Subtlety & Passion

Robert Lamm | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 7, 2003)
• Original Release Date: 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Blue Infinity
• ASIN: B0000DJZ9B
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #104,388 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lamm's Latest a Hit, January 19, 2004

By 

J. Conrad Guest "J. Conrad Guest" (Northville, MI United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

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This review is from: Subtlety & Passion (Audio CD)

Subtlety and Passion, the fourth solo effort from one of the original members of the group Chicago, is Robert Lamm's best work to date. Filled with subtle nuances and ardor, the music is rich and the lyrics poignant, as Lamm reflects on midlife, looks back at youth, makes stinging observations of our way of life in this society, describes fatherhood, and pays tribute to former friend and musician Terry Kath. This CD offers a variety that's sure to please just about every listener, from hard driving rock and roll to pop to jazz to reggae. Oh yes, there are a couple of nice love songs, too.

Lamm is at his best when left to his own devices and ignores pop culture, and every cut on Subtlety is fresh, nothing is formula. Lamm thumbs his nose at the recording industry establishment, doing it his way, and he is to be applauded for doing so, and applauded also, for the result: not a single cut can be considered B-side. Commercial? Perhaps not, but in this reviewer's ears, it is precisely Subtlety's lack of commercial appeal that I find most appealing. Most of the other members of Chicago lend musical support, yet the result is not the Chicago sound of the 70s or 80s (the horns are much warmer, less brash than Chicago), but is distinctly Robert Lamm, who's vocals never sounded so good. My only criticisms are the mix, which sounds rather thin, and that a drum machine was used.

Outstanding cuts:

I Could Tell You Secrets-If I say I love you/No one else above you/In a world without romance/How would you know?

The Mystery of Moonlight-The mystery of a whisper/The mystery of the first time/And the mystery of life is the mystery of love/And I wonder how it slips away.

Gimmee Gimmee-Gimmee gimmee gimmee/Gimmee some award gimmee money gimmee something/Gimmee someplace in your hall of fame/Gimmee gimmee gimmee/Gold plated statues of an image I can pander to/Gimmee gimmee.

Another Sunday-I'm trying to believe dreams I had when I was young are still the same/Though time has passed/The dream has still remained.

For You Kate (written for his second daughter).

Intensity-this funky tune contains a guitar solo recorded years ago by the late Terry Kath!

You Never Know the Story (dedicated to Kath)-You never know the color of another's broken dreams/The ending of a love affair more costly than it seems.

It's a Groove, This Life-do we b--ch enough? Do we change enough? Is it full enough, this life?

Notable cuts: It's Always Something, Somewhere Girl and You're My Sunshine Everyday.

Highly recommended.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fine return to form., December 9, 2005

By 

R. Isherwood (Fort Collins, Colorado USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Subtlety & Passion (Audio CD)

I just picked this up (sorry I am late to the party). I am pleased to report that Bobby's songwriting chops are as fine as ever. This is the best "Chicago" album in many many years.
The night I purchased this CD, I listened to it 2 times and thought this is a good CD, but not one of the best I have ever heard. Well, repeated listenings only improves this CD and I am at the point I cannot get these tunes outta my head. I am very pleased that Robert has released this fine snapshot of where he is now musically.
I hear there will be new "Chicago" release of new material in 2006. (As fas as I am concerned, Terry Kath was the "heart and soul" of Chicago and they have never recovered from his untimley passing and I have not purchased a new Chicago album since "11"). I can only hope that Bobby contributes some new tunes, because he still carries the torch and is as valid now as he was for CTA.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Robert Lamm and Chicago Lives!!!, August 26, 2005

By 

Number Six (The Village (of Aurora, IL)) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Subtlety & Passion (Audio CD)

I'm a Chicago fan from the very beginning and I've truly missed not having a new Chicago LP to keep me enlivened. Well this album, though marketed as a solo effort by Robert Lamm,fills the bill nicely, thank you very much! I've been listening to this in my car ever since the day I received it in the Post. I will admit that this album is more of a Chicago album than most of the few minor efforts they've very infrequently put out. I class "subtlety & passion" with the likes of III, V, VI, X, XI and Hot Streets.

I'm not going to do a countdown of all the songs on the LP but will say that my favorites are: (#10)You Never Know The Story, (#11)It's A Groove This Life, (#6)For You Kate,(#5)Another Sunday, (#8)Intensity, and (#7)It's Always Something. The remaining tracks are very enjoyable but I could listen to the favorites just listed over and over tirelessly. As I've already said, I'm a Chicago fan and now you know where to find the best (non-titled) Chicago music currently available. So Robert, Peter, Walter, Lee, Jimmy, Greg, Larry, Jason and the rest, how about a new album?