Eagle-Eye Cherry - Desireless

The offspring of jazz-trumpet great Don Cherry and half-brother of both Neneh Cherry and Swedish pop diva Titiyo (who duets with her brother on "Worried Eyes"), Eagle-Eye proves that we are not who we're related to. He was born in Stockholm to Cherry and Swedish mixed-media artist Moki, and one might suppose a member of this clan to be as innovative as the rest of his brood, especially given such an idiosyncratic moniker. But it turns out that that's the only eccentric thing about this musician. Cherry offers up a low-key, melodic diary of tales of his misspent youth in New York. And despite the music's soft-focus part-Cat Stevens, part-Ben Harper leanings, occasionally you realize that Eagle-Eye must have pasted posters of Ozzy Osbourne and Jimi Hendrix on his bedroom wall. "Indecision" (supposedly a rejoinder to Stockholm neo-Nazi "White Noise" bands like Swastika) rides on a searing Richie Blackmore lick. "Save Tonight" is a bittersweet reworking of Peter, Paul and Mary's "Leaving on a Jet Plane" theme. The title song updates his late father's "Desireless," which is revitalized via sparse piano, a haunting trumpet, and Cherry's hypnotic, repetitive vocals. Here it's clear that, even though he is dabbling in the shoals of alt-folk-rock, Eagle-Eye can claim a limb on the family tree anytime he wants. --Jaan Uhelszki Amazon.com

A fine debut.

In the years that have passed since the release of his debut album, "Desireless", Eagle-Eye Cherry has faded from public consciousness, due no doubt to Sony's not picking up his later albums more than anything else, but in 1998, it seemed you couldn't go very long without hearing "Save Tonight" on the radio.

Certainly Cherry had the pedigree for his position-- his father Don was a jazz and world music pioneer, sister Neneh had some success on the alt-hip-hop circuit, sister Titiyo is evidentally huge over in Sweden (truthfully, I've never heard of her) and brother David Ornette is a jazz and improvised music artist. Eagle-Eye Cherry (named because he opened one eye when as a baby he first looked at his father) got his start as a drummer for his father, spent a stint as an actor and after his father's death, retreated to Sweden where he began seriously composing music.

The resulting debut album, "Desireless", falls in the alternative pop/singer songwriter category, although Cherry's music has a number of edges to its sound-- his influences clearly trace into dozens of genres. As an arranger, this lends some more weight and depth to his music, providing it with a certain something that's a bit inescapable that separates Cherry from the other phenomenal songwriters.

At its best, the album is brilliant-- whether striking upbeat and yet moody (leadoff single "Save Tonight"), guitar-driven rock ("Indecision"), dark, driven folk/hip hop ("Shooting Up in Vain"), or delicate, tender and seemingly painfully pretty ("Comotose"). This all mixes with a superb deuet with Titiyo (the superb "Worried Eyes") and a tribute to his late father in recording one of his composition (jazz-drenched "Desireless"). At times, the album fumbles a bit, either being a bit unmemorable ("Permenant Tears") or just somewhat mediocre ("Falling in Love Again"), but somehow Cherry finds a way to pull off the weaker melodies and lyrics nicely ("When Mermaids Cry").

It's not quite the masterpiece one suspects he has in him, but "Desireless" is definitely a worthy pickup. Recommended. March 25, 2006

There were SO many one-hit wonder songs from the 90's better than "Save Tonight"

Even when this album was released, all I heard was "Save Tonight" on the radio, which is Pop at its most mediocre. My friend let me borrow the it so I could hear the rest of the record, and sure enough, the only song that has a memorable tune was "Save Tonight" (however it's a tune that we've all heard done better in other people's songs). The rest of the album is totally dull. There were so many bands in the mid-late 90's with one-hit wonder songs (that came from albums full of filler), and Eagle-Eye Cherry was one of them. And they didn't even come close to having one of the best one-hit wonders by a long shot. For some amazing one-hit wonders (in a similar yet better vein), get the singles for Savage Garden's "Truly Madly Deeply", Martin Page's "House of Stone and Light", John Secada's "Just Another Day", Des'ree's "You Gotta Be", and Enigma's "Return to Innocence". I recommend buying the singles of said songs because you'll get the original plus some cool remixes, especially on Enigma's "Return to Innocence" single. I'm sure nobody else remembers the performers/musicians who did the songs I mentioned, but believe me, you'll instantly recognize the songs when you hear them (and you can even sample them on this site!). Hopefully, somebody will enjoy my suggestions and not end up getting this waste of a full-length album with the fitting title of Desireless. December 28, 2005

Desirable.

Most people have heard the track "Save Tonight" from this, and it is probably the best and most upbeat song. However the rest is decent, it's kind of lightweight folk/soul/pop, but still enjoyable. He's kind of like a less-deep "Cat Stevens", and a much less-sexy "Maxwell", somwhere in the middle anyway. After the "hit", I like "Shooting Up In Vain", and "When Mermaids Cry" is catchy, otherwise some of the rest is forgettable. At the very least he left us with one great track, kind of like his sister "Neneh" did many years ago (Buffalo Stance). August 24, 2004

90s Hit!

"Save Tonight" was one of my brother and I's favorite songs in 1998. It's just so cool! May 9, 2004

One of my favorite CD's

I bought this out of curiosity because someone I knew owned it and it turned out to be one of my favorite CD's. Strong throughout but "When Mermaids Cry" is the clear winner. Haunting. December 22, 2003

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