Gary Glitter

Err, I mean Gary Jules. I got Gary Jules CD I ordered from CdBaby earlier this week and I have to say I’m disappointed. Not with CdBaby – they still rock – but with Gary. Mad World, the Tears for Fears cover song I ordered the cd for in the first place, is a great tune. However, that song set an expectation for the rest of the album that wasn’t met. The album has a melancholy sound – even the album art is depressing. Gary seems to be looking for a sound and he has the uncanny ability to sound both overproduced and unrefined at the same time. I hope he figures it out, because despite all that criticism, there is something I like about him. I think his music will eventually find its own.

Based on the responses to the original post, it seems that the Mad World cover tune is only unknown in this country. It was a number 1 hit in the UK!!!

And I just HATE it when that happens!! Grrr. There have been several bands that were wildly successful in Europe that went almost totally unnoticed here. Bands like Travis and (this is going back a bit) Barclay James Harvest. Both Travis and BJH originated in Europe, but Gary Jules lives in Los Angeles! (I know, some may argue that LA and/or Colliefournya - as it is now known – aren’t REALLY part if the US anymore.)

I’m sure Europe has its share of over-produced, no talent, record label crap* too, but I’m curious about the good stuff I’m missing out on. So… What am I missing out on? Any recommendations?

* this descriptor includes boy bands, ‘artists’ whose clothes (or lack thereof) routinely make the news, and almost anything else that gets airtime on mtv (during those 15 minutes during the day when they actually still play music videos).