View Poll Results: Please give the album a score out of ten

Voters
9. You may not vote on this poll
  • 0 out of 10

    1 11.11%
  • 1 out of 10

    0 0%
  • 2 out of 10

    0 0%
  • 3 out of 10

    0 0%
  • 4 out of 10

    0 0%
  • 5 out of 10

    2 22.22%
  • 6 out of 10

    2 22.22%
  • 7 out of 10

    1 11.11%
  • 8 out of 10

    0 0%
  • 9 out of 10

    2 22.22%
  • 10 out of 10

    1 11.11%
+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 18

Thread: Album Club - Week 106: 13.08.2013: Howard Jones - Dream Into Action (1985)

  1. #1
    Join Date: Feb 2013

    Location: Land of the Lilac Curtains, UK

    Posts: 286
    I'm Curator.

    Default Album Club - Week 106: 13.08.2013: Howard Jones - Dream Into Action (1985)

    Thanks to Lawrence (losenotaminute) for his selection for this week.


    This week I have chosen Dream Into Action by Howard Jones.



    This was Howard's second album, released in 1985. IMO this is electronic music at its best, with imaginative use of synthesisers to create rich and engaging sounds, coupled with good song-writing and meticulous production values. He is still touring regularly.



    YouTube - No One is to Blame

    Discogs - Dream Into Action

    Track listing:

    Side One
    1."Things Can Only Get Better" - 4:02
    2."Life In One Day" - 3:39
    3."Dream Into Action" - 3:45
    4."No One Is to Blame" - 3:28
    5."Look Mama" - 3:53
    6."Assault And Battery" - 4:51
    Side Two
    1."Automaton" - 4:04
    2."Is There A Difference?" - 3:33
    3."Elegy" - 4:20
    4."Specialty" - 3:58
    5."Why Look For The Key" - 3.23
    6."Hunger For The Flesh" - 3:59

    From Wikipedia:
    Howard Jones (born John Howard Jones, 23 February 1955, Southampton, Hampshire, England) is a British musician, singer and songwriter. According to the Guinness Book of British Hit Singles & Albums, "Jones is an accomplished singer-songwriter who was a regular chart visitor in the mid-1980s with his brand of synthpop. Jones, who was equally popular in the U.S., appeared at Live Aid". Allmusic journalist, Stephen Thomas Erlewine adds, "Jones was one of the defining figures of mid-1980s synthpop. His music merged the technology intensive sound of New Wave with the cheery optimism of hippies and late 1960s pop. Jones racked up a string of hits in the mid and late 1980s, before he retreated into being a cult figure in the 1990s".

    For those of you into synths, here is a YouTube video of Howard reviewing the Jupiter 80 in his music room.

    I look forward to hearing your opinions.

    Lawrence

  2. #2
    synsei Guest

    Default

    To me this is Jones pivotal album packed full of foot-tappingly good tunes and rich, textured synth harmonies. Stand out tracks for me are the singles Things Can Only Get Better, Dream Into Action and Look Mama, however my favourite track on the album has got to be the haunting Elegy
    Last edited by synsei; 14-08-2013 at 02:25.

  3. #3
    Join Date: May 2011

    Location: Somewhere

    Posts: 1,863
    I'm Paul.

    Default

    I will give this a go but never was into synth pop. Always think of Jones and Nick Kershaw as one so to speak. Judging by his age wasn't Jones just a talented musician that jumped on the 80's pop bandwagon for commercial reasons ?

  4. #4
    Join Date: Dec 2012

    Location: Auld Reekie

    Posts: 483
    I'm Lawrence.

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by synsei View Post
    To me this is Jone's pivotal album packed full of foot-tappingly good tunes and rich, textured synth harmonies. Stand out tracks for me are the singles Things Can Only Get Better, Dream Into Action and Look Mama, however my favourite track on the album has got to be the haunting Elegy
    Dave,

    I'm pleased and a bit relieved that you like it. I was worried that nobody else would appreciate this kind of album, but hopefully if people give it a chance they will recognise the songwriting skill. What I like is the variety of sounds and textures, of course it should be played loud on a decent system to get the shivers down the spine.

    Lawrence

  5. #5
    Join Date: Dec 2012

    Location: Auld Reekie

    Posts: 483
    I'm Lawrence.

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Audioman View Post
    I will give this a go but never was into synth pop. Always think of Jones and Nick Kershaw as one so to speak. Judging by his age wasn't Jones just a talented musician that jumped on the 80's pop bandwagon for commercial reasons ?
    I think Howard was classically trained, but I'm not sure his motivation was entirely commercial. If you watch the video about the Jupiter synth it's apparent that he loves synthesizer sounds and given that he is still touring and composing we can't really consider him like the Pop Idol flash in a pan no-marks.

    Lawrence

  6. #6
    synsei Guest

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by losenotaminute View Post
    Dave,

    I'm pleased and a bit relieved that you like it. I was worried that nobody else would appreciate this kind of album, but hopefully if people give it a chance they will recognise the songwriting skill. What I like is the variety of sounds and textures, of course it should be played loud on a decent system to get the shivers down the spine.

    Lawrence
    I am a huge fan of Synth-Pop Lawrence (I can't stand the genre classification personally but it serves a purpose here). Artists such as Howard, Thomas Dolby and Nik Kershaw were consummate songwriters who fully understood the technology they employed and their market. Unfortunately, and for reasons I cannot fathom, time has dealt them a cruel blow as their output is not fondly remembered by many, probably because they feel that songs produced with synthesizers and computers somehow do not deserve be considered as serious music, I think they believe that the artist has cheated somehow. This couldn't be further from the truth. Below is a track from each artist which demonstrates the opposite is true.






  7. #7
    Join Date: Feb 2008

    Location: Berkshire

    Posts: 2,739
    I'm Paul.

    Default

    Just listening to this album now ... very good... might have to get it
    Streamer: NovaFidelity X40, Turntable: Rega RP3, Arm: Rega RB303, Cartridge: Audio Technica AT120E, Amp: Belles Aria, Loudspeakers: Quadral Aurum Montan VIII, Rack: Creaktiv Trend 1, Cables: Beresford, Chord, Coherent, MCRU, Rega, TCI.

  8. #8
    Audio Al is offline Pishanto Specialist & Super-Daftee
    Join Date: May 2012

    Location: Dagenham Essex

    Posts: 11,215
    I'm Allen.

    Default

    I have listened to this album

    Sorry its not for me

    Nothing to spark me into action musically or vocally

    I gave it 5 out of 10
    [

  9. #9
    Join Date: Nov 2010

    Location: Cheshire

    Posts: 1,180
    I'm Barry.

    Default

    I didn't like a lot of 80's music in fact I hardly bought anything until Marillion came onto the scene, this album is so typical of the times , but give him his due he was/is a decent writer so the album managed a 5/10.

    ps. I couldn't listen to "Like to get to know you well", it is a song from those times that I hate.

  10. #10
    Join Date: May 2011

    Location: Somewhere

    Posts: 1,863
    I'm Paul.

    Default

    This actually surprised me being only familiar with HJ's singles. Based on the original 12 lp tracks I give it a 6/10. The song writing and arrangements are very good in spite of my dislike for drum machines.

+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •