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Robyn Hitchcock - Eye Audio CD

A fair review of the Robyn Hitchcock "Eye" 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 Robyn Hitchcock reviews here, or go back to the Robyn Hitchcock tabs.

Robyn Hitchcock Band: Robyn Hitchcock
Title: Eye
Rating:
Release Date: 2007-11-13
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Cynthia Mask 2: Certainly Clickot 3: Queen Elvis 4: Flesh Cartoons 5: Chinese Water Python 6: Executioner 7: Linctus House 8: Sweet Ghost of Light 9: Transparent Lover 10: Beautiful Girl 11: Clean Steve 12: Raining Twilight Coast 13: Agony of Pleasure 14: Glass Hotel 15: Satellite 16: Aquarium 17: Queen Elvis II 18: Century 19: Shimmering Distant Love 20: Lovers Turn to Skulls 21: Beauty of Earl's Court

Moody, Funny, Esoteric, Haunting, Beautiful, Brilliant
I've enjoyed seeing Robyn play at The Great American Music Hall in San Francisco a number of times and have some bootlegged material as well. As a point or two of reference, Eye was my first investment in an album by Robyn Hitchcock (though I'd heard a handful of his songs before) and I was living in the SF Bay Area at the time I got it. For me Eye is emotional, personal (could it have been titled "I"?), wonderful and delightfully odd. [I have the earlier release, framed by the two versions of "Queen Elvis", without the bonus tracks. ]

Comparing it to I Often Dream of Trains, I'd say Eye is more listenable, accessible and cohesive; in short, better. A previous reviewer found the song "Beautiful Girl" dumb -- au contraire: it's sublime, more mature than "Sometimes I Wish I Was Pretty Girl" and equally catchy. With the possible exception of "Autumn is Your Last Chance", (from Trains), Eye has more soft and gentle (so-called relationship) material with sufficient edgy material to keep you awake and wondering.

The guitar work is terrific. The songs are artful and frequently humorous. The album rolls nicely from one track to the next. Oh, just buy it.

.


Robyn Hitchcock - Eye 2008 release
Most of the songs on this are really strong, in my humble opinion

"Linctus House" appeared on his best of compilation (the Rhino Records one) but really, Cynthia Mask, Chinese Water Python, Clean Steve, Aquarium.

A LOT of these songs wouldn't be out of place on a Robyn Hitchcock best of, and most of the songs on this he still plays live

Robyns been recently playing his I Often Dream of Trains album in its entirety. Lets hope he does this one next

I think this is his best solo, personally

LOT of good stuff added to the most recent Eye reissue - "The beauty of Earl's Court" in particular is wonderful

I think this might be a very good place to start if you're getting into Robyn. Either this or Trains. His first album (Black Snake Diamond Role) is a VERY good collection of songs, but this is more personal

A lot of these songs I've heard SO many times, and I'll probably be listening to them for as long as I live. The first track ("Cynthia Mask") is a good taster track, or maybe "Glass hotel" is another track to sample if you like the sound of a good guitar

I like Robyns playing on this a lot too

Try to get the most recent reissue of this album. Not sure if that has "Sweet Ghost of Light" (great track) but it does have "Earls Court" at the end, which is absolutely wonderful.

Enjoy!.


More personal, less obtuse
Yes, there is still the occasional shellfish or insect reference, but there is a directness here that he has avoided in much of his other records, and yes, even a number of "relationship songs" which range from the simple, joyous "Beautiful Girl" to the reflective "Linctus House. Half a decade after the critical success of the largely solo acoustic record "I Often Dream of Trains," Hitchcock once again took a break from his band exploits with the Egyptians to create another collection of acoustic numbers, and I would argue that this is his most personal and haunting collection of songs, and almost as good as anything else in his catalog as it showcases his various lyrical talents and his ability to synthesize his three primary influences, Lennon, Dylan and Barrett. " Songs like "Cynthia Mask," "Executioner" ("I know how Judas felt/but he got paid/I'm doing this for free/just like Live Aid") and the title track are among his finest. Even the lesser tracks reflect his range, from instrumental folk guitarist ("Chinese Water Python"), spoken word poetry ("Furry Green Atom Bowl") and some uninteresting exercises in sheer wackiness ("Certainly Clicquot"). Essentially, this record was a glimpse into what Hitchcock would become after the Egyptians folded (that is, until he picked up a group again recently with the Venus 3): a psychedelic folk troubadour, with his own complete lyrical language and musical universe. A must. .


Average Fare by Hitchcock Standards
" There is more filler on "Eye," less great songs, the English whimsy seems more forced this time around. I think most Robyn Hitchcock fans will admit that "Eye" pales in comparison to "I Often Dream of Trains.

There are some great songs on "Eye," especially "Queen Elvis," with its hauting vocal delivery and lyrics. Also "Cynthia Mask" and "Flesh Cartoons. "

The rest of the songs, although they occasionally feature some beautiful guitar, are merely good or average by Hitchcock's standards. "Executioner" is good, but is just another of his failed relationship songs, and the lyrical conceit is rather artificial. On this album, Robyn has far too many relationship songs, and while "Beautiful Girl" is catchy, it is dumb.

So, all in all, the quality of this album is uneven, with 3 great songs, some good ones, and the rest just mediocre. As with Hitchcock's other lesser albums, I only play the really great songs, never listening to the whole album all the way through. .


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

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