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Elly Roberts reviews
Ryko
Rain (CD+DVD): 
Very Best Of:
- January 2008
- Rating: 6/10
- Format: CD + DVD
Joe steps out again, despite all the rain in Berlin.,
Written and produced by Joe Jackson, hes joined by drummer Dave Houghtonand bassist Graham Maby from his Joe Jackson Band.
Now a Berlin resident, the Dont You Know Its Different For Girls starhas clearly influenced singer-songwriters like American Ben Folds. Jackson hasconsistently rolled out material with a distinct jazz flavour, so nothingschanged. As youd expect its quite meticulous in every department, simplybecause hes playing with a couple of old hands: he knows how to get the bestout of them.
Having given it a good check out, its nothing more than your usual JJ albumwithout, surprisingly, a really good single opportunity in sight, like Steppin Outor Is She Really Going Out With Him.
All the songs run seamlessly totogether and its a pretty good listen though theres nothing special about itreally, maybe because hes elected to do a stripped back sound, and unless thesong writing is exceptional, which it isnt, then it does have its limitationsusing just a trio.
It does have its moments. Solo (So Low) is beautifully tender with thefocus on Jacksons mastery of the ivories, boosted by his yearning vocals, whereasGood Bad Boy a frenetic blast is its poorest. The Ramsey Lewis-likeUptown Train is a tight urban jazz slice, making the best of the threesome’sskills topped by Jacksons attempt at falsetto, even if its a bit thin.Its the best song on Rain by far.
The DVD features over 40 minutes of live performance, interviews and behind-the-scenesfootage.
File under: A bit disappointing.
Weblinks:joejackson.comr /rykodisc.com
The full list of tracks included are :
1. Invisible Man
2. Too Tough
3. Citizen Sane
4. Wasted Time
5. The Uptown Train
6. King Pleasure Time
7. Solo (So Low)
8. Rush Across The Road
9. Good Bad Boy
10. A Place In The Rain
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.