Search - Robert Lamm :: Life Is Good in My Neighborhood

Robert Lamm should keep his day job with Chicago!

10/16/1998

(1 out of 5 stars)

"Robert Lamm has enjoyed a long and succesful career as a keyboard player and vocalist with Chicago. Over the last 30 years with the group, he's released two solo albums. The latest, Life is Good in My Neighborhood, demonstrates why Lamm should stick with the tried and true.Although Lamm penned some of Chicago's signature tunes in the 1970's such as Saturday in the Park, his creative juices in that area dried up years ago. Lamm's writing never could compare to the lyrical soaring ballads of Peter Cetera that fueled Chicago's second rise to the top in the late 70's and 80's, and his latest efforts are his poorest yet.Lamm's distinctive voice and history as an original member of the third best-sellling rock band of all time (behind only the Beatles and the Rolling Stones) is his legacy, not his song writing. His tunes are always full of political and social commentary, and here the music and lyrics are tortured even more than in the past to fit Lamm's themes.Life has the sound of a early 80's garage band. All synth and no horns or strings, thinly arranged and sung, Life lacks the engaging horn arrangements of James Pankow, the strings of David Foster, or the melodic talents of Diane Warren, all keys to Chicago's success in recent years.The title track is a catchy ditty, but is shallow and ultimately unsatisfying. The other songs on the album are aimless meandering often lacking even the most basic line, drive or melodic direction. "Tabla," an ode to some vague martyr to one of Lamm's causes, may be the worst song ever recorded by a star of Lamm's standing, and that is no easy mark to hit.Robert Lamm, though fairly anonymous as an individual, remains one of the most successful popular musicians of all time. His role in the formation and continuation of Chicago is one to be applauded and appreciated. Unfortunately, his solo efforts make it all too plain that Mr. Lamm is no solo act."

SHould have been better

06/29/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Outside of "In This Country", "My Neighborhood" version A & B and "When Will The World Be Like Lovers". The rest of the album is a waste of time. His first and third (latest) albums are far superior. Give up the social commentary Robert!"

Lamm's lyrical style

03/24/1999

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This cd features Robert's ability to write songs about daily life situations. From the title track, to All The Years, Murder On Me, When Will The World Be Like Lovers, the music and lyrics blend very well together."