Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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42 of 45 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
THAT Robert Downey Jr., no way!, November 25, 2004
When I ran across this album my first thought was, "Robert Downey Jr.?" Surely not the Robert Downey Jr. who's a brilliant actor but noted drug addict? But, sure enough, it is. After listening to the sample clips off this album, I was intrigued enough to buy the album. And I'm pleasantly surprised: It's very good if you like (as I do) slow, introspective, lyric-driven, rock (somewhere between Sting and John Mayer?). Downey's bluesy voice is full and soulful and the result is surprisingly pure, honest and mature. Downey's piano-playing on ocassion reveals a slight echo of a Billy Joel-Elton John early 80s lick, but like his voice, songwriting and interpretation, his performance on the piano also is solid. His songwriting is honest and self-revelatory: he's a poet with more than rhyming skills. And spending time strung-out and in jail provides plenty of grist for him to work with. What a surpirse. Now I know.
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34 of 36 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautifully human "Futurist" was worth the wait, November 23, 2004
It begins with the pleasing musical simplicity of a solo piano. I hold my breath. Then his sensual, sumptuous voice washes over me -- "This is the night I've been dreaming of forever, the mirror takes a look at my face" -- and I smile. At first, I search for signposts in his words that will help me to connect the songs with the stark headline details of his life we all know. But then I let go and sink into the complexities that lie at the heart of his music. When it ends, and there is only the tap of rain on my window, I feel as if I have visited with Downey for a while in his own beautifully human universe.
For some of us who have been Downey fans since Less Than Zero and before, the wait for his first CD has been a long one. "The Futurist" is worth the wait. I'm old fashioned in that I think albums should be a whole experience: an interesting cover, liner notes, designed to be listened to from start to finish without interruption. After listening to "Futurist" for the last few hours, I can say that in my view it is a proper album, with a beginning, a middle and an end. It's direct and warm, emotionally and musically honest. The production doesn't disappoint. Each listen brings something new to my attention. But, it's a Robert Downey Jr. album, so along with the beauty and the genius, there are intriguing, subtle kinks and oddities.
Musically, Downey's clearly adept at genre skipping, at laying down his own richly textured path of musical expression. It is pop, but pop inspired with delicate jazz and blues flavours, and a sprinkle of classy soulful moments. Downey's vocal performances are a mix of fragility and strength, and they captivate. His voice moves comfortably between smooth as suede on the ballads, to a rock edginess, to a delicious smoky blues tone.
On the production, I have to say that in my opinion the gentler, more organic approach taken by Jonathan Elias suits Downey's music better than Mark Hudson's somewhat busy production style. But I confess to a bias in that one of my most treasured CDs is Elias's Prayer Cycle.
Downey's lyrics are strong and evocative. Sometimes he slips into the delightful wordplay that his fans have come to anticipate from his media interviews. The theme of transition prevails. He uses his songs to examine those shadowy times on the edge of love and redemption.
For now my favourite song is "Kimberley Glide," or then again "Little Clownz" and "Hannah" are really good, and there's "A Man Like Me" and "Details" to consider. And listening to "Smile" at the end of the album felt rather like opening a small velvet-wrapped present.
The creative arts always involve risk but Downey took a bold step when he committed to push at the edges of his musical competence, and create his first CD. I applaud his courage and spirit. "The Futurist" reveals to us all that as both an actor and a musician, Robert Downey Jr. is gifted, daring and imaginative.
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24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Robert Downey jr. The Singer!!, November 24, 2004
The first thing that hits you while listening to this cd is the unique qualities of Downey's voice. If you could mix up Bruce Springsteen, Joe Cocker, Tom Petty and a bit of Steely Dan you would have only the beginning. You need to add to this mix his own deep slightly raspy voice that is full of soul and raw emotion and you have what makes listening to this cd so compelling. His voice tells us right away that this a man who has gone through way too much life for someone his age. There is no hiding it and why should he. It is a voice that ranges from tenderness, to wistfulness, to anger, to hope and hopelessness and back again with all of the emotional terrain in between these stops. The lyrics are jazzy and remind me of the best of Beat Poetry. I keep changing my mind over my favorite song. There is a sense of remorse,loss, and nostalgia to "Kimberly Glide" that touches me over and over. The images are arresting and new such as "Cactus Angels". "Little Clownz" is fascinating with every listen. And "Hannah" just surprises me over and over with it's chord changes and harmonies. I love the title of this cd...The Futurist. There is a feeling of hope and optimism rising above the ashes of a difficult past. I can imagine sitting in a small club and listening to Downey singing these songs from his heart. Now that would be heaven.
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