Graffiti Soul

Simple Minds

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: W14 Music
• ASIN: B0027VDGI8
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #55,590 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. Moscow Underground

2. Rockets

3. Stars

4. Light Travels

5. Kiss and Fly

6. Graffiti Soul

7. Blood Type O

8. This Is It

9. Shadows & Light

10. Rocking In The Free World

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Featuring original members Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill (plus Mel Gaynor on drums and Eddie Duffy on bass), Graffiti Soul is Simple Minds' 15th studio album--the latest in a career spanning three decades. Following 2008's reissued The Best of Simple Minds, Graffiti Soul is the first album of new material since 2005. It has the roots of a traditional Simple Minds album, yet comes across contemporary and fresh. Universal. 2009.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great surprise, June 19, 2009

By	Korgull "Korgull" (Zurich) - See all my reviews

I just wanted to state that I was a Simple Minds fan in the mid eighties (faves: New Gold Dream, Sparkle In The Rain, Once Upon A Time) and then stopped listening to them because their subsequent efforts seemed overloaded with pathos and boredom, almost driving me to the edge of nausea, to be honest.
BUT! This record however grows and grows on me. Incredible, after all those years.
The songs are extremely well done pieces of powerful hymnal rock, made to move people in stadions, but for what they are, they're done with great sensibility, intelligence and power.
I love how the bass is quite prominent in the mix, that big, driving fundament along with Mel Gaynor's drumming, carrying the rest of the band.
I also love the hypnotic and sometimes dreamy overall feel of the music.
A real refreshing offering, and I listen to it every day since it came out.
The Simple Minds are back for real, and they even stand out as being timeless in all those modern periods of quick hypes and plastic music.
To be a little more polemic: no, don't bother comparing to U2, the Simple Minds have clearly overstripped them!

Lots of people need to buy this record, for lots of happiness.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A surprise from left field, September 15, 2009

By	David J. Shepherd (Orem, UT United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Graffiti Soul (Audio CD)

After their album CRY, I figured it was all over for Jim Kerr and friends.

Nonetheless, I grudgingly allowed myself to listen to BLACK AND WHITE 050505 and was surprised by three or four strong quality tracks. "If only they can keep it up..." I thought.

Well, here we are a few years later, and we have GRAFFITI SOUL.

I wouldn't call it a classic, but boy, it sure sounds great compared to the disappointments released by U2, Depeche Mode, and the Cure in their latest outings! That's right folks. Forget about SOUNDS OF THE UNIVERSE. Forget about NO LINE ON THE HORIZON. Forget about 4:13 DREAM. Put this in your cart, instead.

There are some great sounding, rockin' good tunes here. The types of songs that are perfect for play in your car. You can sing along with 'em, and you feel a bit of the old magic there. Contemporary sounding, yet a hint of nostalgia that makes you remember the days when Simple Minds were part of the buzz. It won't change your life, mind you, but it will get your toe tapping and take you away for a little bit, which is much more than I can say for most of the stuff on the three previously mentioned releases from some of the higher-profile 80's relics. Instead of trying to come up with something profound or artsy, the guys just decided to belt out some good, catchy songs of the type of seasoned quality that can only come from veteran performers who learned their trade the hard way without the benefit of American Idol or MTV. One of the best albums I've purchased this year, and my favorite release from any aged 80's group since PLAYING THE ANGEL from Depeche Mode back in 2005.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Best Simple Minds Album in Over a Decade!, June 22, 2009

By	Cole Lauber "Educator85" (Frederick, MD) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I was a huge Simple Minds fan during the 1980's and 1990's. I loved these albums: "New Gold Dream", "Sparkle in the Rain", "Once Upon a Time", "Street Fighting Years", "Real Life" and "Good News from the Next World". After that, I felt their muse or musical genious started to leave them. I enjoyed several songs on "Neapolis", (never released in the US), but I was severely disappointed with "Cry" and "Black & White". It seemed that they just weren't trying as hard. The advance buzz for "Graffiti Soul" was good however, so I decided to give it a try. This album is easily their best since "Good News from the Next World" and may even be better. The songs range from good to great. Just listen to the first three tracks and you'll be hooked!