Customer Reviews

Richard Butler

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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

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.

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!

I am a huge fan of The Psychedelic Furs early work. I believe Sleep Comes Down, Love My Way and Sister Europe are absoletly flawless.

Despite brilliant musicianship and unique lyrics and a dark, brooding cinematic feel, the reall draw of the Furs best work is Richard Butler's inspired rasp. Many have compared him to Bowie, and indeed the two men share some vocal similarities.

However, while Mr. Bowie is unafraid to jump on the latest production trend or bandwagon when it comes to his latter day records (and a few of the early ones) Butler has pretty much stuck to his guns as far as the guitar, bass, drum, keyboard configuration of his output.

That has all changed, and what a change it is! Glorious atmospherics mixed with his usual brooding lyrics are the order of the day. But wait, is that a high end register on his voice? Is that rasp buried underneath a sweet, almost plaintif and vulnerable lilt? Who is this creature and where has he been hiding for so many years.

Standout album by one of modern musics most influential and under-appreciated singers.

But the whole album - every track is a standout!

Yes, THE BALLAD ALBUM WE HAVE WANTED FOR YEARS!

A quite wonderful sonic and spiritual reward for the years we have awaited this artist to do what he does best: craft thoughtful, sensuous songs that evoke such amazing feelings. It was through Love Spit Love that I found the brilliance of Richard Butler, then I went back to the extensive and impressive Furs catalogue to re-discover what everyone had been talking about. To see him live is always an epic adventure that proves fulfilling. I put him way up there in the hall of fame of performers. Witness his grandeur as he performs the beautiful "Alive" at House of Blues in 2001.

The hypnotic and dreamy songs on this disc are so satisfying because his voice is not overwhelmed by loud guitars and drums. The songwriting and that unparalleled voice truly shine. The expert music really complements the voice and song structures. Despite the apparent personal trials he has recently been through, Sir Richard's softer and deeper sides seem to come through. A real sense of mystical wonder - and even rapture - has replaced the heavily cynical, iconoclastic themes. This majestic and profound work takes us through some of the pains of life but gives us hope and reason to believe. There is a smooth psychedelic feel to the songs that proves more soothing than the best of Radiohead.

Overall this is an enduring and gratifying work of art by a true visionary.

A must have for 2006 and every year thereafter.

An amazing piece of work from Mr. Butler, former lead of the Psychedelic Furs and Love Spit Love. In my opinion, it's some of the best stuff he's done in a decade! Usually you'll find one or two good ones (like his Love Spit Love albums), but this one is great from start to finish, and unlike LSL, it's a unique and divorced sound from the Furs. A mature and wiser Richard Butler. Standout tracks for me include Good Days, Bad Days, Broken Aeroplanes, Sentimental Airlines, and the sweet Maybe Someday. If you've followed his career, you will LOVE this album. If you're not familiar, give him a try...he could go toe to toe with Coldplay (who I love too) anyday!!

I am so impressed with Richard Butler's first solo album. It's beautiful, amazing, stunning, and at times even quite haunting. The overall mood of the songs is melancholy but not whiny whatsoever.

Richard's voice is smoother than his style with Love Spit Love and Psychedelic Furs. And as another reviewer noted, he has expanded his vocal range on this album.

It's just amazing. His voice, the music, the lyrics, the style... I'm in love with it.

I can't say enough about how good this record is. The other reviews here have stated it well. I just know that I can't stop listening to it and the more I hear the I appreciate it. "Maybe Someday" in my IPOD watching the world and I get the sense that everything is beautiful.

Best album I've bought in years.

The Furs have toured without promoting a new record for years. In the process, Butler inspired Love Spit Love - enjoyable to any fan, although not as strong as the definitive recordings that carried his earlier visions. Richard's voice is magic and his first solo album confirms a thoughtfulness, note by note.
Butler hits ranges I believe he never hit even in his 'highwire days'- The melodies are not hand-picked from the 80's. Jon Carin (who wrote and performed all instruments) layed a very modern soundtrack down for a timeless veteran. You will walk away singing Good Days Bad Days...well, for days. Nothing's Wrong is absoltely a stand-out favorite, although the whole album has a nice dreampop atmosphere surrounding it. If you enjoy the man's voice - this is absolutely a must own.

This is a stunningly beautiful & realized peace of work. While the production would no doubt be characterized by some as "ambient" or "trip-hop" the melodic strength of the songs put the product well beyond such simple terms. Butler's voice is truly stunning-hitting the highest register consistently and effortlessly-only A-ha's Morten Harkett comes to mind as comparable in phrasing. Strongly recommended