SUPERHEAVY
SUPERHEAVY
SEPTEMBER 20, 2011
This review will be like no other I have done, as I am going to review each song as they play in my headphones. I will give as much information as I can put to paper as the song plays. The first listen will be just me absorbing of the song then as the replay begins my fingers will get as much information from my brain to the keyboard as I can. While I am typing this part I am playing "Superheavy" for the second time to stir awake my musical spirit. This will be the only song that will get a third play as I relay all the feelings I have pertaining to the song. At times I will pause to refer to the inner liner notes.
"Superheavy" has a guitar/keyboard big build that brings in the reggae drumming that will be perfect as a concert opening. I can see the lights going down with the hall, arena or stadium pitch dark and the lights starting dim then getting brighter swirling between the stage and the audience. The drums keep a consistent beat while the vocals keep your brain burning and working hard. The writing is a group effort and the vocals come from everywhere, allowing each singer a freedom to insert their take on the music.
"Unbelievable" has a slight reggae slant but Mick Jagger changes up the song when he begins to sing. There are moments when the listener can close their eyes and easily picture Jagger singing the song. He is so ingrained in our musical culture that visuals when he sings come naturally. The reggae becomes, no pun intended, heavy and drives the song as the chorus begins. Joss Stone's vocals are perfect as she interjects her high pitch, bringing the song to a higher level. Half way through, she sings soft and low as the rest of the vocals are still up on the high levels, giving the song an eerie feel. At this point, not having the lyrics on the inner cover is slighting the listener. RUSTYSCAGE.COM continues to drop all record or CD releases one star for not including the lyrics. It is sad because at this point the CD rates 5 stars. Not having the lyrics while the vocals are in constant repetition leads the listener to feel slighted. The music is at the peak, but without available lyrics it is hard to tell what is verse and what is the chorus.
"Miracle Worker" finally allows Stone to take the lead, but is unlike the first two tracks where she stays in the background letting Jagger hold all the cards. Jagger has to push to the front singing a bit of the lead. Why? Her soulful voice could carry this to from start to finish. Jagger should have kept his vocals in the background as this band should not have a "Lead Singer" per-say. If Jagger took lead on the first two tracks he should have been more gracious and let Stone dominate this track. Her soulful style is much more suited for this ebb & flow of this song. At Mick's age he should know how much he has earned in fan respect and taken a back seat, sticking to the background vocals. The "OOOH's" sound like a great combination of Jagger and Stone who both can go to extreme pitches.
In "Energy", ?uest Love lays down a great rock beat on the drums. As Damian "Jr Gong" Marley opens the vocals, the listener will feel the song will again move into a reggae based song. Not true, the band puts on a rock clinic that represents the songs title with energy abound. The guitar folds in strumming hard, and lifting the song at the end of every verse. The guitar work of Dave Stewart is why Eurythmics was so successful at pumping out hit after hit for so many years. And The Crowd Goes Crazy!!!!
"Satyameva Jayathe" is the national motto of India which means "Truth Alone Triumphs" and represents what the people of India believe for their country. According to Wikipedia, Jagger sings in Sanskrit which is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Mahayana Buddhism. This song is about the feel and message to all the people of the world. Other countries who have less are more about the "Truth" than countries as large as the United States of America, who have high powered evil people spreading the word to the people on the street to lie and keep your mouth shut and make it hard for the police to find those corrupting our neighborhoods and the young. Every person who turns away and seals their mouth shut is an accessory to the crime and seeking God's forgiveness does nothing to release you from your part in the deaths of your neighbors and children.
"One day One night" - the lights must go down as this tune begins to reveal itself. Jagger brings some of his solo vocal feel from "She's the Boss" as he delivers each line in the first verse. "This rotten cheap hotel with stale old smell, where the hell is the bellman, did I call down stairs does anybody care" is a line that could only come from Mr. Mick Jagger himself. "No taxes budgets means, must walk, no ride, if I am to build my vibe tonight" gives Marley an opportunity to connect with listeners who themselves look for things to give their night a feel. The violins bring a mellowing vibe to an already slow sway that builds into the second half of an amazing jam. Jagger sings "what’s the situation" with such accent on the word "situation" you hear him spew all over the microphone. At this point the song becomes so emotionally charged that Mick and Joss are so deep in the track along with Stewart's guitar that the listener will be hard pressed to come back from where they will take you. A. R. Rahman inserts some keyboard sounds that bring the whole song together with reggae and 60's rolls.
"Never Gonna Change" in the 80's would have been considered a power ballad but with today's Rock and Top 40 junk strewn all over the radio, this great song will be overlooked. The lyrics, which are at times difficult to hear as Jagger's style can be murky, he is perfect to deliver each line. The lyrics seem to be about an upper class society lady who through her wealth will never settle down her nightlife living. He will love her always but will watch her from a distance as he cannot let his heart be broken.
"Beautiful People" begins with moments filled with Kenny Nolan's "I Like Dreamin" from the 70's. The keyboards will be the basis for this song as it drifts into a bouncy, head bobbing jump that makes you want to light it up. Track 8 is the happy song that is least likely of all to be a jam but more a structured thought out "lets make everyone smile" song. If you are down and do not think that life is worth the pit you may be in, just throw this on the iPod, take a stroll, and soon the sunshine will emerge again in your spirit. For anyone being bullied, remember that you are beautiful people, and that most bullies will get old quickly, their looks will fade fast and they are more insecure so they need to bring you down to their level.
"Rock me Gently" has an upbeat jazz style drum line that sets the tempo for the song. The vocals lead by Marley is the epitome of reggae's best. Following "Beautiful People" could not have been place in a better position on the CD. The guitar solo more than half way through the song is the icing on the cake. A guitarist who loves a great solo, (it is so rare when they get to take center stage) Stewart knows better than anyone that it is a necessity. His work in the second half is a jazz musician’s dream.
"I Can't Take it no More" is the strongest rock song on the CD, no doubt it will be a crowd pleaser that gets everyone off their seats. It is an all-out assault that actually should have been placed earlier on the disc and no doubt should have been the lead off single. Some would say it would have been misleading, and they would be correct, but it would have pushed the CD up on the Billboard listings. If you are a Rock 'N' Roll lover this will be the first track that will bring you on board with the superior level of jams on the CD.
"I Don't Mind" highlights a smooth violin melody, bringing a more epic driven feature to the track. When the lyrics reflect old lines from Stewart and Annie Lennox's project Eurythmics it can time warp listeners like myself to a time when MTV really was a music television station that played music videos. Sweet dreams were made of that giving artists another outlet for promoting their music. DJ's turned VJ's was the next big step into the future of music. Yes, MTV, it is still about the music. Your call letters should now be RTV (Reality Television) and give the station back to music lovers. Upon the second listen, it is almost as if the violins are playing a version of "Taps" and saying lights out to music’s past.
"World Keeps Turning" is the perfect ending to a good recording. Letting Joss Stone finally have thelead vocal on a lyrically well-written song is the epitome of greatness. The words are uplifting, giving the song a powerful message. No matter what happens in the world daily, it keeps turning and we should embrace it with growth and maturity. No matter how immature our governments, schoolyard bullies or relationship partners can be, we must open our hearts to the good people of the world and embrace the love.
The overall feel of this release is Reggae! Reggae! Reggae! with some superior slow emotional jams that are placed in fitting positions on the CD. The one rock song "I Can't Take it Anymore" is at a level above most being released these days. Each song is listed as a group effort but clearly this is a Dave Stewart, Mick Jagger release with Joss Stone limited to background singing and A. R. Rahman with Damian Marley laying down the foundational direction of the CD.
Having said all that, I am really excited to see this band play live because with most of these tracks broken down from long jams they can only make it better. Joss Stone is a tremendously great songwriter and should have been given a chance to open up and drop bombs of lyrics on more tracks. Jagger and Stewart have had their day and with their influence could have let Stone move to the next level, but instead they seem to have squashed and shut her down. It is worth spinning this on
the iPod when the mood is right.
9/16/11