Customer Reviews

San Francisco Days

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Four years after "Heart Shaped World", Chris Isaak returns with a brilliant collection of songs that overall has a more "upbeat" mood than his previous records.

From rousing rockers to heartfelt ballads and even a couple of jazz-flavoured tracks, this is easily Mr. Isaak's best album. His natural sense for melody is even more evident on this record than the previous ones. Among the best cuts are "Can't Do A Thing (To Stop Me)" and "Two Hearts", which has an irresistibly catchy melody, and a vocal delivery that pays tribute to Roy Orbison, complete with flawless high notes. The jazzy "5:15" has a great smoky vocal and bass line. "Lonely With A Broken Heart " sounds uncannily like Elvis Presley, and "Solitary Man", the only cover song on the album, sounds better than the Neil Diamond version.This is one of those albums where every song is nothing short of excellent.

"San Fransico Days" is a brilliant album and a as much a classic as "Rumours" or "Band On The Run".

I bought all of his Cds in one fell swoop last year. Listened to most of them once and got so hooked on Baja Sessions that I didn't spend much time on any of the others.

Well, I went back and relistened to the rest and am very glad I did.
This album rocks, and it's definetly one of my favorites.

San Franciso Days, Beautiful Homes, Two Hearts,
Except The New Girl, Waiting, and I Want Your Love are all classics.
This one is in heavy rotation here in my home office, and it truly does get better with each listen. Kudos to the musicians that back Chris up - I'm getting closer and closer to taking up guitar thanks to wanting to play along while I listen!

Chris Isaak took a four year workup between his breakthrough "Heart Shaped World" and "San Francisco Days," and used that time to hone a very cool collection of songs. He also allows a few new elements to seep into the songs. A strong example is the rhythm machine that accents the rock-a-billy guitars of "Round And Round." He also gained new confidence as a singer, pouring even stronger vocals than before into songs like "Two Hearts," which evoked Roy Orbison as flawlessly as ever. "San Francisco Days" also finds Isaak in a more flirtatous mode. Instead of all the angst and heartbreak, there is some playful teasing in "Except The New Girl" and "Lonely With A Broken Heart."

For those that got hooked on Isaak via the success of "Wicked Game," there is "Can't Do A Thing To Stop Me." While certainly not as dark as "Wicked Game," Isaak still sends his shimmering falsetto heartbreakingly over a hypnotic mid-tempo melody and a mysterious sounding organ base. Just as effective in the high lonesome mode is, oddly enough, the CD's lone cover. Isaak outdoes Neil Diamond on "Solitary Man," completely understanding the song's unhappy retreat into reclusion.

"San Francisco Days" was a slight step back from the intensity of "Heart Shaped World," but follows Isaak's musical game plan pretty effectively. It's Isaak's most "California" sounding disc (followed closely by "Baja Sessions"), and a unique disc from a unique artist.

After the belated surprise success of Heart Shaped World, Chris Isaak let four years go by before following that album up. The wait was worth it as San Francisco Days is a magnificent collection of retro-rockers from the king of brood. The title track opens the album with a country flavor, while "Beautiful Homes" explores envy and heartache. "Two Hearts" is a pretty little number and "Can't Do A Thing (To Stop Me)" has a languid, dreamy sound with Mr. Isaak finding the higher end of the vocal scale. "Except The New Girl" has a nice steel guitar passage and "Waiting" is a mournful moaner. "5:15" chugs along with a pulsating guitar and Neil Diamond didn't write "Solitary Man" for Mr. Isaak, but no one has covered a song that was more appropriate for them than this. "Solitary Man" is classic Isaak and he sings it with the verve and it closes this great album on a perfect note.

I didn't get this album until years after it's release, but I'm glad I have it now. I wouldn't say it's better than "Forever Blue", but I like it as much as "Heart Shaped World". "San Francisco Days" and "Beautiful Homes" are both great songs, and I like his cover of "Solitary Man" too. But the gems of this disc are "Two Hearts", which was also on the "True Romance" soundtrack, and the ultra-smooth "Can't Do A Thing (To Stop Me)". Overall this is definitely a must for the fan, at least until he has a "Best Of" anyway.

I became a fan of this guys music back in '89 and have been continually impressed with it. San Francisco Days, I feel, is his best work. Variety, quality and depth are the key words for this cd. He shows exceptional range on this disc. He really shows an understanding of American music in it's most fun and inventive nature. Not since Jack Karoack has another American artist captured the vastness and variety of our national character in this way. I highly recommend this cd as well as Forever Blue.

Chris Isaak. This CD moves you With a big moooooove. So groovy that it hurts your`e soul. The opening track San Francisco Days, it`s an uptempo smooth soul rocker, with plenty of passion. The voice of Chris Isaak is like a "cool off" when you feel too much chills and trills in your body. Just pure magic. Track 2 Beautiful Homes, is also an uptempo rock and roller. This is more ordinary in the musical departement, but his voice brings the power to the whole adventure. Track 3 Round "N" Round
has a touch of "woodoo hoodoo" feel over it`s, but it` spinns into not too clever directions as a whole,but certainly moody enough. Track 4 Two hearts is a heartful song With enough passion to bring you down,down on youre knee begging for more. The etnic latino touch helps a lot. Track 5 Can`t do a thing( To stop me) is more average at Isaak standard, but the feel, the grove, oh yees. Everything is solid craftmanship. Track 6 Except The new girl is more like an uptempo "country rocker" that shines
on every "blue note". Track 7 Waiting is a minor let down. More slow and sometimes gives you a more insignificant feel over the whole musical experience. Track 8 Move along brings you deep,deep down, and yeees you can feeel it. Eargaasm !. Track 9 I wan`t your love is an uptempo rock&roller that knows it roots,. It has the right touch of "rockabilly feel" and greatness certainly shines on this one. Track 105:15 is way deep down with a "blue Cold "atmosphere sparkles all over. Track 11 Lonley with a broken heart, is a rock and roller with the right creative touches on the right places. Track 11 Solitary man is a simple and ok song,. Quite god. Anyway Chris Isaak is the Candyking for earsmoothies so full of passion, so full of soul.

I have always liked Chris Isaak, but never bought anything by him. Then I fell in love with The Chris Isaak Show. I kept enjoying what he was playing on the show and I got San Francisco Days. I have listened to it nearly every day since I bought it. It is lush, beautifully sung and I can't get it out of my head. His vocal abilities, second only to k.d. lang, makes this one of my favorite albums. I plan to buy more.

Chris Isaak clearly knows a thing or two about broken hearts, unrequieted love, and lonliness. A cross between Elvis Presley, Bryan Ferry, and Roy Orbinson, Isaak plays the role of the "lovable loser," the hapless dude who just can't get the girl he loves. And if he does get her, he soon loses her to another guy. The underrated "San Francisco Days" revolves around this and other themes. "Can't Do a Thing (to Stop Me)" is a dreamy tale of romantic obsession, while "Solitary Man" is a great interpretation of the Neil Diamond original. Isaak's brand of music (country-flavored rock and roll) may not be in public favor, but this album is a great soundtrack to male heartbreak and longing.

Something - or somebody - good must have happened to Chris Isaak during the four years between "Heart Shaped World" and "San Francisco Days". Could it be he's happy now? Oh, there's still a melancholy feel to each tune - that's why I listen - even the upbeat title track, "San Francisco Days", and the outside looking in, "Beautiful Homes", make you think he might be smiling. But then he reassures us with the dreamy "Can't Do A Thing (To Stop Me)". This album exudes a hopefulness that "Heart Shaped World" didn't have - thank goodness - but here it works. Fortunately, Chris ends this set with a bittersweet rendition of Neil Diamond's "Solitary Man". Whew! For a minute I thought we'd lost him.