Sleep It Off [Extra tracks, Import]

Cristina | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 14, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks, Import
• Label: Ze Records France
• ASIN: B0002XB9IW
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #376,489 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Such elegant decadence, October 19, 2004

By 

Pieter "Toypom" (Johannesburg) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Sleep It Off (Audio CD)

This rare and beautiful album from the prestigious Ze label has been re-released with 6 additional tracks, including the brilliant single Things Fall Apart. When Sleep It Off was originally released, a critic dubbed it "the real follow-up to Marianne Faithfull's Broken English." There are resemblances, but Sleep It Off is less bitter in its moments of despair and Cristina's tongue is often in her decadent chic. With strong melodies and memorable words, these songs resonate with timeless appeal.

Every track is unique, but The Lie Of Love and He Dines Out On Death have always been my personal favourites. The first is a devastatingly cynical portrayal of a successful urban couple, their weaknesses chillingly portrayed in poetic lines like "she does just takes lots of pills while he plays games that pay..." and "she gets the grey blues, he gets the mean reds." He Dines Out On Death tells of the social life of a young man after the death of his girlfriend and is a masterpiece of irony and cynicism.

Cristina's gripping version of Van Morrison's Blue Money also stands out and fits perfectly into the mood of the album, reflecting the theme of songs like Ticket To The Tropics and What's A Girl To Do with its reference to stained sheets. Of the new tracks, the unforgettable Things Fall Apart is still as poignant as when it was released 14 years ago. This heartbreaking story of a miserable Christmas is made all the more moving because of the deadpan vocal delivery and air of resignation.

The other new tracks are good too, both those from the original Sleep It Off sessions and the Compass Point tracks. Ze Records were famous for their mutant disco, but this is a pop-rock album through and through, with the possible exception of Things Fall Apart (although I cannot imagine anybody wanting to dance to such a sad song). Like Faithfull's aforementioned Broken English, this album has stood the test of time very well. I also highly recommend the Ze Records compilation Mutant Disco.

I wonder what the delectable Ms Monet-Paolozzi is doing now? It would have been impossible to equal this album, which had disappointing sales way back, so maybe she just left the music business. But Sleep It Off will forever remain a monument to her considerable talents, the ultimate manifesto of elegant decadence in rock music.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pure Decadence, January 9, 2005

By 

Mean Mr. Mustard "Mr. Kite" (manhattan nyc) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sleep It Off (Audio CD)

i originally owned this lp when it was released in the early 80's..i spotted its return on amazon...and quickly ordered it and its follow up lp......sleep it off is a jewel of an album all these years later...you want camp...listen to "dont mutilate my mink" that title alone tells you where this lady is coming from....sheer decadence...its a hybrid of early 80's new wave and dance rock music...it includes 6 extra tracks as well including prince's "when you were mine"...her version of kurt weil's "ballad of immoral earnings" is astonishing, besides a manic version of van morrison's "blue money" all other tracks were written by her and mostly don was...this album sometimes echos the early work of john cale as on the tune "rage and fascination" its obvious that this lp has really stood the acid test which is time.....and its done it a great fashion...her voice is cold and detached..her sarcasm is on the money..the song "he dines out on death" quite nicely sums up this absolutely brilliant album...the package also comes with pics never seen before and a very informative booklet...this album is a far cry from the christina(aguilera) of today...and therein lies the problem with the music of today...no "rage or fascination" umm where have i heard that before....buy this cd now...

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Awesome material...but...., February 17, 2005

By 

Thor Maillet (Waltham, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sleep It Off (Audio CD)

ZE messed with the original track order, and it doesn't flow like the original LP did. "Don't Mutilate My Mink" should have stayed as the opener. Also, it seems as if the sound quality is sub-par, maybe taken hastily from a slightly-worn vinyl. Interestingly enough, the bonus tracks (some) sound fine, as if they were taken from master tapes. Also missing is some of the intro from Rage & Fascination, which featured the speed of the song increasing slightly. I truly do appreciate having Sleep It Off available on CD and with bonus tracks, but coming from the original label...you would have at least expected them to use the master tapes for the reissues...