John Lennon, Yoko Ono - Double Fantasy

Strange as it seems now, the last album John Lennon released in his lifetime was intended as a comeback, or rather as a parting wave at retirement: "Watching the Wheels" and "Beautiful Boy" celebrate the joys he found outside the star system, and "(Just Like) Starting Over" is a slightly awkward rocker about rejoining the domestic world that's also sort of about rejoining the pop world. The studio-pro arrangements are a little too slick, but Lennon rarely sounded happier. Ono, whose songs alternate with his in a series of thematic diptychs, was taking a stab at channeling her artier impulses into pop and is generally less successful--her voice works in a context of art-weirdness, but not as well in conventional tunes. This 2000 remastered reissue is fleshed out with a demo of "Help Me to Help Myself" and Ono's solo version of "Walking on Thin Ice," which was recorded on the same day her husband was shot to death. --Douglas Wolk Amazon.com

One of Lennon's best that Yoko almost ruins.

I bought during a strange stage in my life where I was trying to figure out where I stood and how I was going to stand there. It has been about six years since I purchased this album initially, and now that I own on it on vinyl thanks to my wonderful girlfriend Katie and her mother's friend Tom, I figured I'd give it a spin. Pun intended.

Some back story on this album: it was the last studio release from John Lennon before his unfortunate passing in 1980. Most of the songs featured were written about his new love for life at age forty, emphasizing his love for Yoko and his now four year old son, Sean, who he and Yoko had given up four years of touring to raise.

A word of warning, though, I did have a strong bias against Yoko Ono. Not because I believe she split the Beatles or siphoned John's talent, I just don't find her to be that good of a musician. Her voice sounds like a cat is being washed. And cats hate being bathed. Check out the video.




On to the review.

1. (Just Like) Starting Over - This is the song that pointed me in the direction of this album. This was the first music video I caught when we got digital cable in 2002 on VH-1 Classic. At the time, I didn't put two and two together and realize that this was released posthumously and wondered why there were so many shots of Yoko and so much stock footage of John. But it is a great song, especially considering the irony of being the first track on an album released after he had passed away. Five out of five stars.



2. Kiss, Kiss, Kiss - Oh boy. Here's Yoko. Well, it's not that bad. The backing track is kind of rocking and keeps it from being a total bust. Wow, her voice really takes away from this track more than I remember. I was going to give this a four out of five right out of the gate, but I'm glad I gave it another couple listens. Her turkey gobbles around 2 minutes-ish are the stuff of legend. Three out of five stars.

3. Clean-Up Time - John is back. Thank goodness, those turkey gobbles were driving me nuts. A pretty standard bluesy rock track from John with some cool vocals. The hook will stay in your head for a bit and there is some exemplary guitar work. Cool sax section too. Good enough for four. Four out of five stars.

4. Give Me Something - Oh boy. Remember how Yoko was a turkey in her last jam? I want to pretend she doesn't make bird noises in this one. But I would be lying. The sad thing, the backing track is pretty cool and would fit awesomely with Debbie Harry. Sadly, she ruins with her seagull "Caw!"s. The musicianship saves it though. Three out of five stars.

5. I'm Losing You - For the first time listening to this album, I'm starting to notice the transitions between songs. Pretty cool. I've listened to all of the songs individually who knows how many times, but the cool transition between "Give Me Something" and "I'm Losing You". This song has the coolest bridge on the album and is a pretty good tune. Walks the line nicely between haunting and determined. Four out of five stars.

6. I'm Moving On - Another solid transition which makes the opening guitar riff even better. Oh man, here she is again. I have no idea what she is saying sadly, other than "I'm Moving On". The thing is, she is using English vernacular and it doesn't roll off of her tongue very easily. The second verse is much more understandable. Unquestionably the best Yoko song I've heard; it acts nicely as the response to "I'm Losing You"'s call, even if she makes MORE animal noises at the end of it. This time she is an ape. Four out of five stars.

7. Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy) - A truly beautiful song with great use of a set of steel drums and a steel guitar. This was probably the biggest no-brainer on the album. Five out of five stars.

8. Watching The Wheels - Thankfully, they break the John-Yoko-John-Yoko pattern and we get another John song. This is "soft rock" favorite up in the Lehigh Valley, so much so that growing up, this was the first song I could distinguish was John Lennon and not the Beatles. My ratings aren't usually tied to lyrics, nor do I attempt to delve too deeply into them, however, these are pretty cool. The way I see them, they are about his life after the Beatles and his transition into fatherhood. It doesn't hurt that the hook is extremely memorable either. Five out of five stars.

9. Yes, I'm Your Angel - Hmm. Yoko is back and you can understand everything she is saying. This one is ragtimey. She offers John "pumpkins that turn into princesses" so I can't hate too hard on this song. It's a nice little number that works really well on this album. Wow, I can't believe this. Another above average Yoko song. I'm glad I'm giving her tracks another chance. And this one doesn't even have animal sounds! Four out of five stars.

10. Woman - John again. Another "soft rock" favorite. A really sweet song. John dedicated it to "women everywhere". It is terrific. It is another no brainer. Five out of five stars.



11. Beautiful Boys - Starts out kind of haunting with Yoko. I don't really dig this one as much as her other efforts. The lyrics are kind of neat, but the song is tough to listen to. Oddly, if you scale this against the Pearl Jam album yesterday, I would rank this higher than all of the songs I gave threes, however, in the context of this album, I can only give this song a three. Three out of five stars. Although, I almost gave a bonus point for the Star Wars sampling toward the end near the lyric "Don't be afraid to go to hell and die."

12. Dear Yoko - This one always gets me shimmying and dancing around. My favorite track on the album. Catchy verse, nice hook, and cool alto sax. Five out of five stars.

13. Every Man Has a Woman Who Loves Him - A Yoko track here with John harmonizing on the verses. That's pretty neat. Pretty cool backing track, too. If there was something more in this song to make it slightly more memorable, it would approach the big five, but alas, Yoko again falls just short. Although, to be noted, no animal noises, at least initial ones from Yoko. Song runs just a little bit long. This is a great showing for Yoko. Four out of five stars.

14. Hard Times Are Over - Yoko is back again for this one. Man, this has John's name all over it. I'm wondering if it was written for his voice and he passed on before he could record it. Well, I think I can answer my own question. I swear I hear him on harmony. So I guess that wasn't the original intention. Wow, this is a really cool one. My iTunes says I've never listened to this one. Ever. What a mistake that was. This one is the full monte. Five out of five stars.

Bonus tracks on 2000 re-release on CD:

15. Help Me To Help Myself - This is another one I haven't listened to according to my iTunes. After a few listens now, I can't help but feel this was unfinished. After some internet snooping, my suspicions were affirmed. There is some good stuff going on here in what is obviously a demo, but the song itself doesn't feel like he finished writing it and would have ended up on John and Yoko's anticipated penciled in follow-up which they were calling Milk and Honey. I cannot fairly rate this song as I have no idea if it was actually finished or not.

16. Walking on Thin Ice - A Yoko track which has the dubious distinction of being completed right before John was tragically shot by Mark David Chapman. This one is pretty interesting, as it has a lot of guitar ideas that would be borrowed upon later in the 80's. More animal noises from Yoko in this one. Three out of five stars.

17. Central Park Stroll (Dialogue) - Neat extra, no rating.

Final summary:

1. (Just Like) Starting Over - Five stars.
2. Kiss, Kiss, Kiss - Three stars.
3. Clean-Up Time - Four stars.
4. Give Me Something - Three stars.
5. I'm Losing You - Four stars.
6. I'm Moving On - Four stars.
7. Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy) - Five stars.
8. Watching the Wheels - Five stars.
9. Yes, I'm Your Angel - Four stars.
10. Woman - Five stars.
11. Beautiful Boys - Three stars.
12. Dear Yoko - Five stars.
13. Every Man Has a Woman Who Loves Him - Four stars.
14. Hard Times Are Over - Five stars.

Bonus tracks:

15. Help Me To Help Myself - No rating.
16. Walking on Thin Ice - Three stars.
17. Central Park Stroll (Dialog) - No rating.

In all, I can admit that I was not right in skipping past the Yoko numbers as none of them turned out to be below average. All of the numbers with John on lead vocals are tremendous too, very rarely dipping below five stars. Strong recommendation to buy, if for nothing more than the hits.
May 29, 2008

Sympathy for that one song? Is that it?

Earl Slick and Rick Neilsen were the guitarists on this...album. But the juxtaposition of Yukko Ohno's..."songs" in between every one of Lennon's, kind of make this, his final album - a joke. "I'm Losing You" IS a good song, though.. May 8, 2008

LAST OF THE GREATS

JONH SOUNDS GREAT AND FRESH AFTER HIS TIME OF. YOKO SOUNDS A LITTLE BETTER BUT NOT MUCH. I GAVE It 5 STARS JUST FOR JOHNS WORK. March 19, 2008

.................................................................

Many critics didn't like this album, but after John was murdered, many reversed their opinion almost immediately. I diss critics a lot, but here I will not diss them, as the tragedy and complete senselessness of John Lennon's murder still shocks people today. I can't imagine what critics, most of whom grew up on The Beatles, must have felt when they found out about John Lennon being shot. I was alive when it happened, but I didn't grow up during the 1960's, so I can't give any perspective, other than it didn't make any sense. No real motive other than a deranged (that's putting it mildly) fan behaving in a way that was beyond reprehensible. There are no real words to describe it, just an empty void...

The album that ended up being John's swansong was a very good return to the music world. The opener, (Just Like) Starting Over, is absolutely lovely pop music. Most of John's songs here run this way, from Starting Over to the deeply moving songs Woman, the fun Dear Yoko, and the beguiling Beautiful Boy. Cleanup Time is kind of silly (but fun), and I'm Losing You is the only dud from John here. Overall, John just seems to be in pop mode, and it works wonderfully.

Yoko's stuff here is really quite special. It's very adventurous (which isn't surprising). It's almost on the level of 80's house/dance music. She goes from New Wavish (Kiss Kiss Kiss), to angry (Give Me Something), to doo wop (I'm Your Angel), to the album's closer, Hard Times Are Over, one of her most moving songs ever. It's my favorite on this album. Critics did like Yoko's stuff here, and it's some of her best work. The songs still sound as fresh and as invigorating today as they did in 1980.

So, this is a very good album by John and Yoko. It's sad because no one knows what would have come after this. A pointless tragedy....

February 28, 2008

excellent quality/service

The product was of excellent quality, as described. Shipping was very quick. No complaints whatsoever. Would gladly order similar products again from this merchant. November 26, 2007

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