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It's 'elf' evident that this man knows how to compose. There are two distinctive classics here: 'Gratitude' and 'Only Makes Me Laugh'. Listen closely: the sound is uncannily Oingo Boingo meets The Fixx, and Elfman's voice has a certain mastery not evidenced before. 'Sucker for Mystery' shows Elfman's unconscious affinity with profound thinkers like G.K. Chesterton ('Orthodoxy') and JRR Tolkien ('Letters'). 'Everybody Needs' is very Lutheran in its approach to free-will (viz. we can't master or sublimate our natural desires), which is part and parcel of the spirit of rock 'n' roll. I find myself empathising with Elfman when he's in the 'Artist as Humanist' mode, rather than the 'Art as Destroyer' mode. To this day, songs like 'My Life', 'Fools Paradise', 'Private Life', et al, are ineffably superior in terms of art and sheer humanity, than his fatuous, surreal and 'non-serviam' material. Whether tragedy or comedy, secular or religious, art must impel us upwards and onwards, or it simply lacks it's raison d'etre. Without an inherent ideal for living, I watch countless artists merely chasing their tails in 'So-Lo' land. Why not take a leaf out of Jonathan Richmans' book?Read full review
Verified purchase: No
I am a fan of Elfman's music. Especially the movie music. I was not aware of the band that he was in when he was young, so I wanted to get this CD to check out his solo music. It was interesting, but it will be only to the liking of some people - but then, like art, all music is subjective. I enjoyed listening to it. I think that the production was very good.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Very happy with the fasts shipment, communication and quality of the CD. Rare Danny Elfman SoLo Cd...so happy!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
I'm a huge Danny Elfman / Oingo Boingo fan and am trying to complete my collection. And this fine album was on my "need" list. Let me tell you, this album is just one more example of why Danny is such an amazing song writer and performer. There are some hands-down GREAT songs on this collection, such as "Gratitude", "Everybody Needs", and the very ska-flavored "It Only Makes Me Laugh". The other songs are also fabulous songs, but be warned that they are pretty heavy on the synth and very "80's" sounding. If this is your bag, by all means, buy this album! If not, well, then you're probably not a Boingo fan anyway. ;)
The song "Gratitude" (be sure to youtube the video) really is enough to justify the purchase, utterly repeatable. As usual Danny does little to keep you in your seat, but some of the songs seem more subdued by Boingo standards where you'd expect a little more abandon on a solo. A warning and invitation: this has a very *80s* sound to it with noticeably more foreground synth.
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