What's Wrong With This Picture?

Van Morrison | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 21, 2003)
• Original Release Date: 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Blue Note Records
• ASIN: B0000A55GR
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (57 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,942 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #34 in Music > Imports > Classic Rock
  • #47 in Music > Imports > Pop
  • #62 in Music > Rock > Roots Rock

Track Listings

1. What's Wrong With This Picture

2. Whinin Boy Moan

3. Evening In June

4. Too Many Myths

5. Somerset

6. Meaning Of Loneliness

7. Stop Drinking

8. Gold Fish Bowl

9. Once In A Blue Moon

10. Saint James Infirmary

11. Little Village

12. Frame

13. Get On With The Show

Editorial Reviews

Must have.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars What's Wrong with these Reviewers, December 1, 2003

By 

Ed (The Nation's Capital) - See all my reviews

This review is from: What's Wrong With This Picture? (Audio CD)

Another 18 monthes, another very solid effort from the old jelly roll.

It's easy sometimes to take Van Morrison's impeccable professionalism for granted. Yet year in and year out, he continues to produce endearing records with style, grace and occasional verve. But its his inimitable baritone that embraces the listener with the warmth of a hug from an old friend, which is what it is.

I note that most people grow tired of his dour outlook on the music business, but I've always found his observational material quite forthright and often witty. Imagine still being dogged after all these years with the constant demand to assume his media-created role as Irish mystic or oracle, just because he recalled Yeats or Beckett with his poetic adventures on Astral Weeks. Its got to get tedious for him after awhile, and he has always steadfastly refused to play the games of others. Thus his perspective of such issues is as wry as Roger Waters or David Byrne, among others. The title track, "Fame", "Goldfish Bowl" and "Too Many Mythes" should be taken in this vein. In fact, on "Goldfish Bowl" he seems to reject the TV lifestyle of Ozzy Osbourne more than himself.

The jump blues of "Whining Boy Moan" and "Stop Drinking" are infectious, whether it be the fat brass or the rockabilly guitar. But its Van's enthusiasm that carries these numbers.

His vocal phrasing proves once again why his voice is a musical instrument, particularly towards the end on the "Meaning of Loneliness", and to great effect with the melody of "Get On With the Show".

My favorite moment occurs on "Little Village", which is one of those numbers that Van often comes up with that separates himself from his contemporaries. When he sings "Way up on the mountain, with you by my side" it recalls those intimate moments that he conjures up on songs like "Ancient Highway", where the "beams from the cars on the overpass shine, just like diamonds in the night"; or on "Take Me Back" when he wistfully describes the "big boats go sailing by, by, by..."

We all buy Van Morrison records to hear our guy have Van Morrison moments. This record has its share, which is why his fans should own it.

35 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Let Him Rant, Rave On, November 11, 2003

By 

"ncodyjapan" - See all my reviews

This review is from: What's Wrong With This Picture? (Audio CD)

The Man has a Golden Voice. Is there another singer over 55 who sounds this ebullient? If compared with other singer/songwriters I admire, like Bob Dylan and Tom Waits, Van shows hardly any wear from his Inarticulate days. And that was 20-some years ago.

But let's not dwell on the past. Some reviewers argue he complains too much in his lyrics about fame. Well, I don't necessarily see him talking about himself. The whole music industry, by peddling PERSONA instead of music, is the culprit. That fact that Van isn't as big as other "celebrities" just proves the point. Why are all those other shells on the cover of Rolling Stone? What's wrong with this picture?

Hearing this album through headphones-- a new-found joy for me-- I don't care if Van sings the alphabet, his voice is spine-tingling. And that chuckle in the title song, a slip of some kind, just shows that others take Van more seriously than he ever would.

Rave On!

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars His Vanness Returns To (Great) Form, October 21, 2003

By 

D. Sean Brickell (gorgeous Virginia Beach, VA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: What's Wrong With This Picture? (Audio CD)

First, let's get the negative outta the way: not even Van Morrison can live up to his reputation as one of music's most justly celebrated artists. I, for one, don't hold his past triumphs against him when measuring his current artistry.

That said, this is a great return to form for His Vanness. Yes, he has achieved almost diety status amongst the faithful. And they should be more than pleased with this CD. It far surpasses Mr. Morrison's past several releases in multiple ways -- performance, songwriting, inspiration, production.

Three tracks specifically, "Meaning Of Loneliness," "Once In A Blue Moon," and "Little Village" are genuine Van Morrison classics-to-be. The rest of the CD is consistently very, very good. I wish I could have awarded it 4-1/2 stars here.

There are only a few artists I continue to really care about, and Mr. Morrison ranks at the top. When a CD like this arrives, I remember why I continue to have faith and love for the music.