Underdog Victorious

Amazon.com
Underdog Victorious is the kind of album that makes listeners feel smart. Catchy and upbeat, it connects instantly to spark a Friday-at-five vibe, but it also sinks in deep on several tracks. "Tel Aviv" takes on sex slavery ("I think of my mother / I send her what I can / She thinks I'm a waitress / She's proud I'm a waitress") and the title track hopeless dorkiness, with its fat-kid protagonist, but even the heavy-subject numbers have a way of veering hard toward the lighhearted. Sobule borrows generously from Chicago for "Cinnamon Park," a throwback stoner anthem that should have been the hit of the summer, and her sleepyheaded schoolgirl voice wins us over in its lovable-kook way as it struggles to keep pace with the kicky "Joey," about a has-been teen queen. Where other "quirky" musicians stagnate or flame out, Sobule only gets stronger. Underdog Victorious is her triumph-tinged proof that in the gets-better-with-every-album race, she's the rare real deal. --Tammy La Gorce

Underdog Victorious,Jill Sobule,Artemis Records,Adult Alternative Pop/Rock,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop,Singer/Songwriter

Underdog Victorious

Average customer rating:

Delightful
Great live, too!
Astute Observations
Not my cup of tea
A young Sheryl Crow?

Underdog Victorious
Jill Sobule
Manufacturer: Artemis Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Jill Sobule
Pink Pearl
Happy Town
I Never Learned to Swim: Jill Sobule 1990-2000
Things Here Are Different

ASIN: B0002O06O4
Release Date: 2004-09-07

Tracks:

Freshman
Jetpack
Cinnamon Park
Tender Love
Underdog Victorious
Under the Disco Ball
Last Line
Tel Aviv
Joey
Nothing Natural
Angel/Asshole
Strawberry Gloss
Thank Misery
Bonus Track: I saw A Cop

Amazon.com

Underdog Victorious is the kind of album that makes listeners feel smart. Catchy and upbeat, it connects instantly to spark a Friday-at-five vibe, but it also sinks in deep on several tracks. "Tel Aviv" takes on sex slavery ("I think of my mother / I send her what I can / She thinks I'm a waitress / She's proud I'm a waitress") and the title track hopeless dorkiness, with its fat-kid protagonist, but even the heavy-subject numbers have a way of veering hard toward the lighhearted. Sobule borrows generously from Chicago for "Cinnamon Park," a throwback stoner anthem that should have been the hit of the summer, and her sleepyheaded schoolgirl voice wins us over in its lovable-kook way as it struggles to keep pace with the kicky "Joey," about a has-been teen queen. Where other "quirky" musicians stagnate or flame out, Sobule only gets stronger. Underdog Victorious is her triumph-tinged proof that in the gets-better-with-every-album race, she's the rare real deal. --Tammy La Gorce

Customer Reviews:

Delightful.......2006-11-11

I love Jill's work. She's underrated.

Her music is refreshing, humorous, thoughtful, honest with clarity & simplicity that just elevates the spirit.

GO JILL GO!

Great live, too!.......2005-12-04

I just saw Jill "on accident" last night, when she opened for my idol Cyndi Lauper in Lakewood, OH. She performed several songs from this CD, and she was a riot...what a great performer! Quite a few of her songs had the audience in stitches. Based on the material she performed last night (not to mention her sheer RAW talent, with just a guitar!), I'm definately going to add this CD to my collection, and Jill to my list of favorite performers.

Astute Observations.......2005-11-17

Jill Sobule has been a guilty pleasure of ours ever since her novelty, semi-hit, `I Kissed a Girl', the ninety's equivalent of `Girls Just Want to Have Fun'. In that song, Sobule displayed an attractive combination of wit, daring, sexiness, tunefulness, and fun, which have been trademarks of her work ever since. As if those attributes would not be reason enough to recommend a performer, Sobule's artistry extends much deeper than that, especially on this, her most fully realized album to date. She is as astute an observer of the human condition as, virtually, any songwriter out there and capable of conveying those observations with clarity, humor, compassion and grace. Perhaps the songwriter she most resembles is Randy Newman. Like Newman, Sobule frequently sings from the first person perspective of a character she has created-the struggling artist who still lives like a `Freshman', the young girl forced into prostitution in `Tel Aviv', the victim of a relationship doomed by cocaine use-always with a sensitivity, conciseness, and authenticity that, in a three plus minute song, is quite remarkable. Sobule cares about and identifies with the underdogs (as the cd title would indicate), most frequently of the female persuasion, not only of her own creation but real life ones like showbiz flash-in-the pan Joey Heatherton (on `Joey' on this cd) or star-crossed child-lover Mary Kay Latourneau (on `Mary Kay' from `Pink Pearl'). At the same time, Sobule, again like Mr. Newman, is also capable of writing something as lovely, simple and direct as `Tender Love' and `Nothing Natural'. As a musician, Sobule is truly versed in the pop canon. Her songs are always melodic and frequently beautiful with well-crafted performances and tight production. If there are caveats, they are her occasional tendency to drift toward the edges of `bubblegum' music and her Betty Boopish voice, which can be an acquired taste. We strongly urge you to take the time to acquire it, though, for this is a fine album by an undeservedly, underexposed artist-a true Underdog Victorious.

Not my cup of tea.......2005-09-01

When I heard Cinnamon Park I thought I was hearing a the new Weird Al Yankovich not the new Sharyl Crow. Ill keep it short as I just might be ill.

A young Sheryl Crow?.......2005-02-17

I bought this album because I liked her version of Underdog Victorious on Mountain Stage in Winter 2005. I was disappointed with the version of Underdog Victorious on this album. Her singing on the Mountain Stage show seemed more energetic and heartfelt whereas this album version seemed flat in comparison. The album in general just sounds like a really young Sheryl Crow.