Customer Reviews

Want That Life

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have been a die-hard Fixx fan for many years; listening to Reach the Beach album brings back memories of entering college in '82. This album is a solid entry for the band. Yes, I know it lacks the energy and punch of their great albums like Beach and Shuttered Room, but my tastes have matured and softened over 20 years...I don't really want them to try to "swing for the fences" with more tunes like Zero and Stand or Fall. I want creative lyrics, solid bass and guitar blended with catchy synth sounds, and most of the tracks on this album deliver. The best tunes are Touch, Are you Satisfied, Want that Life. You can throw-out Hollywood ending and a couple others. But this is a solid effort and I'm glad the band is still cranking it out after all these years. After seeing them live this past summer I've really come to appreciate Cy's voice and Jamie's awesome guitar talents.
I know this albut and any future releases will never make the top 40 or even get any air play, but in our current environment of rap and other garbage music, The Fixx is REAL music to my ears! Keep it coming guys!

The Fixx are still going strong over 20 years after thier debut release. While this will certainly not bring them back to the popularity they once enjoyed it certainly should but the industry being what it is today it doesn't really stand a chance because it is well-crafted, meaningful music. Let me run down the cuts for you:

1. Touch- touches of funk pepper a pop love song. Grabs you right away.

2. You Don't Have To Prove Yourself- Think "One Thing..." but mellower and more melodic. The best song on the c.d.

3. Are You Satisified?- A Bit plodding and too long. Still a decent song.

4. Want That Life- Excellent title track, very hummable.

5. We Don't Own The World- 2nd best song. Touches of World Music. If you like XTC's "Were All Light" you will love song.

6. No Hollywood Ending- Mellowist song of the bunch. Somewhat dark and brooding underneath the surface. A little too long

7. Staright Round the Bend- Good song, sounds a little familar but cannot put my finger on it.

8. Roger and Out- Think "Make No Plans" but a bit mellower

9. Taking the Long Way Home- Hmmm, sounds a lot like "Precious Stone". Still a good cut.

10. Way to end it. Sounds like nothing the Fixx have ever done before. Gerry Rafferty style saxes brings it home.

All in all some songs venture into familar territory but the Fixx remain vital and creative and Cy's voice has never sounded better and he puts his usual heartfelt emotion into each song. Not bad for a band that has been around 20 years.

The Fixx are still vital and creative, not a CD stuck on repeat. On Want That Life, you'll find the probing look at life's joys and ills you'd expect from The Fixx, showcased in a warmer, more introspective musical style. Standout tracks are Touch, You Don't Have to Prove Yourself, and Roger and Out, with the others being songs well worth repeated hearings.

It amazes me when people complain that "they don't sound just like Reach the Beach". If they did, the same people would complain that they DO. Over their 25 years, The Fixx have evolved - anyone who sees them live (they tour the US at least 3 times a year) knows they still rock. But like most artists who have integrity, they aren't content to repeat themselves just because they had some hits. This is a band that turned down several increasingly lucrative offers to appear on Hit Me Baby One More Time, because they believe the show doesn't allow them to showcase their true abilities. To lip sync to a clip of their hit, then have to do someone else's song as their live performance doesn't cut it. They aren't about pandering to an audience the same age as their kids - they're about making their own music.

Be fair to The Fixx - give this CD a chance on its own merits. It doesn't sound like Reach the Beach, but it does sound like The Fixx and it's really strong stuff. And if you catch them on the road, you might be lucky enough to hear some of their newest songs, not yet recorded in studio: "Everyone Believes" is features a gorgeous melody sung by Cy Curnin, then repeated to stunning effect by Jamie West-Oram with his usual perfect choice of tone, creating a floating effect augmented by Rupert Greenall's keys. "Remember Me When I'm Gone" will erase anyone's doubt that The Fixx can still rock out - this one drives straight ahead with a great tempo and harmonies. Check out www.thefixx.com for tour dates.

Hey Music fans!! Rejoice that the FIXX are here to stay! What a wonderful CD full of life and great tunes! From the hypnotic "touch" to the classic sounding "Roger and out", By far One of the Best new CD's of the year...and Probably ranks as one of the best Fixx CD's Ever! I recommend this to anyone who enjoyed the 80's to people looking for updated, and Fresh material...this one is worth the effort! Buy it, and Spread the good news!

I'm a casual Fixx fan who last bought 'Calm Animals' back in '89. Not even knowing the band still existed I caught them on a recent tour and picked up the new disc after the show. First of all, do yourself a favor and see the Fixx live. The band is nothing short of amazing live. If I'm not mistaken, 4 of the 5 original members are still in the band.

The new album is obviously more mature than their earlier work while still retaining the signature Fixx sound. There are at least a few top 40 hits here but sadly radio stations today would never take notice of such a quality release.

Want that Life easily makes my top five of 2003. If you enjoyed any of the old Fixx songs, pick this album up. It will not dissapoint.

This is a fine CD whose audience will probably be limited to Fixx fans only. Well, who else would even know it exists? It lacks any prominent songs to make the radio, and even if there were such songs, they probably wouldn't get played. The Fixx? They're still around?

Bands like this apparently have to eke out a living on the edge, and I would be surprised that they would carry on until you listen to the music. Obviously, this is what they like to do, and it shows. Apparently they plan on continuing to do it as long as someone will listen, or maybe even if not.

There are interesting parallels with another band about their age, Simple Minds. Both bands experienced a degree of popularity (Simple Minds more so, due to a song they didn't even write), and then continued for several more years producing fine work until faltering sales caused the major labels to say bye-bye. There followed a hiatus of several years in which an album was recorded, but not released, and after which a comeback album of sorts appeared to mixed reviews among the faithful. And of course, both bands are fronted by singers with characteristic voices, Jim Kerr and Cy Curnin, and elegant, thoroughly professional guitarists, namely Charlie Burchill and Jamie West-Oram.

In that sense, Elemental was no doubt the superior CD to Neapolis, and indeed "Silent House" is one of my favorite all-time Fixx songs. But both CD's were somewhat strained and uneven, and in the case of Elemental the latter-day Fixx funk didn't really work at all. And in both cases the two bands have produced a sophomore comeback that are much more relaxed and pleasant to hear, as if they got over the opening night jitters. The Simple Mind's Cry is a delightful CD with wonderful songs, nothing that stands out, just a consistent, competent set. Want That Life is quite similar, in a lighter vein more in keeping with the Fixx style.

This is not the first album you would want to share, if you were trying to convert someone to the Fixx. Nothing here grabs the attention in the way signature pieces from other albums have done. Instead the album flows along easily, one song to the next, snatches of prior Fixx themes and elements woven into a seamless whole. Cy Curnin is still in fine voice, and West-Oram is restrained and beautiful, as always. While Kerr and Burchill are all that's left of Simple Minds, the presence of Adam Woods and Rupert Greenall in the longstanding core of the Fixx is immediately apparent in the strong characteristic sound of the band.

For a Fixx fan, this is simply a welcome additional immersion in Fixx-land, capable of being played endlessy without losing its charm or freshness. That there isn't a "hit" song here is not a criticism, sometimes albums work best that maintain an even groove without peaks and valleys. Everything here pleases the ears, and the band should be congratulated for keeping their muse alive this long, not at all an easy thing to do. There are many more famous bands out there working the retro circuit that can still play, but haven't written a damn thing worthwhile in decades. The muse is fickle, but recently it seems to favor bands like Simple Minds, the Cure and the Fixx, who plug away after fame has fled, to the delight of their fans and I hope to the satisfaction of the souls and pocket books of the bands. If you have more music at least this good, carry on, gentlemen, we'll be listening.

I keep listening to this CD. It has surpassed my initial good impressions and has become one of the best albums I've bought in years. I do wish they'd put some more of their wierd guitar sounds back into their music. It's what made them really unique in the first place, but I can't really complain. :-)

It took a few listens to get the feel for this disc. Much like 1998's Elemental, I knew that this was an album that was going to grow on me. I'm definitely not disappointed by the album - the filler is minimized and the best songs warrant inclusion on a future anthology/greatest hits compilation (I'm sure there'll be yet another!).

I think this album is a step up from Elemental. The production is much better, Jamie's guitar work rivals that of their 80's output, and Rupert's keyboards are more up-front in the mix. The album is generally bright, upbeat, adult-contemporary album rock. I found myself comparing certain songs to their past albums. "Touch" and "Are You Satisfied?" are reminiscent of Elemental, whereas "Roger and Out" might very well be the lost track from Shuttered Room, and "You Don't Have To Prove Yourself" screams for the pop potential of "One Thing Leads To Another". "No Hollywood Ending", lyrically and musically, sounds like it could be another hidden track on the Walkabout LP. "Brave" re-introduces the sax to a Fixx song, last heard on "Don't Be Scared" (there is sax heard at the end of "Stand Or Fall", but it might be Rupert's breath module). "Want That Life" is a continuation of the groove found on the original version of "Going Without" from Happy Landings. "Taking The Long Way Home" sports some of Jamie West-Oram's most-pleasing guitar work on what is overall another successful and enjoyable Fixx LP.

The Fixx continue to remain my favorite band of all time since their first album in 1982. It's a shame that the general media now chooses to ignore this fine band. This album, plus all of their back catalogue, is highly recommended.

Still rocking 21 years after their debut disc, 1982's "Shuttered Room," the Fixx are back with a new album, "Want That Life," and it's excellent. The first pair of tracks, "Touch" and "You Don't Have To Prove Yourself," are two of the best songs the band have done in years, really catchy stuff with great hooks. But the rest of the album is solid as well, with more fine songs like "Are You Satisfied," the title track, "No Hollywood Ending," "Roger And Out," and "Brave." Although their time of hit singles and big record sales may be over, I'm thrilled that Cy Curnin and the rest of the Fixx are still making music. They're a great band, and their diehard fans, myself included, are still here for them. With "Want That Life," the Fixx are still going strong.

After ELEMENTAL and INK., which I found drab and uninteresting, I avoided getting anything new from the Fixx. I thought they were played out. But recently I finally bought the CD version of "Phantoms" and clicked on this one as well. Surprise! This is definitely moving in the right direction. Still sounds like their old stuff, but with a new perspective. I especially like the title track. I rank it on the same level as "Walkabout" -- not as good as "Reach the Beach" but still worth having in your collection.