Don't Stand Me Down

Artist: Dexy's Midnight Runners Label: EMI Category: Music Average customer rating: Format: Limited Edition Media: Audio CD Number Of Discs: 2 UPC: 724353701307 EAN: 0724353701307 ASIN: B00005Y449 Release Date: 2002-03-19

Don't Stand Me Down

Tracks:

1. Kevin Rowland's 13th Time
2. Occasional Flicker
3. This Is What She's Like
4. My National Pride
5. One of Those Things
6. Reminisce, Pt. 2
7. I Love You (Listen to This)
8. Waltz

Tracks:

1. This Is What She's Like
2. My National Pride
3. I Love You (Listen to This)

Album Description

Album Details

Customer Reviews:

Updating The One Review, After Further Listening.......2002-12-05

This was understandably a commercial disappointment, following the brilliant and accessible Too Rye Ay. Kevin Rowland, who I consider a genius of sorts, goes in a daring, but highly questionable direction here. As I said, "Many of the songs eschew lyrical singing for half-buried conversation, and when one does manage to grasp a line of poetry from Kevin Rowland's yowling, one may be disturbed at the snotty contempt it represents." Indeed, Kevin insists he was *not* a happy man, during his peak of Dexys fame. (Is he any happier being a VH1 trivia factoid?)

Interestingly, many of the songs delve into long instrumental sections. However, they're not "tuneful" (i.e., "Pet Sounds" or "Tequila"). Rather, they're tight, well-arranged backing tracks which simply lack vocals, occasionally showing a flash of variation. As a musician myself, I can appreciate this, but I wouldn't expect the average listener to.

Plagarizing Warren Zevon's "Werewolves Of London" piano riff, which Kevin admits to, was NOT a wise move, and the result ("One Of Those Things") is both less entertaining, and more annoying. Sorry, but this one's a straight-out dud.

"This Is What She's Like", and "I Love You (Listen To This)" are hard-driving, deep-grooving, and absolutely *thrilling* tunes, with all the adrenaline and passion of "Come On Eileen". Yet, I can't help thinking, a more disciplined producer might have helped streamline them further. Tighter lyrics could have been drafted, and both tunes would have shot up the charts.

Throughout the album, and especially in the quieter moments, there is a deep and satisfying range of dynamic and timbres. A lot of work went into the arrangements, and patient, repeated listening is rewarded. A mature approach to this album is necessary. As indicated in the liner notes, the CD is much quieter than average, to better reproduce the full tonal range. Not really an ideal speeding-down-the-freeway soundtrack, unfortunately. You may wish to acquire an earlier release of the "cruder" mix/transfer (In fact, I have an old cassette which serves me well in this regard.)

The lack of a lyric sheet is a major minus. Instead, we get Kevin's sentimental recollections, which is touching but unnecessary. As for the DVD, it's the kind that won't work in the standard U.S. player. Just another pity about this disc -- I would expect them to be quite lovely.

Music Album:

1. In Too Deep (Enhanced) ~ Sum 41
2. Speak of the Devil ~ Chris Isaak
3. Cream of the Crap!, Vol. 1 ~ The Hellacopters
4. Rockin Robin: The Best of Bobby Day ~ Bobby Day
5. Jar: a Pickled Egg Collection ~ Various Artists
6. Northern Exposure Will Be Right Back ~ Glands of External Secretion
7. Homenaje a la Guardia Vieja ~ Estudiantina Centenario
8. Underground ~ Sniff 'n' the Tears
9. Who's Who in Hospitalization ~ Glands Of External Secretion , and Prick Decay
10. The Slip: Instant Live - Paradise, Boston, MA 10/2/04

Music Album

Music Album

Music

A Treasury of Irish Song ~ Various Artists

Bird at St. Nick's ~ Charlie Parker

Threads ~ David S. Ware String Ensemble

I Don't Ever Want to See You Again ~ Uncle Sam

D-Tecnolife ~ Uverworld

Best of Rene Paulo ~ Rene Paulo

Sesion Vermu ~ Siniestro Total

Black Night Is Falling ~ John Lee Hooker

New Asia V.2 ~ Various Artists

Ciao Italia ~ Various Artists