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Randy Newman's first studio album of all new material in nearly a decade is, by turns, hilarious, poignant and scathingly satirical. Harps and Angels often has an easy going Crescent City feel, with Newman on piano fronting a small combo and revealing, as Rolling Stone put it after the Carnegie Hall show, his serious love and study of the New Orleans piano tradition.
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It Just Couldn't Last
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Now, I LOVE Randy Newman, but it has happened before, some of his older albums were simply generic blues... sounds all the same, and none of it very interesting.
But, going back twenty years or so, with the "Born Again" Album, "Trouble in Paradise", "Little Criminals", and especially "Land of Dreams" we were given really very good MUSIC. I play piano myself, and at least one or two songs per Album were fun to play. Not like all his earlier stuff, just stupid drug soaked sorry for yourself minority Blues. Besides, Newman is no Black. The man could be a Banker if he wanted. Playing that thick lipped Blues style, pretending to be so dizzy ... I should hope he is just trying to kid somebody.
And here, in "Harps & Angels" Newman has returned to his earliest primitive style, as though he had forgotten everything he learned, the most symplistic Blues. Even where the lyrics are intrigueing, as on track number two, an old man lamenting past love, still the Blues tune is so predictable. You don't have to buy it. You already know it.
I guess some Record Company Suit told Randy that Lyrics are the only thing that matters, that everybody was buying the stuff because the lyrics were so smart. Randy must have been holding off, waiting to come up with some new catchy tunes, but the Record Company couldn't wait. Well, they should have.
Now I don't regret having bought "Angels & Harps" though I simply threw it in the trash. Poor Randy needs some retirement. I'll toss him a few bucks. I don't resent him pocket money. But I used to admire Randy Newman.
Now I pity him.
So buy "Angels & Harps". Randy must need the money really bad.
Rating: 
(1
out of 5) @ 2008-11-16
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Not enough
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Same old Randy at his critical best. I wish it would have been longer.
Rating: 
(4
out of 5) @ 2008-11-14
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Harps and Angels
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Someone finally told me the name of the singer I've heard in movies etc. I love his voice, and his style. This is a great album.
Rating: 
(5
out of 5) @ 2008-11-12
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Yeah, it's good, but...
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This is less than 35 minutes long!!! I'm sick and tired of waiting for material only to be given a tapas sized portion, at an entree price.
Rating:
(4
out of 5) @ 2008-11-06
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a classic randy newman record
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It's a very good disc with beautifull songs. Fantastic well-known irony, beautifull arrangements, orchestration, it's all there.
Rating:
(5
out of 5) @ 2008-10-24
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