Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
It's like Musical Prozac!, December 20, 2000
Last year, I had never heard of Jim Infantino, or Jim's Big Ego. I reluctantly agreed to go with a friend of mine to see the band at the Natick Cultural Arts Center...and fell head over heels in love with these guys. I've tried several times to describe JBE to friends, but they're difficult to pigeon hole. They roll from Rock, to Folk, to Rap, to Alterna-Pop and back again without batting an eyelash. Their lyrics are thought-provoking social commentary disguised as fluff that's fun to sing along with. Jim's Big Ego acheives a rarity in the music world - every song on this CD is worth listening to again and again and again. Check out a few of the clips, and then buy the CD with confidence.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Smarter than some reviewers ;-), January 29, 2008
The reviewer "A customer" has totally missed the point--of the band, of the Cd, and even of the band's name. This is a good illustration though: if you are someone who finds intelligent, clever, off-beat, and original tunes that are musically innovative and eclectic, then you won't like this CD. Likewise, if you are insecure enough that you need to attack people who are clever and original, you won't like this CD. If, on the other hand, you look around and see a lot wrong with society and you appreciate people who are able to critique it in a deep and effective way, you'll love it. "Stress" is indeed a brilliant send-up of the whole "I have to work myself to death" American mentality, but it is only the "high point" of the CD in that it is the closest in sound and style to top-40 pop. I guess if top-40 pop floats your boat, it's the best song. However, "After the Tornado" is a poignant and moving ode to "bad things happening to good people," while "Concrete" is an incredibly evocative song about the allure of unhealthy relationships. "Prince Charming" is an amazing "girl power" send-up of the traditional fairy tale, and "Los Angeles" is an eerie and haunting look at the insanity that is the City of Angels, but done through the lens of Infantino's own family history there. "Boston Band" is just plain funny, and "Postcard from Cariacao" is a great lilting travel tune with found lyrics from a real postcard. Nope, folks, this is not Britney Spears or even Green Day, but it is sharp, witty, thought-provoking, and at times beautiful. Give it a try. Why not?
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1 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Why?, July 14, 2002
By A Customer
My over-all impression was basically "if this is all they were going to do, why'd they even bother?" If I could, I'd give it 2.5 stars, but I found it too annoying to deserve 3.This album gets off to a good start, with Stress. Unfortunately, in my opinion, that's its highlight. I almost liked Angry White Guy, but he basically ruined it, by rapping like a white guy who's trying to sound black (especially with that poor excuse for a black twang). I have no problem with a white guy rapping - even one that sounds like a black guy - as long as he's good at it! Musically, the band sounded alright, but nothing extrordinary. In some cases, I'd listen to an entire track, waiting for something (musically) to happen - but it just never really got going. It sounded a lot like the average no-name band, which they even joke about, in the self-effacing Boston Band. But the real problem isn't there. My biggest complaint is that I didn't much care for the lyrics, which generally try to sound too smart, or vocals, which frequently sound a bit forced. Basically, I guess I just can't get past Jim's big ego.
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