Real Life could be easily cataloged as one of the best albums of the Scottish band and one of the best albums of the 1990s. After Street Fighting Years, Real Life is one of the most mature creations of this emblematic rock band. The album has an impressive and refined sound and with the re mastered edition it highlights its quality. Many of the songs not included in other compilation albums, really worth this album.
May 9, 2007I agree with the previous reviewer - this is one of those albums I like to listen to as an album. I remember buying it for the excellent singles "See the Lights" and "Let There Be Love" and the title track "Real Life". However, this album grew on me quickly. The songs have individual character but flow together nicely - moreso than the somewhat similarly structured "Street Fighting Years", but I like this album better. The sequence of "Ghostrider", "Banging on the Door" and "Travelling Man" shows the versatility of Simple Minds and why they are to be considered one of the great rock bands of the late 20th Century.
Definitely an under-rated album.
April 20, 2006This is a truly great album. May I stress the word album? Yes, I think I will. What has unfortunately been lost in today's world of digital downloading is the TRUE ALBUM EXPERIENCE. An album experience where every song has its place and fits a certain flow. This is one of those albums. Track one feels like a track one. Track two feels like a track two. The last track feels like a great closer, etc. You get my drift. The album can be listend to straight through, taking the listener on a beautiful ride through all different themes, moods, and paces. I had already heard "See The Lights," "Let There Be Love," and "Stand By Love" on their 82>92 best of compilation. Those three tracks are all stellar, but I'd have to say my favorite tracks are the title track "Real Life," "African Skies," "Let The Children Speak," and "Banging On The Door." "Real Life" takes the title. The song is amazing. I seriously got my $$$'s worth with this track alone. I must have had it on repeat in my car for 3 straight days. Simply amazing. The video is great too, which you can see on their Visual History DVD. The emotion displayed in the singing of "African Skies" is unparalleled by most artists. I can continue but I think my point has been made. Buy this album for a truly rewarding listening experience. Anyone who writes this album off as over-produced or a sellout or adult contemporary needs to have their head examined. Not the case at all. Just true art with a fantastic effect.
August 6, 2005 |  | This is great for any kind of music fan |  |
It has songs to please all tastes. The one CD that resembles this one the most would be Once Upon A Time, followed along with Street Fighting Years and Good News From The Next World, mostly a Pop centered type of Rock that definitely gets you hooked up. I never thought I liked Pop-Rock music at all till I heard some of the songs on this album in the Glittering Prize compilation. I was a Metal and Rock & Rock die hard. I knew I had to get the CD where all those precious songs came from. I have to admit I got hooked up to Simple Minds with "Don't You Forget About Me" but if that's the only thing you've heard from them, you are in for a BIG surprise.
The songs I consider that stand out:
Real Life (introduced to me by "The Best Of" collection)
See The Lights, Let There Be Love and Stand By Love (I must admit these are the best songs of this CD all introduced to me by "Glittering Price")
African Skies and Ghostrider are average songs, African Skies with a catchy conga beat, and Ghostrider with a cool Rock N' Roll beat.
Banging On The Door (I gotta tell you from the intro to the end is a masterpiece, this was one of the surprises from this CD, I had never heard it before)
Rivers Of Ice - I love it (this one JUST by itself makes the CD purchase ALL worthwhile!)
Buy it, you Wont be sorry. I am a happy fan who owns about 12 of their CDs, one VHS and one rare single CD, this one being in the highest scale (My favorite is Sparkle In The Rain) Good Luck on your purchase!
March 26, 2004 | | If you're a simple minds fan, buy it. | |
This CD has a virtual landscape of images in both the music and the lyrics(which are as thought provoking as those on "Street Fighting Years"-another SM great). Kind of moody without being depressing or over-dramatic. If you like Stings' "Mercury Falling" album, you'll probably like this.
April 28, 2000More reviews at Amazon.com ...
