Customer Reviews

Sad Man Happy Man

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When I was a kid my uncle would give me his Led Zeppelin 8 tracks because he wore them out playing them over and over. It's a good thing that times change and Haughty Melodic and Golden Delicious easily work overtime on my iPod. Haughty Melodic was such a masterpiece part of me thought it had to be a fluke. I was expecting Golden Delicious to be Haughty Melodic II. It wasn't. It was every bit as well crafted as HM and over time has taken on a life of it's own.

There is plenty of ink slinging on Sad Man Happy Man. "Sweet lousy cupcakes of lies", "Bangkok to Antioch" and "incredible bulk" go hand in glove with "I'm a roustabout And I'm bound to roust you out" and "skin so fine and red lips rose-like now". Where SMHM really distinguishes itself from the previous two albums is it's mostly done on acoustic guitar and the cello. Either way, it still rocks.

I would never recommend that you see Return of the Jedi if you somehow managed to miss Star Wars and Empire. This is a slightly different. If you do not own any Mike Doughty albums you are missing out. Get them all and listen to them in any order you want.

4.5 Stars.

Mike Doughty's post-Soul Coughing career has been pretty impressive. His initial solo recordings (Skittish and Rockity Roll) had a unique homemade sound, which emphasized the quality of his witty, often sarcastic but also sometimes frighteningly honest songs. He took a step back towards a more produced sound with 2005's Haughty Melodic, probably his best recording to date. The songs on that album are some of my favorites of all time, and I can think of few other albums I come back to as often as that one. Perhaps this is why I found the follow-up, Golden Delicious (2008), to be missing something. Although it has grown on me, too much of that record still sounds like paint-by-numbers Mike, or Mike not really challenging himself.

This new release does a lot to correct the mistakes of the past one. The songs are once again consistently engaging, and Mike has returned to a more homemade sound. This suits him well and gives the songs space to breathe. This song cycle deals a lot with overcoming hard times, be it rejection from a girl or just rough experiences in general. It fits the stage Mike is at in his life, as a recovering addict who has obviously learned his lessons the hard way. Other songs are bouncy fun (albeit with some dark undertones) such as "Pleasure On Credit." I also enjoy the engaging story-songs, which are written with enough detail to make them relatable. The closing cover of Daniel Johnston's "Casper The Friendly Ghost" is touching and suits Mike's style of playing very well. The stripped-down instrumentation (augmented sometimes by a cello) is just enough to make the point, which for Mike is all that is needed.

Although I am still hoping for another recording of the same quality as Haughty Melodic, this is pretty close and well worth your time. I'd say I am already addicted.

Mike Doughty's had a solo career that's long enough to nearly obscure his years as lead singer of Soul Coughing. His latest reels back in the guitar, bass, drums and keyboard layers of last year's Golden Delicious, and though his acoustic guitar is the dominant instrument here, he doesn't retreat fully to the sound of his solo debut Skittish. His syncopated strumming and vocals hold down the center with the usual level of energy, and there are low string drones that add weight, drums to further propel the beat, and some twangy trills, skittish violin notes and sonic washes that make this more than rock reduced to folk. Doughty not only returns to guitar-and-voice centered productions, but also the beat-rap poetry style he favored earlier in his career.

Doughty's lyrics include lost and reconsidered love, introspective questioning and optimistic possibilities, and stretch out to carefully constructed rhymes and elliptical couplets. The latter flow smoothly, but leave their deeper meanings for listeners to decide; it's enough to make one long for an annotated lyric sheet. College DJs should track down the Hombres' "Let it All Hang Out" for a good segue with Doughty's "Pleasure on Credit" (though you'll need to watch out for the s-word 32-seconds in). Twelve originals and a cover of Daniel Johnston's "Caspar the Friendly Ghost" will please fans of Doughty's early solo work, and fans of his earlier work with Soul Coughing will happily welcome his lyrical and sing-rap style. 3-1/2 stars, if allowed fractional ratings. [©2009 hyperbolium dot com]

Mike Doughty is not a household name, but he should be. He's not even well known to most hardcore music fans. He should be. And when they finally discover this man's brilliance, they should be, as one song states on "Sad Man, Happy Man": "Doubly Gratified".

This third installment in Mike Doughty's wonderful post- "Soul Coughing" solo catalogue (fourth if you count the 2-disc demo collection, "Skittish/Rockity Roll") is definitely one of the best I've heard so far. I was first introduced to Doughty's music when a college friend burned me a copy of "Haughty Melodic", which I ultimately wore out and bought a new copy, plus copies for others I thought needed to hear it!

That album was a masterpiece, and the 2008 followup, "Golden Delicious", was just as good. With "Sad Man, Happy Man", Doughty eschews the glossy production of "Melodic" and the oddball sonic experiments of "Delicious" and sits down with an acoustic guitar, backed by a keyboard, some drums and a subdued string section anchored by a cello. The result really puts the focus on his unique lyrical style and catchy, pleasant melodies.

There really is no way to describe Mike Doughty's lyrical style that can do it justice. He is one part beatnik slam poet, one part Dave Matthews, one part Jack Johnson, a dash of hip-hop and a pinch of Bob Dylan. If he can't think of a good word to describe what he feels, he readily makes one up. In one song about missign a girl, he sings: "Vicious mobs of candy rievers stalk the night, and 'methodonians' sleep right where they stand. A weeping tranny is cradling a steak knife, while you're happy slugging rob-roys with your man". The weird but poignant images he paints with his unique lyrics are in full force with this album, and the music is fantastic.

Buy this. NOW.

I got to be a fan of Soul Coughing back in the day then lost track of them. I liked some of their songs, some were a bit too experimental and hard to listen to. When I figured out Mike Doughty had gone solo I decided to check this out. I read reviews and some people don't like this album as much as Haughty Melodic but it's my favorite of his solo stuff. "Keep On Rising Up", "Doubly Gratified" and "How to **** a Republican" are my favorites.

I love Mike Doughty beyond reason, so bear in mind this review is likely biased. He's just one of my very very favorite musicians, ever. But I was seriously impressed by this album. I'm glad he's gone back to the minimal feeling of his earlier solo stuff, because as strange as it sounds, I really prefer him without a full band. This whole album showcases his amazing gift for language. In my opinion the stand outs were "We Will Not Be Lovers" (which made me cry in earnest) and "(He's Got the) Whole World (In His Hands)" which is about as funky as you can get with just an acoustic guitar as backing music. I loved this album. I will give Mike Doughty the highest compliment I can give any artist: I will definitely buy the next thing he puts out.

Love it. This CD will probably melt in the dashboard of my car from over use. If you like any Doughty, but this record. If your friends like any Doughty, buy this record. Your grandchildren will thank you.

Just give it a listen. His music is something that when you find it, you'll understand. He goes out of his way to find a hook that is fun. He can make a song with one riff, or with a complex melody that you can get lost in.

Another amazing album. He can set a tune with a mood using his humor, and his way with words.

No slick packaging from a group that wants to SELL you an Image. It's something for you, to take and make your own.

Hey there!

... My goodness I love Mike Doughty! "Haughty Melodic" is the one that hooked me. I think I was out to see a DMB concert in Boston one time, and this guy's band was the opening act. I was like "Whose this guy?" Not bad," and picked up Haughty. Great disc if you haven't heard it! You should pick it up, especially if you are here looking with interest at his latest release.

You know it's tough when you really love an artist and a few years go by. If you aren't as bad as those who would hold it up against prior (and beloved) work and deem it inferior, maybe to say the least it's just a bit harder to fall in love with if you know what I mean. Sometimes the best way is just to pop it in and let it into your heart, give it a chance for what it is - like walking into a bar and by chance catching an amazing obscure local act. Sometimes you go with that approach and still come out disappointed - Sad, but true!

To me this is not once of those instances. I am on my second run through the album now. It's one of those times where I am just smiling and bopping my head a bit, reminding myself "Man, I really like Mike Doughty!" Not let down at all. I give it 4 stars. Only because for me music is precious, and a "5-star" album would be one that left me speechless and never the same! Such albums exist you know!

By the way, I opted for the digital download for this purchase. Only $8.99 and mine instantly! Not bad. Also the quality of the mp3(s) when you do so are at 240kbps. This is an excellent rate. I tried to rip a CD recently using iTunes, the highest quality offered was 160kbps. Doesn't have that extra "ooohmpf" as they say, especially noticeable if you are tied into a decent audio system.

If you haven't met yet, let me introduce you to Mike Doughty. He's a musician, a writer, a poet, a photographer and an artist. You may remember him from his band Soul Coughing, who had a couple of alternative hits in the late 90's, early 00's with "Super BonBon" and "Circles." He now goes it solo, and has released several albums of very cool music. Since I've been out of the music writing game for a while, I'm finding it hard to come up with those cool-music-reviewer-adjectives to describe his music, so I'll simply keep telling you what Mike Doughty does on his new album Sad Man Happy Man. He sings the lyrics he wrote, he plays acoustic guitar, he programs drums and samples and he has a friend occasionally add some cello. He makes music that is chill, funky and fresh, all at the same time. With songs like "(I Keep On) Rising Up," "Lord Lord Help Me Just to Rock Rock On" and "(You Should Be) Doubly (Gratified)," the theme seems to be (aside from parentheses), overcoming obstacles like breakups, drug addiction and the economy. Or at least that's what I can cull from Doughty's mesmerizing half-spoken, half-sung, half-rapped flow. Yes, that's three halves, but his unique style warrants it in my book. Sad Man Happy Man is sagacious, dulcet and euphonious (words courtesy of [...]). Have a listen.