Tropical Brainstorm

Amazon.com's Best of 2001
"I know an island where the people are kind / And the rest of the world seems far away / Maybe it's only in the back of my mind / But I know when I go that's where I'll stay." One could not wish a better end result for the late Kirsty MacColl, whose last album opens with this prediction. Tropical Brainstorm serves as a sunny and joyous bookend on a career cut tragically short. Musically, it is a bit of a departure, favoring vibrant Latin-flavored flourishes over the slightly darker jangle of earlier material. There is, however, no mistaking the album's creator from a lyrical perspective. "Treachery" giddily turns the star-fan scenario on its head, imagining MacColl stalking a fan who has abandoned her for the musical flavor of the month. "Here Comes That Man Again" is a decidedly naughty and wise survey of cyberculture's impact on modern romance. In "Us Amazonians," a hearty romp that's easily as good as anything off of Paul Simon's The Rhythm of the Saints, the narrator punches out her true love to show him what's truly important in life. These are not your ordinary pop songs, and that's a fitting way for things to end, if they had to. MacColl always held a singular place in Anglo-pop. She was equal parts Morrissey as a less self-obsessed heterosexual woman and Flannery O'Connor as pop star. In other words, unique, and an incredibly precious resource for music to lose. --Bob Michaels

Tropical Brainstorm,Kirsty MacColl,Instinct Records,Adult Alternative Pop/Rock,College Rock,Folk-Rock,Pop,Pop/Rock,Rock,Rock/Pop,Singer/Songwriter

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Tropical Brainstorm

Average customer rating: Fun CD! Fabulous Fun Spectacular album in every way The good and the bad fun and honest songs

Tropical Brainstorm Kirsty MacColl Manufacturer: Instinct Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Singer Songwriters | Folk | Indie Music | Stores | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Kinky Boots Kite Electric Landlady Galore Kinky Boots ASIN: B00005ABK0 Release Date: 2001-04-24

Tracks:

1. Mambo De La Luna
2. In These Shoes?
3. Treachery
4. Here Comes That Man Again
5. Autumngirlsoup
6. Celestine
7. England 2 Colombia O
8. Nao Esperando
9. Alegria
10. Us Amazonians
11. Wrong Again
12. Designer Life
13. Head
14. Golden Heart
15. Things Happen
16. Good For Me

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

"I know an island where the people are kind / And the rest of the world seems far away / Maybe it's only in the back of my mind / But I know when I go that's where I'll stay." One could not wish a better end result for the late Kirsty MacColl, whose last album opens with this prediction. Tropical Brainstorm serves as a sunny and joyous bookend on a career cut tragically short. Musically, it is a bit of a departure, favoring vibrant Latin-flavored flourishes over the slightly darker jangle of earlier material. There is, however, no mistaking the album's creator from a lyrical perspective. "Treachery" giddily turns the star-fan scenario on its head, imagining MacColl stalking a fan who has abandoned her for the musical flavor of the month. "Here Comes That Man Again" is a decidedly naughty and wise survey of cyberculture's impact on modern romance. In "Us Amazonians," a hearty romp that's easily as good as anything off of Paul Simon's The Rhythm of the Saints, the narrator punches out her true love to show him what's truly important in life. These are not your ordinary pop songs, and that's a fitting way for things to end, if they had to. MacColl always held a singular place in Anglo-pop. She was equal parts Morrissey as a less self-obsessed heterosexual woman and Flannery O'Connor as pop star. In other words, unique, and an incredibly precious resource for music to lose. --Bob Michaels

Customer Reviews:

Fun CD!.......2007-05-18

Kristy's songs are funny, sometimes a bit raunchy, and entertaining. What a tragic loss that there will be no more.

Fabulous Fun.......2007-02-08

Witty lyrics, catchy tunes with a latin beat. I just love this CD. So many quotable lines, but I think my favorite is: "He said, 'Won't you walk up and down my spine?/It makes me feel strangely alive.'/I said, 'In these shoes?/I doubt you'd survive.'"

I do have to say the last 3 "bonus tracks" take away from, rather than add to the overall effect (I usually stop after "Designer Life"), but the rest of the CD is so good it still gets 5 stars.

Spectacular album in every way.......2007-01-11

If an album could express the complexity and essential qualities of a person, this is one. Sure, it's a great dance album with big chunky Cuban overtones. And sure, it would be hard to find someone who this album would not appeal to, its likeability is so complete. But the artist reaches the listener on so many levels simultaneously. It's a pure and pleasurable assault that renders the listener helpless with amazement. On the surface, a fun romp, but underneath, deeply profound. I could not get enough of it, and wore out my first CD. The joy and abandonment and humor and wit the album displays is masterful. If I could given it a hundred stars, it wouldn't be enough.

The good and the bad.......2006-08-23

I loved the beginning if this cd! Very rhythmic and the lyrics are brilliant. The middle of this cd is also very good, and again, brilliant lyrics. Almost all women can relate to her stories with a resounding "Me too!" I have listened to parts of this cd over and over and over again. The ending is, well...the ending is...?? It is like being served a wet fish after a fabulous meal. It ends with a flop and just doesn't sit well. Bottom line - I would purchase this cd again despite the ending because the rest of it is so good!

fun and honest songs.......2006-07-10

A friend made a copy of this CD for me, but I loved it so much I had to get my own shiny new copy. The songs on this CD are fun and funny; honest and sometimes sad. Kirsty MacColl manages to give you a glimpse into her world as an entertainer and as a woman. I have had a great time singing, dancing, and humming along to the whole CD.

Average customer rating: A Bright Star in Heaven Tropical Brainstorm is great start to finish Just Brilliant The Best Everyone On This Review Page Is Right!

Tropical Brainstorm Kirsty MacColl Manufacturer: V2 Int'l ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Alternative Rock | Imports | Stores | Music Folk | Imports | Stores | Music Rock | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Electric Landlady Titanic Days Kite Tropical Brainstorm Magical Mystery Tour ASIN: B00004NJMX Release Date: 2000-04-03

Tracks:

1. Mambo De La Luna
2. In These Shoes?
3. Treachery
4. Here Comes That Man Again
5. Autumgirlsoup
6. Celestine
7. England 2 Colombia O
8. Nao Esperando
9. Alegria
10. Us Amazonians
11. Wrong Again
12. Designer Life
13. Head

Album Description

Fifth album from pop chanteuse and daughter of folksinger Ewan Maccoll. You might not know her name but you've heard her voice, as a backup singer she's appeared on albums by The Pogues, Billy Bragg, Talking Heads, Simple Minds and Robert Plant. She also wrote Tracey Ullman's 1983 hit 'They Don't Know'. Includes the hit singles 'Mambo De La Luna' & 'In These Shoes?'. 2000 release. Standard jewel case.

Album Details

This One Has Cuban and Brazilian Influences, a Sort of 'Anglo-Latin Pop' Recording.

Customer Reviews:

A Bright Star in Heaven.......2006-06-29

Following the tragic loss of Kirsty a few years back I assumed I had her entire catalog on CD .... Wrong! Up pops this gem as an Amazon Recommendation and into my wallet I dive. A fine cd with many standout tracks, particlarly, "In These Shoes?" and "England 2 Colombia 0". I love the way she plays with the Calipso rhythms, much as she did in her early years appearing as guest singer on several UK TV programs.

Tropical Brainstorm is great start to finish.......2005-09-18

This album is so well-written, performed, and produced that it continues to be a pleasure to hear over and over again. I suspect this is probably some of Kristy's best work, completely levereaged by her love of tropically inspired love of latin/afro-cuban music, men, leisure, and alcohol. There are some very talented performers on this album and you can tell that everyone had a fun time making it. Kristy's voice is very pure, and hearing her sing many of the lines in other languages is very alluring! If you heard "These Shoes" and wonder if you should buy the whole album, the answer is definitely "Yes".

Just Brilliant.......2004-03-25

This album is one of my very, very favorites. The lyrics are hilarious, and the music gets better the more you listen to it. You can't do without this one.

The Best.......2001-03-12

You know how you can have good albums, even favourite albums? But there is usually one track which is a bit duff. Not on 'Tropical Brainstorm'! You know how you can overplay an album over three months and then you don't listen to it for ages? Not 'Tropical Brainstorm'! You know how the charts today is filled with airheaded bimbo's, marketed solely on their looks although they cannot sing without that bloody awful voice modulator thing (And 'Yes' Britney, I'm talking about you!)...? Well, not Kirsty MacColl. Simply put, a damn fine artist unfairly taken from us, but a tremendous album. A 'must buy'!

Everyone On This Review Page Is Right!.......2001-01-23

I am from the US and was unaware that Tropical Brainstorm was even available until after Kirsty's accident. So, I immediately made the purchase(I am a fan going back to Kite and before) and, after recieving it, was more than not disappointed, I was overjoyed! Look, if you are one of those people who reads review pages like these, take the advice of all of the other reviewers and BUY THIS RECORD. Very few artists can move so effortlessly from somber to sweet to silly and not come off scattered or worse. Kirsty's was a rare gift and it's a shame she left us so early. If you can listen to any number of songs on this disc(Treachery, England 2 Columbia 0, Us Amazonians) and not walk away beaming and singing it out loud, you're not human. Get your credit card ready......

Average customer rating: fans of great pop music need this cd La Vida McColl

Tropical Brainstorm Kirsty Maccoll Manufacturer: Pid ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music Folk | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B00004LMAG Release Date: 2000-03-28

Album Description

Fifth album from pop chanteuse and daughter of folksinger Ewan Maccoll. You might not know her name but you've heard her voice, as a backup singer she's appeared on albums byThe Pogues, Billy Bragg, Talking Heads, Simple Minds andRobert Plant. She also wr

Customer Reviews:

fans of great pop music need this cd.......2000-04-07

Kirsty Maccoll is known for her forays into different styles of music. This is her latin album. But beyond that, Tropical Brainstorm is full of thoughtful lyrics and interesting melodies that are Ms. Maccoll's trademark. She is a good songwriter, who deserves more recognition. Unfortunately, her other albums are out of print in the US, so a curious newcomer to Kirsty has to start here. Fortunately, Tropical Brainstorm is a respectable place to start.

La Vida McColl.......2000-03-31

The very image of Kirsty MacColl doing the limbo is bizarre. Not sure why that should be - it's just that she is so very English. Yet here she is, with an album stuffed full of rhumbas, merengues, salsas and guacamoles. (Hey, what do I know - I'm very English too.)

For the most part, it works surprisingly well. I adore "Celestine" - a song about her sexier alter ego; "In These Shoes" - brutally witty and camp; and "England 2 Colombia 0".

However, the cod-Latin can feel a little incongruous and I have to wonder if some songs wouldn't have been better with a more traditional pop beat.

The high-point of the album is the heartbreaking "Wrong Again" - a song about the end of a relationship. Tellingly, the Latin influences are subdued.

The low point is "Here Comes That Man Again" - a song about cybersex. Perhaps I don't want to think about Kirsty downloading dodgy pictures and moaning down a modem. Just when I thought it was safe to go back on NetMeeting...

The songs work best in a live setting. I saw her recently at the Jazz Cafe and at Dingwalls, and she and the band were just brilliant. She has marvellous stage presence and rapport: "Sorry it's so packed in here tonight," she said, "I tried to get the Millennium Dome. But the government didn't want it full of dope-smoking homosexuals. Still, what can you do, that's my audience - dope-smoking homosexuals." [Big cheer]

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1. Tuxicity [Explicit Lyrics]
2. Welcome To The Monkey House [Enhanced]
3. Wonder What's Next [Enhanced]
4. A Million in Prizes: The Anthology [Explicit Lyrics]
5. A Valid Path
6. Alfie [Soundtrack]
7. All Rise
8. Antidote
9. Any Time Now [Live]
10. Baby [Enhanced]

Rap Music

rap music

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