Customer Reviews

Somewhere in the Sun

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

 

 

My first impression is of slight disapointment. The packaging of the disc is good but could be better - lyrics appear to be accurate and clear, photos are also good, but a band history etc could have been added.

It appears that the tracks have not been selected by the band but by a Japanese WB employee of some kind, and the track order is just not right. How could you include Johnny (new light) and In Places On The Run, and not have them running into each other as they appeared on the first album?

I was glad to find Please Please Please... but somehow prefer the instrumental version, sadly not included.

The biggest sins are omission of Gaby Says and Moving On, the latter being one of the best tracks on any album.

But here is where the root of the problem lies. The first album was so full of excellent tracks that not to include virtually all of them would be an error - but this is simply not possible and the 'Best of' must contain representative tracks from each album.

If I had been tasked with this compilation I would certainly have given it more thought and time but if this is your first glimpse of DA then enjoy the tracks but ensure you get the first album which is much close to perfection.

Nigel Blunkell

If you're mildly interested in The Dream Academy, view this CD as a "greatest hits" -- and not a reworking of the Dream Academy's music. If you like their music, start off with their debut self-titled album that is out of print in the US but can still be found in Europe and Asia.

I was disappointed in the song selection (as well as the order of tracks) because there are some B-side rarities, originally on the single 45s released in the mid- to late-80s, that are missing on this compilation. The best of these rare tracks, missing from the CD, is "Immaculate Heartache," (never released on any album) that I would have loved to have seen finally mastered onto CD.

These other rare gems include "Test Tape #3," "Heaven," and "Girl in a Million (for Edie Sedgwick)".

On a positive note, the extended version of "Life in a Northern Town" is an amazing mix that in my opinion, surpasses the radio (shorter) version of the original.

I'm not here to review this CD. I just wanted to let any serious fans of the Dream Academy know about two other projects that might be of interest, if only for the sake of trivia.

The first is "The Invisible Circus" film soundtrack--still available used here at Amazon. This was released around 2000, and the instrumental score (about 7-10 tracks) was composed by Nick Laird-Clowes. A few other Laird-Clowes originals are included under the guise of his recent band, Trashmonk. While the instrumental score tracks are fondly reminescent of the Dream Academy's folkish melodies, the Trashmonk songs are decidedly less relaxed (and didn't appeal much to me personally).

The other CD I wanted to note here is by a producer/DJ who goes by the name of Dario G. His CD, "Sunmachine," which is also available here at Amazon, is best described as pre-millennium electric anthems. It sounds a little like the music from Chicane's "Behind the Sun," only less trance-inflected. At any rate, the first track on "Sunmachine," is Sunchyme. This is only relevant on account of the song's base melody which derives heavily from Dream Academy's Life in a Northern Town, right down to the genuine inclusion of the chorus "Hey-oh-ma-ma-ma's." The original DA song isn't sampled quite enough for this to be a remix, but at the same time, Sunchyme contains so many elements of Life in a Northern Town, that it can't really be considered an altogether separate song. Anyone who might have heard this featured on a TV commercial for contact lenses a few years ago can now exhale. I, for one, am sleeping better now that I've found its source. The rest of Dario G's CD isn't bad either...given its age.

I hope this encourages someone out there.

Somewhere In The Sun is a welcomed addition to any 80s pop culture fan's collection. This is a solid selection of Dream Academy's best songs. Granted, Dream Academy had only three CD albums. SOMEWHERE IN THE SUN collects the best of those recordings and with the exception of several omissions from the band's debut album, this is near perfect. A DIFFERENT KIND OF WEATHER was disappointing. REMEMBRANCE DAYS was good. But, DREAM ACADEMY is a gem. A perfect classic which everyone should own. This BEST OF CD takes the best from the 2nd and 3rd CD albums and adds PLEASE PLEASE LET ME GET WHAT I WANT. Bottom Line: This is a fine start and perhaps a perfect Dream Academy CD, but one should definitely own the act's debut CD [DREAM ACADEMY] because it never misses the mark. No filler, just pure pop perfection.

I go this CD to get the Smiths cover basically (Please, please, please let me get what i want). If you have the other albums on CD, don't bother unless you really really want this song. It is the museum song from "Ferris Beuller's Day Off" but with the lyrics. I'd have rather had the dub version, it was better. But I do like Dream Academy. If you have nothing else on disc of them, get the debut instead. It's the best.

Even used, this album is going for over $20. Granted, it is an import, but it should still tell you something about the recording.

Somewhere in the Sun is a good overview of the combined output of The Dream Academy, and the only place I've seen the extra tracks they did for the movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Sure, there are quibbles over the song choices...I'd love to have seen The Edge of Forever on this compilation, but all in all they did a good job. I only wish DA had stuck around a while longer and put out more well written dreamy pop. They were a highlight of the 80's "New Wave" scene and their music still holds up well.

Are you kidding me? You can buy all three of their studio albums (their complete musical output) used for a grand total of around $20. Anyone who pays more than $25 for this album is a complete and utter fool.

Don't let the other reviews fool you. ANY DA song is a great song. I to was a little disappointed with the order of the songs but it doesn't take away from the appeal of any of them. Yes, the debut album was near perfect but it wouldn't be a greatst hits without work from other albums! If you are are a DA fan you need this album it captures the versatility, style, and pure musicianship of DA in one cd! "Hampstead Girl" is a simple but amazing song. "the Party" (accoustic) is excellent. "Love" is great with the extension. Buy it. NOW!