It's hard to imagine Sex, Age, and Death displacing 1994's The Vegetarians of Love as anyone's favorite Bob Geldof album, bereft as it is of the latter's freewheeling Celtic crunch and prickly bonhomie. However, one suspec... more »ts that the Great Gob himself will be far happier that this is not only his most fearless work to date, but his most ruthlessly argumentative. Even if the arguments are largely directed against two people--Paula Yates in the almost joyously cruel album-opener "One for Me," Michael Hutchence in scorn-dripping penultimate track "Inside Your Head"--who are too dead to reply. Geldof's hardly the first singer-songwriter to hold forth on the subjects of this record's title (and their seemingly missing-in-action fourth, love, which makes a last-minute appearance in a paean to his current partner, poised prettily naked in a chair reading Baudelaire). Nevertheless, he's one of the few artists brave enough to cast his raw, angry tales, and by extension himself, in a light this unflatteringly realistic. Indeed, this album's musical suppleness--the chilled beats of "New Routine" and falsetto funk of "Mind in Pocket," the wide-screen Floyd-isms of "Mudslide" and uncannily Cohen-esque "Pale White Girls"--offers practically the only relief from the un-minced, ugly-truth words that refuse to be knit back up with anything like closure. Or, indeed, forgiveness, the lack of which, of course, is the saddest and most realistic touch of all. --Jennifer Nine« less
It's hard to imagine Sex, Age, and Death displacing 1994's The Vegetarians of Love as anyone's favorite Bob Geldof album, bereft as it is of the latter's freewheeling Celtic crunch and prickly bonhomie. However, one suspects that the Great Gob himself will be far happier that this is not only his most fearless work to date, but his most ruthlessly argumentative. Even if the arguments are largely directed against two people--Paula Yates in the almost joyously cruel album-opener "One for Me," Michael Hutchence in scorn-dripping penultimate track "Inside Your Head"--who are too dead to reply. Geldof's hardly the first singer-songwriter to hold forth on the subjects of this record's title (and their seemingly missing-in-action fourth, love, which makes a last-minute appearance in a paean to his current partner, poised prettily naked in a chair reading Baudelaire). Nevertheless, he's one of the few artists brave enough to cast his raw, angry tales, and by extension himself, in a light this unflatteringly realistic. Indeed, this album's musical suppleness--the chilled beats of "New Routine" and falsetto funk of "Mind in Pocket," the wide-screen Floyd-isms of "Mudslide" and uncannily Cohen-esque "Pale White Girls"--offers practically the only relief from the un-minced, ugly-truth words that refuse to be knit back up with anything like closure. Or, indeed, forgiveness, the lack of which, of course, is the saddest and most realistic touch of all. --Jennifer Nine
"I've been a fan of Bob Geldof and the Boomtown Rats since the 2nd album. While they were not all gems, many of the Rats albums have earned spots near the top of the 800+ in my collection. "Vegetarians" was a very respectable solo CD, and this CD should be placed alongside that as containing some fine songs. If you are a fan, you'll like it, if not, don't even waste your time. If you don't know of him - where have YOU been?"
Bob's Birthday Suit
BarryM | Long Beach, CA United States | 09/30/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I must admit that I've been a Bob Geldof fan for a very long time so it isn't too surprising that I found these new songs intriguing. What is unique is the brutal honesty that Geldof uses in his songwriting here. If you've followed his story over the past few years you know how tragic his life has truly been, but he has channeled the hearbreak and tragedy into a remarkable CD.Bob Geldof's recent appearance at the LA House of Blues was incredible. The live performances of the songs on this CD are emotionally unsettling. You want to avert your eyes and ears but you can't. The raw emotional of these songs has got to make them difficult to perform. It is unfortunate that so few turned out for the HOB appearance. If you have an opporutunity to see Bob live, by all means do so."
Life is like an Island
rswayment | 05/26/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Since I read that a kangaroo didn't like this CD I had to make sure I gave it 5 Stars which is worth. Long live Bob Geldof and may we all meet at the Happy Club. Buy this CD and you will not be disappointed. It is very heavy, raw and fun."
A Powerful, Healing Work of Art. Best Album of the Year.
rswayment | San Antonio, TX USA | 08/27/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
""Sex, Age, & Death" is, at times, hard to listen to. But it is harder to stop listening to once you've taken the plunge. Impossible, actually. Since the second Boomtown Rats album, there have been hints that Geldof was capable of making records this powerful and this honest--but who would have guessed that he would actually do it! "Sex, Age, & Death" contains so much rage, beauty, fragility, and love that it is hard to know where to start describing. If these emotions were food additives, it would have "the most allowable by law." It is unlike any previous Geldof album. The only record I can really compare it to is John Lennon's "Plastic Ono Band." "Sex, Age, & Death" has the same fearlessness to it, the same emotional nakedness. Speaking of nakedness, the 7th track is an achingly beautiful song called "My Birthday Suit" (which might have been a better title for whole album).
And, like Lennon, Geldof names names. He casts aside the embarrassment of being human and lets it rip. There's no worry of what we might think of him. He gives us the pure, crack-cocaine emotion. And if that emotion is bitterness, so be it. If, on another song, that emotion is grateful, worshipful love, so be it. And if, on another, it is an inability to understand why someone would take his own life when he had a beautiful little baby daughter who needed him in this world, well that comes out too. Geldof asks "What the [expletive] is going on inside your head?!" But all one has to do is listen to the CD to know what the [expletive] is going on in Geldof's.
All of the songs sound organic--like they were pieced together out of his unconscious--rather than trying to sound like any music which was already out there. There are dance beats. But they are used in an unusual, intelligent, emotional way. A good example of this is the song Six Million Dollar Loser. It doesn't make any logical sense at all. But it makes emotional sense. And it is almost impossible to get it out of your head for days after you hear it. It also contains one of the few traces of the famous Geldof humor to be found on the entire album in its hilarious use of "Six Million Dollar Man" SFX, Elvis sampling, and the pure absurdity of trying to make sense of a deep hurt--the ridiculousness of trying to put humpty back together again.
Even a song that sound like throwaway track on first listen will subtly get its hooks into you and you'll find yourself wanting to hear it again and again. There's a song called Mudslide, which should please all the Pink Floyd fans who liked Geldof in The Wall. Though it fits perfectly into this album, it is also reminiscent of the best Pink Floyd stuff (in fact it is better than anything Floyd has done in the past 20 years).
"Sex, Age, & Death" rewards close and repeated listenings. It sticks to your ribs. With so much musical junk food out there, it is nourishing to hear an album with these kinds of emotional heights and depths. Whether this album sells millions or not, I hope Geldof himself realizes what he has achieved here and I hope he continues making music from his heart, broken or otherwise. For me, he has proven that, whatever other accomplishments can be credited to his name, this is truly what he does best.
For anyone who has felt deep melancholy, "Sex, Age, & Death" is essential listening. For anyone human, really. It shows a man incapacitated and emasculated with sorrow and bitterness clawing his way back toward happiness. You're right there with him. And it feels good. Uncomfortable at times, but good. By the time you hear the almost embarassingly personal, very beautiful song 10:15 at the end of the regular tracks, you can't help but be moved. Possibly even to tears. Someone else knows how it feels!
Of the two extra tracks, The Original Miss Jesus is, by far, the standout. I don't want to just assume who it is about, but like the rest of the album, it comes from Bob's experience. It is Eulogaic, lovely, and perhaps a counterpoint to the bitter opening song, One for Me.
For my money, "Sex, Age, & Death" is easily the best album of the year."
A Nice Surprise
XraySpex | 02/20/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The Worst Thing About Band Aid is it pretty much assurred the Boomtown Rats' career as a pop band was over. Too bad for fans like me because they were a favorite, but most people could care less. I don't understand though. How did everyone resist songs like the one about Eva Braun where she goes on a date with Hitler. Her family teases her about going out with such a loser while Hitler defends himself in the verses. He also wrote brilliant songs about Howard Hughes, bringing out his eccentricities in a joyous pop explosion, commiting suicide with a smile on his face with scenarios that go overboard to make the topic funny. He wrote equally well about serious topics, from teen angst to political exploitation. He captured their pain with humor and wit, using real world analogies that were interesting and poignant. Musically they experimented as much as anyone, successfully creating an incredible body of work. When Geldof went solo it just didn't seem right. Even though he was obviously the leader of the Rats it seemed like he was always part of a group. His first solo record was mercilessly criticized. It wasn't that bad and had some entertaining songs, but was a let down for Rat fans like myself and of course one that would never chart. The next two releases contained only a few memorable songs and I just figured Geldofs' solo career was not that interesting. I really liked his personality and think his work with the Rats deserves his fans support. I therefore bought Sex Age & Death. I listened to it basically scanning through and thought it was another half hearted release without anything that warranted another listen. Then after reading the previous review I decided to give it another chance. I am so glad I did. This is a truly great album. His monologs are half sung and much more entertaining. His pop efforts are very addictive and compliment the other songs. I hope people give this a chance. It is truly a great piece of work."
Track Listings (12) - Disc #1
