Most Helpful Customer Reviews
|
|
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A 90's gem., May 2, 2006
"Goodbye Jumbo" is one of the most overlooked classics of the 1990's. Karl Wallinger, formerly the keyboardist for the Waterboys, has created a cd that highlights his influences (the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Sly & the Family Stone, Dylan), but has managed to create his own distinct style. Unlike his first cd, "Private Revolution, which was a one-man show, he has enlisted the help of a three-piece band. There is a much more cohesive feel to "Goodbye Jumbo". It's a very complex, layered cd with lots of attention to detail. Wallinger is quite the perfectionist, but he proves that it's worth it.
Wallinger's heartfelt lyrics, coupled with overly catchy rhythms, drive this cd. He covers topics like the environment, love and religion, but keeps a very positive mood throughout the record. The sequencing of the songs is great and it creates a certain ebb and flow that makes the cd even more listenable. "Way Down Now" is quite possibly one of the best Britpop songs to emerge from England in the past 20 years. It was, along with "Put The Message In The Box", a minor college hit in the U.S., but unfortunately, never struck a chord with the mainsteam. Other outstanding tracks on the album include the opener, "Is It Too Late?", the sexy "Ain't Gonna Come Till I'm Ready", the upbeat "Take It Up", the haunting "When The Rainbow Comes" and the soulful "Sweet Soul Dream".
In addition to having hired a full band, there are also guest appearances by Waterboy's violinist, Steve Wickham, and Sinead O'Connor, who lends her vocals to the ballad "Sweet Soul Dream".
In a perfect world, everyone would know about World Party and Oasis would be a footnote in musical history. From beginning to end, it is one of the most consistent cd's I've ever heard. I enjoy it just as much now as I did when I bought it in 1990. This new, remastered version certainly bolsters the sound and I'm glad that I can hear even more of the nuances. This is definitely a cd that should be in every music lovers collection!
|
|
|
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Best Album That Radio Never Played, June 13, 2006
A friend gave me a tape of "Goodbye Jumbo" with the comment "This is the best album that radio never played." I gave the tape a listen and the more times I played it, the better and better it got. There are echos of other bands here, but that's NOT to say that World Party rips off other bands' sounds. I'm only saying that there's a "sound" that certain bands have that one can also find on this album....and that "sound" is good! "When The Rainbow Comes" got me hooked, but I grew into the rest of the tracks and now enjoy the whole work. The newly re-mastered CD sounds great (a heck of a lot better than that old tape) and I think those who enjoy good production work will appreciate this one. Okay, so you probably never heard any of these songs on the radio...neither had I. But trust me, you won't be disappointed by checking out what one of the other reviewers called "A 90s Gem."
|
|
|
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I still listen to this disc..., April 24, 2006
...after all these years. To me this is a classic. But someone with a better sense of musical analysis must review it in a more thorough manner. Or just take my word for it and enjoy.
|
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|
by World Party 
