Customer Reviews

Tiger in the Rain

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have been a fan of Michael Franks almost since he appeared on the scene in my hometown of San Diego. It has always been difficult to get rougher-edged friends to give him a chance as his voice is not particularly masculine (though, oddly enough, totally suited to the material) and his style is so suave and sensual that it must threaten their manhood. Amongst those unwilling to listen, "elevator music" is the kindest evaluation and "he sounds gay" the harshest. Neither is true. Occasionally Franks comes up with a really silly song but much of what he writes is really deep, sensitive, sensual, and clever. You just have to be willing to listen. I choose Tiger in the Rain as my first review of Franks' music as it is the most widely known if not the best of his earlier works. Sanpaku is a song that a co-worker described as something you might hear in K-Mart. That's accurate on a superficial level but just listen to the words. He's singing about love rescuing him from the quicksands of drug abuse. Sanpaku is his name for a drug-shrouded fantasy world. Franks' skill with words is evident throughout the album. I like every song with the exception of the title cut. Living on the Inside and Hideaway are sly slaps at the yuppie lifestyle that Franks surely lived. Jardin Botanico is an almost obligatory nod to Brazil where his idol Antonio Carlos Jobim was in residence. Franks deftly gives it a warm samba touch. Underneath the Apple Tree is a very sophisticated and sexy song with understated musical tension, some luscious flute solos and horn interludes, and lyrics that smolder with sensuality. Think Franks sounds gay? Then listen to Satisfaction Guaranteed. Anything more explicit would be crass. Want romantic? Then listen to Lifeline, in which Franks couches his rescue from a life adrift in nautical terms. Michael Franks' music is obviously not for everyone but if you are musically openminded and appreciate lyrical as well as musical virtuosuity, then you should give him a try if you have not already done so. Listening to Tiger in the Rain is an incredibly relaxing experience. By the way, that co-worker I mentioned earlier, a big, rough, coarse country boy from Arkansas eventually came to like a number of songs on the album so much that he forgot his "K-Mart" remark about Sanpaku and acquired his own copy of Tiger in the Rain.

The title of this review?? Inspired by the overall feeling of this album. Michael takes his usual poetry and wordplay lyric, his light vocal delivery, hands over arranging and production to John Simon who in turn adds cooing female background vocalists, making "Tiger In The Rain" the first Michael Franks album to feature other singers and tops the arranging off with what could be best described as big band orchestra. The result is beautiful. Michael is in a good mood here, singing about apple trees and guaranteeing satisfaction all the while surrounded by full horn and woodwind sections. One of my favorite tracks is the title track "Tiger In The Rain." The lyric is a tale about an unmarried couple living in the jungle befriending a frightened tiger afraid of thunderstorms, the song was inspired by a painting; it's featured on the album cover. The vibes solo on this song really sets a great mood. This body of work is another one of Michael's singular themes as far as musical arrangement, he doesn't return to this sound at all, another aspect to how this album stands out on it's own.

This was the album that I...uhhhh...lost something to. How's that for being vague? Like I mentioned in my 'Art of Tea' review, I was introduced to Michael Franks by my girlfriend at the time. She was my sleepy-eyed girl in my throw away world...she was someone who unknowingly taught me the gifts of compassion, grace, and beauty and she did it not only through the things she was and did, but in the things she wasn't and didn't do and in between the seen and the unseen, the doors of love always seemed to be open even if I, just a kid at the time, didn't always realize it.

I listen to this collection of songs now and I finally "get it". I finally get what she was trying to say to me. I finally get the wisdom that laid quietly behind the veil of appearances. I finally get that beauty always stands and waits for us to notice it.

This album is such a jewel in my collection. I keep it close. Literally as well as figuratively. Not because now I'm just a nostalgic old fool, but because it gently reminds me that true beauty is not flash and glitz, true beauty is simple, understated, often overlooked and for those of you who feel overlooked and passed by, do not give up because Love has not given up on you.

If you are looking for something to soothe the wounds that we encounter along this journey, I suggest this CD. Its healing balm will soak deep into your soul and truly make you understand that Love is forever no matter what the appearances may look like.

Tiger in the Rain is as exotic as the Rousseau jungle landscape on the cover. On track 1,Franks finds himself in a tropical paradise(Sanpaku)but it's temptations prove too much and he has to leave.He spends Christmas in Brazil(Jardin Botanico-Track 5),where he takes refuge from a rainshower under the leaves of a Banana tree. Succulents in pots surround Franks in his backyard on the rear cover shot. Great musical support too from Flora Purim,Rick Marotta and Mike Mainieri.The latter's Vibraphone solo on the title tune is worth the price of admission. Tiger in the Rain is as cool as Equatorial rain.Play it on a humid night and chill out!

This album I consider to be Michael Franks masterpiece. The way he makes use of the words and music let emerge incredible pictures. His voice is like one ogf an angel. With each listening this record unfurls more virtue for me. He is the king of melancholia.

This is one of my favorite records. Mellow and to the point. Sexy, seductive and lingers long after the music stops.

Forget the esoteric reviews. If you're listening to this album with a woman and she doesn't melt in your arms before the end, then there is something wrong with her...or you. It's also the perfect album for slowly sailing or cruising on the water.

"Tiger in the Rain" is an excellent song! I can't add anything to what

has already been said. Mr. Franks represents quality in his muscianship

and command of the medium that is music. Five stars for the CD,

"Tiger in the Rain"!

Conocí a Michael Franks a través de la radio con este álbum hace ya más de 25 años. Compré una cassette que, con el tiempo, perdí. Un día, milagrosamente, encontré en una tienda de discos este LP, que pude comprar justo con todo el dinero que llevaba en los bolsillos. No me sobró nada y tuve que regresar a casa a pie. Desde ese comienzo, Tiger in the rain, y, por extensión Michael Franks, forman parte de mi vida, de mi esencia como persona. He comprado todos los discos suyos aparecidos hasta ahora, y la edición de uno nuevo es siempre para mí motivo de alegría. Nunca me decepciona. Pero en los momentos claves de mi vida vuelvo al Tiger in the rain, disco que entronca directamente con lo más íntimo de mis sentimientos y con lo más dulce y agradable de mis recuerdos del pasado. Es un disco excepcional, una referencia absoluta en cuanto a CALIDAD, la de una música hecha con gusto, con delicadeza y con un estilo irrepetible.