I just got Brian Eno's first new "pop" album (as in, he sings on it) in years, and it's really, really, really nice. It's as if he's taken all the ideas he's given U2, Talking Heads, Bowie, James, and all the other bands he's produced over the years, and he's let himself play with his own production the way he's given his ideas to all those other bands to great success. It's a little more aggressive than his previous pop albums, in that they're melodic. Poppy. Quirky and fun. I can hear this stuff in film soundtracks and even on college radio. I thought it would be more navel-gazey than it is - and, oh, it's plenty navel-gazey - but there's a lot going on to hold my attention. It's exactly what I want in a Brian Eno album, finally. I like, lots.

Anyone else pick this one up?

Anxiety said:

A good friend of mine burned me a copy cuz she knows I'm a fan of Brian's. She works at Amoeba Music and was able to get it before it hit the streets. It was a surprise. She gave me a cd with no writing on it, just in a plain white cd cover. She wouldn't tell me what was on it. When I got home, I listened to it. Yeah, it's classic Eno for today. This is how an album should be done by an "artist" of Brian's caliber. It's a very good album.

I've read a few reviews and they all seem complimentary - I'm really intrigued as to how this sounds. Next on the wish-list, I think...

I only heard that one Eno album with David Byrne, "My Life in the Bush of Ghosts". Man, that was some weird shit.

NWF said:

I like that one.

CinisterCee said:

me too.

Anxiety said:

Anxiety, I want to pull the pants off your music collection

CinisterCee said:

size queen.

Anxiety said:

Anxiety said:

Yes, I did. I'm very impressed with the album, which is the best thing he's done since "My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts". Reminds me a lot of Before And After Science.

We have similar music tastes, Anx ... Although I HATED Xanadu (although The Fall did a great cover version of The Legend of Xanadu, which knocks spots off the original ...).

i think some people can take my love of the 'xanadu' soundtrack way too seriously.

you can appreciate good food and still crave a little debbie star crunch. my love of music is much the same - for all the gourmet tofu organic specialty dishes i may love, i'm still gonna want my sugar-coated empty calories.

It's kinda odd how this album just sneaked out - this is Eno's first vocal album in almost two decades (not counting his album with John Cale, which was pretty bloody good). I would have thought this would have been big news on the alterna-rock/pitchfork/record geek circuit. Maybe I just haven't been paying attention to the right sources.

Anyway, I'll be picking it up for sure. Glad to hear the advance reviews are positive. Hearing a comparison to Before and After Science almost made me wet myself a little.

Here Come The Warm Jets is my fav.

lilgish said:

I like Here Come the Warm Jets, Taking Tiger Mountain and Before and After Science pretty much equally, though the raw, sea-sick guitars on Here Come... make me listen to that album more than the others.

damosuzuki said:

it was the main review on pitchfork today - they gave it a 6.1, which for pitchfork, is awfully enthusiastic.

I hadn't heard one single thing about this. Thanks for the recommend!

ya know what album this reminds me of? laurie anderson's "mister heartbreak". which, i'm sure, was at least deeply influenced by eno (she didn't actually work with him until "bright red" in the early '90s, i think).

another thought on this album - "bone bomb" is amazing. i listened to it three times in a row on the way home from work last night. devastating song.

Thanx for the info.I'll have to pick this up.I've been listening to "Music for Films" by Eno lately.Good stuff.

13inchshoe said:

i love his ambient stuff. i need to get more of it.

Anxiety said:

Another Green World is pretty spacey too...tho I'm surpised you don't find his stuff "oaty," as you call it

MendesCity said:

actually, i do.

his stuff is a grab bag where i'm concerned. i take the good with the bad with eno.