Search - Chris Isaak :: Forever Blue

Kind Of Blue

Thomas Magnum | NJ, USA | 12/21/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Forever Blue continues Chris Isaak's streak of making winning retro-rock albums. This album doesn't vary from any of his previous releases, but who cares. Mr. Isaak and his band, Silvertone, are a well oiled machine and Forever Blue is a polished, high quality release. "Baby Did A Bad Bad Thing" is a raunchy rocker that simmers and comes to an explosive boil. "Somebody's Crying" is a jangling rocker while "Graduation Day" is a spooky, haunting tune. "Go Walking Down There" is another pounding and driving number. The title track is a soft lullaby and is one of the best vocals performances of his career. If you like Chris Isaak, then Forever Blue is a must have and if you're not a fan, then this is a great introduction to his work."

Music for a Good Wallow

Gregory M. Flanders | Seattle, WA USA | 11/11/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Chris Isaak's explorations of heartbreak and the misery we inflict upon each other reach a peak in "Forever Blue." Whatever you're feeling bad about, listening to "Forever Blue" will take the edge off, leaving you feeling safe in the knowledge that someone else has got it worse. Isaak's soaring vocals and deceptively complex guitar work conspire to engage the listener in the spiritual, emotional and personal demon hunts that make up the bulk of the tracks on the album.The opening track, "Baby Did a Bad Bad Thing," demonstrates the range of Isaak's voice. Beginning with verses delivered in rapid-fire monotone, Isaak's voice soars in the chorus, with Isaak singing "feel like crying" in a voice that transforms in an instant from a disconsolate wail to a scream of near-incoherent rage that sounds like he feels more like putting a fist through a wall than crying. Isaak captures sorrow, rage and confusion unforgettably, in less than three minutes.The more radio-friendly "Somebody's Crying," evokes the surf/rockabilly fusion that is Isaak's trademark, and captures the central theme of the album--dishonesty. In each of the tracks, somebody's lying about something--and it's usually the narrator lying to himself. Isaak is deft wordsmith, able to delineate subtle shades of meaning and complex emotions in simple melodies and in a very short period of time. Not one of the songs on "Forever Blue" is more than four minutes long, and not a minute is wasted."I Believe" is definitely the most complex track on the album, both musically and lyrically. In the lines, "I believe the angels listen, God hears us pray/ I believe in a beautiful day/ I believe it's going to work out okay. /But not for you. /And not for me," Isaak returns to the theme of narcissism and the notion that, somehow, the world has it in for the narrator, and, by extension, the listener. The disconsolate lyrics are delivered against a driving, almost peppy tune that enhances the sense of isolation and loneliness delivered in the words. Isaak's words and music constantly belie each other throughout the album, driving home the message that love--good or bad--is always complicated."Forever Blue" is essential listening, and a vital part of any album collection."

Set this one on Repeat Play

H. Acuay | Portland, OR USA | 12/07/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I bought "Forever Blue" after reading the reviews here and was not disappointed. It's one of the few albums I listen to straight through. There are no bad tracks! Some songs are more mellow than others, but all are good and very listenable. 'Somebody's Crying' was the big single; I enjoy it, but my favorites are Graduation Day, Go Walking Down There and Shadows in a Mirror. The band is great; it sounds like they're playing just for you. The musical style is simple, charming, nostalgic. Chris' voice is earnest and intimate, smooth, but achy, and when he sings (in Shadows in a Mirror), "Oh, and I, I still need your love/I can't see my life, darling, without you" it's like he's Orbison, only better. This is my only Isaak album, and I hesitate to buy one of his others only because I'm afraid he couldn't make a better one than this."