Customer Reviews

Take It From the Man

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I have been a Huge fan of the Dandy Warhols, the Warlocks and the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club for years. I have been aware of the BJM for as long and its connection to the above mentioned bands. But until a week ago I owned no BJM.

I was a fool.

There are so few records in one's life that change the fundamental way you listen to music. For me Rundgren's "Something/Anything" in '74, the Sex Pistols "Bullocks" in '77 and Big Star's "Sister/Lover" in 1990 (OK I was late on Chilton too) were a couple of the seminal life changers for me.

Now I must add Anton Newcombe and the BJM's "Take It From the Man."

I have had "Take It..." for a week now and can't even move on to the other three cd's I purchased by the BJM in my small effort to catch up with this genius. This record is just UNBELIEVABLE! Anton Newcombe & the BJM in general and this record specifically are a HEAVY throw back to the jangle and soul of 60's Psycheledic Rock.

You've probably heard this before about BJM. But DON'T get bogged down in thinking this band is only about making retro music or that they are an anachronism. They are not! Newcombe, Hollywood and the rest use VERY MODERN tools to make this music while not getting pigeon-holed by Digital Technology. This record is truly Out of Timeless!

If you're like me and have heard all the critical praise for BJM and just haven't gotten around to buying their music, then do what I've done and BUY, BUY, BUY!!! And start HERE.

This is probably my favorite BJM release...they bounce back and forth between Stones, Beatles, and Bowie homage-parodies without a hitch.

To say the singer stinks is to misunderstand what it's all about. He captures the swaggering, self-absorbed, heroin-addicted brit quite well. Tracks 5 through 12 are a non-stop ride through the late 60's/early 70's.

If you take the trip, be sure to say hi to "Keef" before lead singer Anton kills him on (the channeled) Brian Jones' behalf.

real rock music is messy, deranged, and often angry. the trick is making it fulfilling to listen to, which bjm does with each successive record. they somehow drench their tunes in great moody noise, while keeping all the traditional elements needed for groovy rock songs. great songs that sound like people making them are hard to come by, and these guys hit it every time. thanks for the alternative to creed and linkin park.

Let me preface this by saying that this is one of the most amazing albums I have ever heard. It is Newcombe in his finest hour. After downloading B.S.A. and the ode to Davis Bowie I switched off my computer and went straight to the record store. It was the best fifteen dollars I ever spent. Cabin Fever is purely tragic, and Straight Up and Down is possibly the best song of the 'psyche-pop' genre. You should get yourself a copy of this album. Its worth it.

I think that this album rocks and not only because of the music, but the attitude as well. The Jonesers hit the nail on the head with the title of the album. It seems like this is the album the record producers want to see, but they do it in such a way that they are really mocking the system and its evil forces. Long live the free!

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: It is hard to believe that a documentary can draw me to buy the rest of a band's catalog, but BJM is that good and I am ashamed and humbled to be catching up. This album is no exception. Take It From The Man has 18 tracks that fly by faster than you want them to. The BEST is MONKEY PUZZLE (wow, needs more cowbell), yet there are so many tracks that provide the love you have for a man that has made a living making psychedelic and drug music better. This is a trademark album of their collection without question, capturing the influences and lifestyles that motivate the world of BJM.

This album and "Their Satanic Majesties' Second Request" (an utterly different but utterly complimentary record) are the best rock records I've come across in a hell of a long time. A little sprite of a girl tried to turn me on to BJM at the time of "Methodrone" and it just didn't take. 15 years later, a tight re-edit of "Straight Up and Down" is the theme to HBO's 20s gangster drama "Boardwalk Empire" and noting that got me to buy the three amazing records BJM put out in 1996 (the third one is "Thank God for Mental Illness," also essential). I haven't listened to much else since. Newcomb (and Matt Hollywood) have an unsteady genius for channeling the past into some kind of messed-up now that is absolutely uncanny. The first time I listened to this album I broke out laughing about eight times at how perfectly this band echoes classic themes and structures from 60s Britrock without copying anything by anybody.

Not that anyone knew it, but in 1996 BJM was the best rock and roll band in the world. Just buy this.

So claims Anton Newcombe, brainchild of BJM. I think perhaps Anton is Brian Jones reincarnate. As vividly depicted in the documentary DIG! Anton is one of those rare tortured artists who creates brilliant music and sings of love and freedom, but is incapable of experiencing it himself. Most of the truly legendary music indeed comes from people who struggled with egomania, addiction, self-destructiveness, etc. BJM is instantly associated with early Stones and The Who. Their sound is pure and beyond the grasp of the formula Top 40 commercialization of the recording industry. These early albums are instant classics and timeless. If you want 100% organic rock and roll buy this and other BJM CDs.

this has to be one of my favorites from bjm. i love it. i listen to it all the time. and i highly recomend it to anyone who loves music.

Anton is a true genius of the Syd Barret/Rocky ericsson styleee! refreshingly beautiful rock from the 90s that sounds so familiar and cuts through one like a knife and leaves you wanting more, everyone should own a little bit of the BJTM. nothing has sounded better while high 4 a long time. play it over and over again, never tire of Antons beautiful lyrical madness and buy more..its all good man.