Tag: music

audio review : Brown Eyed Girl ( song ) … Van Morrison

The only thing I dislike about this song; an ode to a Brown Eyed Girl Van Morrison used to have romantic and sexual relations with as a youth; is when he recites the “sha-la-la” song they used to sing. It serves as a sort of bridge or post chorus, but the song would be better without it.

Everything else, from the vocal melodies to the bouncy instrumentation they’re layered upon, sounds beautiful. I wonder if the Girl had the looks to match. Typically when a guy focuses only on a girl’s eyes, as Morrison does here, it means there’s not much else about her to compliment.

my rating : 4 of 5

1967

audio review : Brown Eyed Girl ( song ) ... Van Morrison

audio review : Mama Said Knock You Out ( album ) … LL Cool J

audio review : Mama Said Knock You Out ( album ) ... LL Cool J

“Don’t call it a comeback; I been here for years,” LL Cool J warns, “I’m rocking my peers, putting suckers in fear.” Why the battle rapper’s suddenly being coached by Marley Marl; the producer provides the music for every song here; as if he’s a member of The Juice Crew is anyone’s guess. They’re a good match though.

The album starting with a random jam about cars Boomin loud music instead of the go-hard title track comes across as an artistic blunder, though they’re two of its better cuts. Other highlights include Cheesy Rat Blues; a funny anecdote about going broke; along with the Ladies Love songs 6 Minutes Of Pleasure and Mr Good Bar.

my rating : 3 of 5

1990

audio review : Wonderful Christmastime ( song ) … Paul McCartney

The refrain of this Christmas anthem is indeed Wonderful. Paul McCartney seems to know it too as he reverts to it after every four, or is it two, bars of verse. That gives the song an odd structure in which the bridge is the longest bit.

Not that anyone at the party is paying attention to the structure of the song. Everyone’s too busy having fun, dancing and singing along. “The mood is right, the spirit’s up,” McCartney observes, “We’re here tonight and that’s enough.”

my rating : 4 of 5

1979

video review : Purple Rain

video review : Purple Rain

This could’ve been a good concert video. Instead the stage bits are repeatedly interrupted by what’s supposed to be a movie. The acting is porn bad; the only two real actors are Clarence Williams and Olga Karlatos as Prince’s dysfunctional parents; but the girls are pretty; Jill is my Apollonia; and the music rocks.

Of course the music rocks. This is a Prince movie and Purple Rain is his best album. The fictionalization of it is off-putting; for some inexcusable reason, his name is changed to The Kid; but its songs shine. Some are poignant enough to leave the ladies in tears. Perhaps the title is a metaphor for running mascara.

my rating : 3 of 5

1984

audio review : Purple Rain ( album ) … Prince And The Revolution