Customer Reviews

There Goes The Neighbourhood, Pt. 1

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CD 1 of a 2-part set. Tracks are: 1. "There Goes the Neighborhood" (radio edit #1) 2. "You Always Get Your Way" (non-LP track) 3. "Hard To Make a Stand" (Live).

Though not one of her best recent songs, "You Always Get Your Way" has a laid-back, country feel that is entertaining to hear Sheryl tackle. Although if this song were on the CD, I might not like it as much next to such great songs as "My Favorite Mistake" and "Am I Getting Through".

There are an awful lot of live versions of the songs from "Sheryl Crow" out there and "Hard to Make a Stand" on this single is no better or worse than any of the rest of them. The bonus track is what makes this a worthwhile purchase.

A recent rediscovery of Sheryl Crow's music has made me appreciate it more than I think I ever did. This time last year I was besotted with the woman, but then throughout this year as I explored different artists such as Bjork and Tori Amos, she kind of faded into the background. However, I popped in her self-titled sophomore album the other week and was thrilled to rediscover that the freshness of her music has survived until this very day from way back in the mid-90's. That second album followed the multi-platinum "Tuesday Night Music Club," and contained some of Sheryl's most recognisable hit singles, such as "Home," "A Change Would Do You Good," "If It Makes You Happy," and the evergreen "Everyday Is A Winding Road."

A year later Sheryl returned to the music scene with her third album, entitled "The Globe Sessions." It didn't sell as much as her last two albums, but fans agreed that it was her strongest material to date. This is most evident on the singles that were released from it. The first single from the album was "My Favorite Mistake," and the follow-up to this was "There Goes The Neighborhood." This is a rather interesting Sheryl Crow song because a lot of people like it, but then again, a lot don't. I kind of fall down the middle, because whilst I think it's got a great funky catchy beat, it's a bit dated and kind of drab.

The song opens with a strange sound that reminds me of a radio station trying to tune in, we then hear an argument between two men which fades out as some funky clapping starts. The first verse then begins as Sheryl sings, "Hey let's party, let's get down, let's turn the radio on this is the meltdown. Get out the camera, take a picture, drag queens and the freaks are all out on the town. And cowboy Jane's in bed. Nursing a swollen head." Sheryl then sings the first chorus as the trumpets start to play, "Sunshine Sally and Peter Ustanov don't like the scene anyhow. I dropped acid on a Saturday night just to see what the fuss was about. And there goes the neighborhood."

The catchy clapping then starts again and Sheryl sings the second verse, "The photo chick made to look sickly is standing in her (...)in the shower. She plays the guitar in the bathroom while the police dust her mother's plastic flowers. And Schoolboy John's in jail. Making a killing through the US mail." Sheryl then sings the chorus again before the trumpets break out for a funky instrumental. This is my favourite part of the song. It then slows down and the clapping starts up again with the trumpets as Sheryl sings, "This is the movie of a screenplay of the book about a girl who meets a junkie. The messenger gets shot down just for carrying the message to a flunkie. We can't be certain who the villains are 'cause everyone's so pretty. But the afterparty's sure to be a wing-ding as it moves into your city."

Sheryl then sings the chorus a few more times before a saxophone that is so predominant in this song plays it out. Bobby Keys plays this and I must say he is very good! Overall this is a very good Sheryl song and one of my favourites from her third album. It's not amazing and does get a bit boring after a while, but I'm sure you can overlook this and seek out the best in this funky rock pop song!

"There Goes the Neighborhood" was one among several great singles released from her 1998 "Globe Sessions" album. The "A-side" is probably the closest Crow ever came to the sound of the Rolling Stones ( Exile on Main Street ). Great rocker and a live favorite.

"Straight to the Moon" is a rare ( and fine ) non-album track - very similar to "Resuscitation" - but with completely different lyrics.

"My Favorite Mistake" is an acoustic live-version!