Stars Forever

Momus | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 24, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Le Grand Magistery
• ASIN: B00000JTBG
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #437,911 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Immortality for a price, October 10, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Stars Forever (Audio CD)

Patronage pop becomes high art with this collection of musical portraits. Momus found himself in a bit of a legal bind recently, and while it's been settled, he needed to raise some cash to pay the bills. Hence 30 commissioned works, each for $1000, to cover the debt.

But far from just the obvious sell out, it's an amazing collection of images, representing a small cross section of his most dedicated fans. Each carefully crafted to reflect the best side of each of his subjects, sometimes hinting at the complexity of each character, but always leaving the listener wanting to hear more.

And my favourite? Stefano Zarelli draws me in, and I've known Adam Green's desire to be someone else, but Mika Akutsu is the one I'd most like to meet for ice cream in Covent Garden.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pleasant, personal inanities make for quite an epic., April 1, 2000

By 

"omniscientfool" (Beijing, China) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stars Forever (Audio CD)

Trading his ironic self-indulgence for feigned generosity, Momus has crafted a millenial time capsule with these none-too-flattering portraits. Circumstances aside, the silly yet adept arrangements could probably stand on their own as Air-esque easy listening upgrades, but Momus' garrulous treatises add an infinite and almost too intelligent (charmingly so) slice of humanity. Certainly among the greatest concept albums of all time, the listener will laugh out loud and be horribly offended repeatedly within a single (and almost any) track. This deserves to be among the unappreciated classics of Zappa and Beefheart, and one doesn't get a chance to say that very often. A must for bitter, pessimistic cynics (college students and starving artists).

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You can be a star for just $1000!, June 4, 2001

By 

"mooghead" (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stars Forever (Audio CD)

While the idea takes some getting used to (the hilariously awkward episode on Cheers where Woody sings "Kelly" springs to mind whenever one mentions "Song Portraits"), this album exceptionally delivers it's concept and gives you a witty portrait of the 30 odd patrons who doled out $1000 to become immortalized on "Stars Forever". Songs range from the usual Momus decon-baroque brit-pop, to daring pirate jigs, Ennrico Morrone soundtracks, Carptenersesque ballads, rap, and vaudeville. His lyrics of course - are aspects of his subjects - some mysterious and some telling, some ironic and a few just plain endearing... all of them are very compelling to listen and read along with.

Included are the Karaoke contest winners and a 21 minute interview with Momus discussing the concept. While I could have done without the former - the interview serves as a good, comprehensive liner-note in his original thought behind much of the songs.

Seriously disregard the Rough Guide dismissal - this album is pretty groundbreaking in it's approach as consumer-driven avant-guarde art form.