dependably poetic and pessimistic, with lyrics like "I hate every second of this life long day" clouding up the otherwise sunny "Broken Aeroplanes." But even if Butler hasn't completely reinvented himself, he succeeds in surprising us and making us curious to see what he does next. --Matthew Cooke

Product Description

For his KOCH Records solo release, titled simply Richard Butler, Butler collaborated with Jon Carin, an accomplished musician who has worked with Pink Floyd, Pete Townshend and Bryan Ferry. The result is a collection of songs that's an incredible melding of Butler's incisive lyrics and signature voice awash in Carin's mysteriously captivating musical landscape. 2006. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tremendous!, March 15, 2006

By 

Sharon Nichols - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Richard Butler (Audio CD)

Fathom that legendary, distinctive voice closer to the bone, introspective and personal-- over acoustic guitar, awash in a string symphony or a choral strain. This is what the Furs founder has done on his first solo effort.

This new recording of the stripped down Butler is sublime. It's dreamy, intricate, intelligent, poetic, philosophical and tender with occasional rock-based moments amidst the ambient ones. Listening with headphones to pick up on all the subtle nuances is recommended. Upon repeated spins, I found myself lost in the beauty of certain songs, kicking back and closing my eyes, getting chills. At one point, I had to remind myself to breathe. I had spoken to Butler before listening to the recording, but he hadn't prepared me to be completely blown away by it. Truly, it is an album to watch this year. Butler recorded it at Sky High Studios in upstate New York, collaborating with instrumentalist Jon Carin (Pink Floyd, Pete Townshend, Bryan Ferry) who greatly influenced the direction of the music with his shimmering guitars and keys. In an interview with Butler, he says:

"It's much gentler, fairly ambient. Basically all the songs are written on acoustic guitar, so the way I'm going out and playing it-- which is with an acoustic guitar and a keyboard, ambient noise-- is not that different from the way the record sounds... In some ways it's a lot mellower than the Psychedelic Furs records, but the lyrics are fairly dark. During the course of making it, my marriage broke up, Jon's relationship broke up, and both of our fathers died. So that informed the lyrics and the music to some degree."

Though Carin's musical landscape is resplendent and hopeful, Butler's despair and loss over recent events is evident in his poetry.

This reviewer can only beckon, "More! More!" This man has pierced my soul.

--Sharon Nichols, Music Editor, Chronogram magazine

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A mature and beautiful album..., May 7, 2006

By 

Wor-El (Chicago USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Richard Butler (Audio CD)

If you liked the Psychedelic Furs' "World Outside" and Love Spit Love, you're going to be intoxicated by this album. Love Spit Love exhibited the sophistication and musical richness that Butler seemed continually to be striving for while working with the Furs, but never quite accomplished. This album represents a similar leap forward. Excellent by any measure.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding, April 27, 2006

By 

Kurt Finkbeiner (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Richard Butler (Audio CD)

Having been a long time fan of the Furs, this album is a welcome surprise.

Richard Butler's distinct vocal style is as remarkable as ever, but what's really outstanding about this collection is the strong musicianship and lyrical strength of each song. A bit more brooding than any of the Furs catalog (onset of middle age might have soemthing to do with it) but entrancing nonetheless.

Highly recommended, welcome back Richard!