Manage the Damage

Amazon.com
Working with cowriter and coproducer Sally Herbert, Somerville has crafted a fine dance-pop album. There aren't any big surprises lurking within these 11 tracks, just a batch of tasteful arrangements and nuanced production accompanying Somerville's unfaltering falsetto. "Something to Live For" opens with a pop-ballad intro, but soon shifts gears into an uptempo, affirmative dance track tinged with melancholy. The song's attitude and vibe recall '70s disco classics like Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive." Manage the Damage's high point is the masterful pop gem "This Must Be Love," in which Somerville's relaxed singing is propelled by a trip-hop undertow and then a swooning bridge blossoms into a lovely chorus that's both dreamy and irresistibly catchy. The disc's last tune, "Rolling," features floating strings buoyed by a hypnotic bass line. The accompaniment nicely supports Somerville's vocals on this well-chosen closer. --Fred Cisterna

Manage the Damage,Jimmy Somerville,Instinct Records,Alternative Pop/Rock,Club/Dance,Dance-Pop,Hi-NRG,Pop,Popular Music,Rock,Rock/Pop

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Manage the Damage

Average customer rating: Brings out the Mary in me A fine enough CD One of the most unique voices in pop music Damage Managed Beautifully Manages the Damage rather remarkably

Manage the Damage Jimmy Somerville Manufacturer: Instinct Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Home Again Root Beer Dare to Love Platinum Collection The Very Best of Jimmy Somerville ASIN: B00003IE1Z Release Date: 2000-01-11

Tracks:

1. Here I Am
2. Lay Down
3. Dark Sky
4. My Life
5. Something To Live For
6. This Must Be Love
7. Girl Falling Down
8. Someday Soon
9. Eve
10. Stone
11. Rolling

Amazon.com

Working with cowriter and coproducer Sally Herbert, Somerville has crafted a fine dance-pop album. There aren't any big surprises lurking within these 11 tracks, just a batch of tasteful arrangements and nuanced production accompanying Somerville's unfaltering falsetto. "Something to Live For" opens with a pop-ballad intro, but soon shifts gears into an uptempo, affirmative dance track tinged with melancholy. The song's attitude and vibe recall '70s disco classics like Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive." Manage the Damage's high point is the masterful pop gem "This Must Be Love," in which Somerville's relaxed singing is propelled by a trip-hop undertow and then a swooning bridge blossoms into a lovely chorus that's both dreamy and irresistibly catchy. The disc's last tune, "Rolling," features floating strings buoyed by a hypnotic bass line. The accompaniment nicely supports Somerville's vocals on this well-chosen closer. --Fred Cisterna

Customer Reviews:

Brings out the Mary in me.......2000-09-29

What can I say, he was the soundtrack of my youth and it's great having a new album of material. The tracks range from decent to great which is a better average then the recent Pet Shop Boys album or anything released by Boy George in the last decade. But Jimmy, hook up with better mixers! Get to New York and work with new blood! Stop being so English, would ya?!

A fine enough CD.......2000-09-05

Frankly, I was pleasantly surprised with this latest CD, given that I thought Somerville's last one was a big disappointment. "Manage..." includes several tracks that continue his love/talent for the disco/dance anthem ("Something to Live For" or "Stone", for example) and the bellowing of the first track ("Here I Am") is reminiscent of the best of Bronski Beat. However, what I found best were those tracks where Somerville updates his sound by successfully delving into more recent styles (dabbling in trip-hop and techno) such as on the recriminating "Dark Sky" or especially on the melodiously catchy "This Must Be Love" (great single!). Other favorites are "Someday Soon" and "Rolling". Not all of these tracks worked for me. A few, upon listening for a few months, I found needed skipping over ("Lay Down" and "Eve"). But, for the most part, this is a welcome addition to Somerville's talented career.

One of the most unique voices in pop music.......2000-04-29

I have to say I knew this album was out awhile before I bought it . . . cautiously. I really despised Sommerville's ultra-dull VH-1 on Nembutol last disc, but there's just no other voice like his, and I read good reviews of Manage the Damage, so I got it. Happily, it's made me entirely forget his last dud. This album is controlled and well-thought-out musically. Only one song is a bit overly-preachy (about physical abuse), but that's the only irritation (a lyrical one; the song sounds nice). The opening track reminds me of a catchier version of the song he recorded for the film Orlando--vaguely operatic/house/orientalist--very cool, and my favorite track on the disc. But what I like just as much as Sommerville's voice is that this album has the sound of something that won't grow immediately stale, and it's great finding a CD I can listen to all the way through without skipping tracks. Glad I bought it.

Damage Managed Beautifully.......2000-03-30

Lush, dramatic and beautiful pop album. Jimmy's distinctive voice is very strong. Vocal arrangements and lyrics sound more confident than ever. He has definitely carved out a niche for himself apart from Bronski Beat and the Communards. Fans of good pop albums will enjoy this release.

Manages the Damage rather remarkably.......2000-03-04

Jimmy Somerville is an artist who incorporates the disco/70's style of music into the dance and EBM genre (like the lounge singer meets a modern Donna Summer). His voice flows with today's dance and electronica. A welcome soloist in the tradition of The Pet Shop Boys, but much more layered and enriched with his falsetto vocal ranges. Only the British could produce an operatic quality male singer as the "pushing 40"- but still with vision- Jimmy Somerville. A tenor with eurodisco in his blood, and even though eurodisco is getting a bad rap these days, Jimmy proves with all of these tracks that he's got "Something To Live For"... for "This Must Be Love". A beautiful man with unmatched vocals and talent.

Average customer rating: actually I'd give it 7.5 out of 10

Manage the Damage Jimmy Somerville Manufacturer: Import [Generic] ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Dance & DJ | Imports | Stores | Music Rock | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Fantasia (60th Anniversary Special Edition) Read My Lips ASIN: B00000JOKV Release Date: 1999-08-31

Tracks:

1. Here I Am
2. Lay Down
3. Dark Sky
4. My Life
5. Something to Live For
6. This Must Be Love
7. Girl Falling Down
8. Someday Soon
9. Eve
10. Stone
11. Rolling
12. Something to Live For [Radio Mix][#]

Album Description

1999 solo album by the former Bronski Beat/ Commundards leader featuring the singles 'Lay Down' & 'Something To Live For', plus the bonus track 'Something To Live For' (Radio Mix). 12 tracks total.

Album Details

New 1999 Full Length CD. SOUL Influenced and Grooving Songs.

Customer Reviews:

actually I'd give it 7.5 out of 10.......1999-07-11

There are 14 tracks on the Australian edition. Wow, value for money. If you've have followed Jimmy's career, you'd like this album. He sings differently because there are not as many "song" songs as previously.

It is slightly better than the DARE TO LOVE album. Very dancy with a bit of an edge. Jimmy could definitely join forces with Faithless or Massive Attack or Mono and create great music. The disco mix of "Lay Down" is excellent.

He is singing much lower than before (still impressive) probably to attract a wider audience or not to detract from the mood of the album. The first track "Here I am" is a great opener, and the vocal reminds me of the song "Coming" from ORLANDO. My favourite song is "My Life" which I hope becomes a single.

This is a quite a focused effort, sounds nothing like the House single he cut a couple of years ago with the Weather Girls. It's not a throwaway album.

Average customer rating:

Manage the Damage Manufacturer: Gut Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music ASIN: B000E1DD36

Product Description

1. Here I Am~~~2. Lay Down~~~3. Dark Sky~~~4. My Life~~~5. Something To Live For~~~6. This Must Be Love~~~7. Girl Falling Down~~~8. Someday Soon~~~9. Eve~~~10. Stone~~~11. Rolling

Average customer rating:

Manage the Damage Jimmy Somerville Manufacturer: Musicrama/Koch ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music ASIN: B0000DEMY3 Release Date: 1999-10-19

Tracks:

1. Here I Am
2. Lay Down
3. Dark Sky
4. My Life
5. Something to Live For
6. This Must Be Love
7. Girl Falling Down
8. Someday Soon
9. Eve
10. Stone
11. Rolling
12. I Believe [*]
13. Something to Live For [Bonus Trac
14. Lay Down [Disco Mix]

Average customer rating:

Manage the Damage Jimmy Somerville Manufacturer: Festival Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Dance & DJ | Indie Music | Stores | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Indie Music | Stores | Music Dance & DJ | Imports | Stores | Music Rock | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B00000JZTD Release Date: 1999-08-31

Tracks:

1. Here I Am
2. Lay Down
3. Dark Sky
4. My Life
5. Something to Live For
6. This Must Be Love
7. Girl Falling Down
8. Someday Soon
9. Eve
10. Stone
11. Rolling
12. I Believe [*]
13. Something to Live For [Bonus Trac
14. Lay Down [Disco Mix]

Album Description

Australian edition of the former Bronski Beat/ Communards leader's 1999 solo album with three bonus tracks added, 'I Believe', 'Something To Live For' (Sounds Of Life Full Vocal Club Mix) and 'Lay Down' (Disco Mix). 14 tracks total, also featuring the singles 'Something To Live For', 'Dark Sky' and 'Lay Down'. 1999 release.

Album Details

Features Three Bonus Tracks Not on the UK Release! 'i Believe', 'Something to Live for (Sounds of Life Full Vocal Club Mix)', and 'Lay Down (Disco Mix)'.

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Rap Music

rap music

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