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Jimmy Buffett - Hot Water Audio CD

A fair review of the Jimmy Buffett "Hot Water" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Jimmy Buffett reviews here, or go back to the Jimmy Buffett tabs.

Jimmy Buffett Band: Jimmy Buffett
Title: Hot Water
Rating:
Release Date: 1990-10-25
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Homemade Music 2: Baby's Gone Shoppin' 3: Bring Back the Magic 4: My Barracuda 5: Air de la Louisiane 6: Prince of Tides 7: Pre-You 8: King of Somewhere Hot 9: Great Heart 10: Smart Woman (In a Real Short Skirt) 11: That's What Living Is to Me

Homemade Music Ain't On The Radio
Throughout the 60's and 70's there had been a somewhat unlevel playing field in that area in terms of the black and white audience. Don't know for sure if anyone was thinking too hard about the situation at the time but honestly,the mid/late 80's had to be one of the most confusing times for pop musicians in terms of commercial attention. By the next decade,despite the lip service to integration most artists black and white were having trouble crossing over unless they had a very strong visual appeal. There were a number of artists in that spectrum who were commenting in different ways on the situation. And Jimmy Buffet ended up doing one of the best concepts on that here,both lyrically and musically. Jimmy,having come up in the multi-cultural musical mix of the 70's had never shyed away from throwing in different rhythmic elements,particulary lite calypso steel drums not only to emphasize his party hearty atmosphere but also to indicate that,while not everyone is the same music from many sources can join up very well if done properly. By this time it's 1988 and. . . . . nothing has really changed. With the advent of the digital age Jimmy Buffet relies strongly on his strenghs with a type of modernization that would prove to age very very gracefully. And with the guest list that includes Marcus Miller,Grover Washington Jr,Anthony Jackson,Steve Winwood,Steve Cropper and the Memphis Horns you know the proceedings are going to have lots of great grooves from every end of the spectrum. "Homemade Music" is one of the best songs I ever heard from Buffet. An upbeat blues/funk/soul jam with some classic satirical lyrics it has that "upbeat-but-make-you-think" kind of "people" record that,while firmly rooted in the genre of the times was definately rooted somewhere strong. "Baby's Gone Shopping" and "My Barracuda" are harder blues/rock tunes that both have a crisp little bite to them. "L'Air de la Louisiane",sung in French,the jazzy waltz "Pre-You",Prince Of Tides" and the the Mark Twain sendup "That What Living Is To Me" are the softer egded tunes on the album but even though the might seem a little easy going. . . . there's just that hint of darkness in the vocal delivery and lyrics that makes the lightness of the song stand out with stronger colors. Another great tune here is "King Of Somewhere Hot",a nice jazzy calypso themed tune with some quirky bass playing and an unusual delivery that's both eerie and breezy all that the same time. "Great Heart" and "Smart Women" are pleasant enough pop-rock style tunes that are nice enough but don't exactly match the energy and intent of what came before it. Being only familiar with a couple hits and the Banana Wind CD in terms of Jimmy Buffet music it was pleasant to find that this albu,which I purchased mainly on the strengh of the session personel involved in the musical side of things that everyone involed were very clear on this concept and were able to pull it off with plenty of energy and flair.


Additional Info
This was one of the few Buffet albums I didn't own, so upon reading again his biography of turning 50, which I do every summer to get my in that summer mood, I reread his account of the story of King of Somewhere Hot. The reviews here were right on. I just love the title and the concept. When I heard it I was a bit disappointed and just a bit disappointed with Smart Woman in a Short Skirt, but man do I love those titles. I wish Marshall Chapman would have stayed with him a bit longer.

Musically though I would rate the duet with James Taylor and Bring Back the Magic as a couple of the more endearing tunes of Jimmy's entire catalog.


Matt Byrd
Ft. Walton Beach, Fl.


That's what Livin' is to Me
If you're ready for Buffett songs you'll likely only hear on Radio Margaritaville, go for it, if for nothing other than one of JB's best creations in "That's what Livin' is to Me. If you're a Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday Buffett fan who knows the concert basics, "Hot Water" might be a stretch. " You'll rarely hear it sung in concert (I think the last time was in 2001), but Twain, Lewis Carroll and Buffett all at once? Amazing! "Pre-You" is a cheeky little song, as is "Smart Woman. " And like another reviewer mentioned, the Buffett cover of "Great Heart" only adds to the good stuff on "Hot Water. " .


Takes some listening to get something out of it
The music seemed to be all over the place and Jimmy didn't seem to be very engaged in the songs. The first couple of times I listened to 'Hot Water' I didn't like it. However, after a few listens, many of the tunes grew on me and I changed my tune. 'Homemade Music' is a tune that reminds of 'Making Music for Me' from his earlier days. 'King of Somewhere Hot' has actually become one of the songs that stay in my iPod and 'Smart Woman (In a Real Short Skirt)' while simple in lyrical style does say something poignant about Jimmy going from superficial to something a little more substantial. Having given the CD solid multiple listens now, I don't hesitate to drop it into the player. While not his best work, it certainly isn't bad.


A Little KNown Gem
These songs are some of Jimmy's finer work. Most non-Buffet fans have never heard of the songs on this album, and that is a true shame. Following an environmental slant, Hot Water dispenses pure soul in the form of songs like Prince of Tides and That's What Living Is To Me. Probably too thought provoking for the passing Buffett fan. True fans will love this album.


You can see a complete list of all Jimmy Buffett discography, or go back to the Jimmy Buffett tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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