License To Chill

[pooj]

Like most of Jimmy's stuff, I have to listen through it all a few times to let it all sink in. Overall I think this is a solid piece of work....

Speaking of pieces of work......After seeing him perform "Piece of Work" live at Alpine Saturday, I REALLY like this song. The recording doesn't do it the justice that the energy that the live performance generated!

Anyway, Coastal Confessions is growing on me, with it's underlying Cajun flavor, but I don't think Simply Complicated will make it to my Ultimate Buffett song collection.

[LIPH]

Does anyone else hear a little of The Ballad of Skip Wiley in Conky Tonkin'?

[Reefdiver]

After listening to it twice..... I give it a strong 7 out of 10. I do like most of it...but there are a few that won't make it to my personal favorite list .(Simply Complicated is on that list). After I hear it a few more times.... the 7 may just get bumped up to an 8.

[Key Lime Lee]

Btw, Key Lime Lee... how'd you get the cd before everyone else?

[TRIXIE]

Ok, at the risk of being stoned by the masses I must admit I didn't care much for more than just a few of the songs on the CD. But as I am not a country fan this is not a surprise.
I have no doubt that many cuts will give JB a great deal of country station airplay and propel him into heart of the country scene. I also feel he will be nominated for many awards CMA & grammy. This will surely be a magical year for our fearless leader. I understand this somewhat of a full circle for JB, and am delighted for his career.
I guess I am just too resistant to change and hope this doesn't signal a long term change in style for him to mainstream country.
TRIXIE

[Demerara]

I guess I am just too resistant to change and hope this doesn't signal a long term change in style for him to mainstream country.

I think a lot of people share your concerns but at the same time I don't think it's that big a departure for JB. He started out playing country and he's just revisiting it here, along with a handful of friends. I think it's kind of telling that the last song on the album is "Back to the Island" -- maybe a subtle way of saying this is just a flirtation with country and next time around, we can expect more of the "trop rock" we know and love?

[StrngBirdx]

Hey, Lee, I thought your review was right on target. This album sounds more real to me than anything JB's done since Barometer Soup, and might be his best since One Particular Harbour. I have been fighting not to become a Grumpy Old Parrothead ever since Banana Wind, so LTC is a relief.
I haven't seen anybody else mention it, but I miss Fingers on this one...

[RhumChum]

I just bought my copy during a particularly stressful weekend . . . and thank God I did . . .

I like the second part of the CD better than the first . . . apprecitated the comments about the Nanci Griffith duet and the Leon Russell cover . . . agreed also with the comments about the other duets as well . . . and do not mind Jimmy's covers like Back to the Island and the others. IMHO his style compliments the songs.

I like this CD, but it had to grow on me . . . I really liked FSOTW the second I heard it.

[LaTda]

I like Boats to build more & more each time I hear it
Coast of Carolina is much better on the CD then live-
...but I'll take the live version over the CD anyday

Conky Tonkin's pretty good

Simply Complicated & Coastal Confessions are growing on me

HGL, the music is just way too busy for me, sounds like 3 songs playing

Scarlet Begonias is nice, but IMHO doesn't "fit" on this CD

To end it with 'Back to the Island' (awesome song) is I Think more then just a coincidence, it's like he finally did it, released the modern country CD he wanted to & now he can go 'Back to the Island'

did anyone else catch that or feel that way about how he ended it? very cool I think..

[son of a beach]

I do not feel that 'Back to the Island' being last on the cd has anything to do with his musical direction because this cd is more "islandesque" than the last 2 studio albums (Beach House, Far Side)
If anything, this is the "Island" Jimmy we have not heard in a while or enough.

[Jahfin]

I also don't see any meaning behind the inclusion of "Back To the Island" as the closing track of the album. To my ears, the record has it's fair share of island sounds.

[Steve Seiler]

This is my first post in Buffetnews.com.
Since I am a relative new PH, my son gave me Songs You Know my Heart 3 years ago and I was hooked. Like many others when I buy a Mr. Buffett CD, I purchase two, one for the SUV and one for the house.
In any event, I really have enjoyed License to Chill CD which I purchased like many others on the 13th of this month.
Man, is all I can say is WOW! The new CD seems to have gone over well across the board with the numbers it has sold so far as a new release. Who knows, what the knows, knows, but I will tell you this, it appears that the old pirate ship has pulled into port for a little upgrading. BOATS TO BUILD seems as if Mr. Buffett and Mr. Jackson are telling us all something, perhaps about themselves, just listen to the song and see what it reveals to you from the opening verses to the give and take by Mr. Buffett and Mr. Jackson. Seems to me, then I am rather a relative new PH, but it does seem like a NEW PIRATE SHIP is about to set sail, the remodeled version.
When the remodeling is done book me a passage on that boat I would like to go along on that first cruise through the uncharted waters they are heading for. It seems that with Mr. Buffett and Mr. Jackson building the boat there is no doubt that it will be very seaworthy.
I know there is some flak out there about the country sound, but like others have said if you look back over the years to the Riddles in the Sand CD, there is some country no doubt on that one. Remember the song FRANKIE and LOLA, "On their second honeymoon in Pensacola?" Well listen to another song on the License to Chill CD, CONKY TONKIN. Just amazing what Mr. Buffett and Mr. Black do with that song. Although the names are different this time, Bella and Lenny,perhaps it was Frankie and Lola before they got married and had to go on that second honeymoon.
I know we all sing along with COME MONDAY, well, even though I do not sing very well, my wife does not let me sing in church (when I go on Easter and Christmas), I now find myself singing along with Mr. Buffett on the excellent love song by Mr. McAnally, COAST OF CAROLINA, the updated Come Monday.
Hell, I could go on but enough is enough. Just think at 55 years of age, it was my son 3 years ago who popped that first Mr. Buffett CD in the SUV CD unit and I heard this guy singing about Cheeseburgers, Pirates and some song about getting drunk and well you all know.....................
Well is all that I know is the music from the dark period of my life has been replaced with music that makes me think, put somethings in perspective and most of all feel good.
Steve Seiler
A relative new PH.
Indpls 07/22/04

[Tiki Bar]

I do not feel that 'Back to the Island' being last on the cd has anything to do with his musical direction because this cd is more "islandesque" than the last 2 studio albums (Beach House, Far Side)
If anything, this is the "Island" Jimmy we have not heard in a while or enough.

For some reason, when I read your posts, I hear them in Bill Paxton's voice!

And Mr Seiler, what's with all this "Mr" stuff???? We go by 1st names here!

[Steve Seiler]

Okay by me. I think I need something different rather than my name. Maybe something from the Floridays CD. This is a great site.

[photogal]

Are you guys listening to the same album as me? How is this Islandish? How can you say this is like Barometer soup or OPH? He wrote what , maybe 3 songs? This is mostly country. He had a huge country hit and does some countryish songs on his albums so he thought lets go all there this time. I'll be waiting on the beach. If he's gone country for good I'm gonna cry.

[StrngBirdx]

If he's gone country for good I'm gonna cry.

I hate to tell you, but he started out country, he's always been country, and he always will be country. Listen to White Sport Coat, and ignore the words. As David Allen Coe said, "If that ain't country, I'll kiss your ...", well you get the idea. JB has always used what he liked from rock, country, jazz, hip-hop, whatever he could find that he liked. You can find counrty elements on every one of his albums, if you listen for it...

[Key Lime Lee]

Are you guys listening to the same album as me?

Yep. I think this record may be a Rorschach test of sorts - if you approach it with negativity and cynicism because you heard it's a country record, there's certainly enough twang to make you believe that's true. But if you listen for the music, there's enough brilliant stuff on here to give it a whole different sound.

Is there more country influence on this record than others? Yeah. Is it a country record? Not even by a longshot.

Maybe I'm in the minority for thinking that Jimmy should record the music that interests HIM, not the music I want him to... I do know for a fact that he and several members of the band had a blast making this record and I know for a fact that he's legitimately excited about having a number one record.

Regardless, it's an interesting record with some great songs and some strong performances that, in the end, still sound like Buffett.

[Steve Seiler]

Good morning everyone.
I agree with Key Lime Guy as far as I am concerned, viewing the CD as a relative new PH, it is great. In the last 3 years my Mr. Buffett CD Collection has grown to most of his CD's, hell I even got the Christmas one at Walmart this year.
Heck, when you listen to his music he has always had that little bit of country in some of his songs. Look at Mr. Buffett's Roots. I just think that this current CD is great, his voice on the solo songs as well as the duets is strong and clear. The musical arrangements are great, toe tapping music.
Heck, country people go to the beach also. Everything seems like a good fit to me. Besides look at Mr. Buffett, seem happier. I think that he really enjoyed making the CD as well as the olds friends he got to sing with as well as the new ones.

[phargophan]

Overall, I like LTC. Some of the tracks definitely have a country sound, but I also think this is a good change up for Bubba. Me thinks he has gotten a taste of success in 5 o'clock Somewhere, and likes it. Not that he wasn't successful to all of us PHs, and also certainly financially, but I think he saw last year's hit as a window to broaden his appeal. And why not? I think it is great that more music fans will listen to LTC, like it, and go on to give other JB music a try.
The only down side to all this is there could be a lot more people trying to get seats for concerts!
Back to LTC, I love Sea of Heartbreak, Coast of Carolina, and the other ballads, which is still what JB does the best of all. His voice sounds the best I have heard it in years, and Scarlet Begonias is great. To me, the placement of that song, plus Back to the Island at the end of the CD says a lot. The message it sends to me is, "I like all kinds of music, including country, but I will not become just country - stay tuned".

[lgntcakes]

I don't know the legalities of it all, but I really was hoping to see "Five O'Clock Somewhere" on one of his albums - would have fit in great with this one. I don't dig country and I had to hold my breath when I bought the CD and I saw all the country duets. Don't like Alan Jackson's music enough to buy his CD just for that song.

Other than my whining about that, I really liked the CD, but he's about as far into Nashville as I'm willing to go!