Far Side of the World

Stufunkle · Post by **Stufunkle** » March 19, 2002 3:02 pm

Where's the ISLAND HEAT? Im a little bored with the album, after I listen to it for awhile, Im sure i will enjoy it a little more. Beach House On The Moon, took me a day to get used to though. "Tonight I Just Need My Guitar", is very very good.

Godsowndrunk · Post by **Godsowndrunk** » March 19, 2002 3:25 pm

what a great album....not like A1A or Ciacil but its a new buffett sound with old buffett ideas and a sense of escapism to other parts of the world....love the liner notes....sure can make a grown man cry...i give the album 2 thumbs up and will listen to it ever day till i know all the words....far side of the world the song needs raido play....so does savannah fare you well...i see that becomming number 1 on a list somewhere!
Keep up the good work Jimmy!!!!!!!!

mnap · Post by **mnap** » March 19, 2002 3:26 pm

Just purchased the CD earlier today. Am on the second go around. Overall I love it, my favorite song out of the box is 'Far Side of the World'. I hope Jimmy plays some of the new songs during the 2002 tour. He hasn't had a new batch since Beach House. I had to laugh when I purchased today. Seems like I wasn't the only one who made a special trip to the Best Buy. A few others were walking out with only one item in hand....the new CD.

Chicago Parrotthead

Monkey · Post by **Monkey** » March 19, 2002 4:20 pm

Loving it, a great album, easy to listen to, all the qualities I like in Bubba with some new ones too!

KeyboardKev · Post by **KeyboardKev** » March 19, 2002 5:31 pm

I loved the fact that he's got a new producer. It gave the album a freshness that's been missing. I also like the fact that he used other songwriters this time - I've gotten tired of the posturing about how great his life is that's been on a bunch of albums recently (and is here on Last Man Standing and Autour Du Rocher).

I really like the country/folk/bluegrass feel and it seems like he's given Peter a bigger role this time around. Best songs are BLue Guitar, Mademoiselle, and Savannah.

buffett bug · Post by **buffett bug** » March 19, 2002 6:16 pm

I stopped and bought the new CD this morning at 7:30 because I couldn't wait till lunch to pick it up! It's great! I especially love Far Side of the Moon and Someday I Will. Altered Boy is good too, and the beginning where he talks about the location of San Francisco was pretty funny. I definitely will be playing this one over and over for a while. I'm going to Africa in June, so I was really excited to listen to this CD and get in the mood for my own adventure to The Far Side of the World. Have a very fruitful day!!

CaptainLefty · Post by **CaptainLefty** » March 19, 2002 6:25 pm

All of you guys have got to hear Jimmy discuss the CD on Radio Margaritaville with Steve Huntington. I heard it last Sat. morning and playing the CD today is so much better because of it.

I love this album. It will get lots of play this weekend on the way to Savannah for the St. Patty's Day Regatta! What timing, huh?

It was time for a change from the same old tropical feel. In this "new world" I'm glad Jimmy seems to follow the path he started with Beach House on the Moon.

The PH says "Great Job Jimmy! Keep 'em coming!"

Russie · Post by **Russie** » March 19, 2002 6:52 pm

In my humble opinion, "The Far Side of The World" is a must have for your collection.

It is a wonderful blend of stories, drums, pans, guitars, rhythm & Blues, rock & roll, congas and Buffett.

I believe it is oned of the most enjoyable collections of music Jimmy has put out in the past few years. It's just plain FUN!

But wait! There's more! .... you slide the CD in to your computer and it shows
"The Far Side of The World" video.

Enjoy
ParrotHeads of Puget Sound

parrothead42 · Post by **parrothead42** » March 19, 2002 6:58 pm

Just a quick note.

Just finished listening to the disc, and gotta say,"I like it!."

It's got something for everybody, and enough to please most.

Plus, the enhanced track fits so well that I think Jimmy now has a video he can be PROUD of!

Just my opinion.

Darrell of "Darrell & Lisa"
http://only.at/parrothead42

13 volt man · Post by **13 volt man** » March 19, 2002 11:45 pm

Thank you JB. My bottle of escapism was running near empty. Love it from beginning to beginning.

dudereno · Post by **dudereno** » March 19, 2002 11:51 pm

Been listening to this cd all day long and i tell you i love it. Me and the chick at the record store talked for 30 min about Buffett, and i got her number! i like mademoiselle the best along with blue guitar. Jimmy still continues to impress can't wait to see him in the summer.

JaMan · Post by **JaMan** » March 20, 2002 2:34 am

A beautiful album, the ballads ...... Ahhh.. Finally enough ballads. Now that you are changing channels to ballads Bubba, give us an acoustic, Ballad album (written entirely by you Jimmy!!) and watch the Grammys flow. Here's to all the ways I want you to write your next album, and congrats and cheers on "Far Side", money well spent in a time of CD burners. 5th time through it today and it's still getting better. Butts up, Parrot friends.

twelvevoltmann · Post by **twelvevoltmann** » March 20, 2002 8:18 am

hmmmm interesting comments....after listening to it i was thrown.........but after a second go it seems to mesh...I really really like the last two songs as it seems most do...Its funny how the song that he wrote alone the most people like...seems to always have been the case...you all know what I'm talking about, far side of the world. anyway...i honestly don't like the thrid song...but do like the hokey pokey...has that bizarre buffett flare...still favor the classics always will...but sometimes we have to adjust to the times and changes...

DenverBrian · Post by **DenverBrian** » March 20, 2002 9:34 am

I love the album but I could do without the minute and a half intro to Autour Du Rocher. It's fun to listen to once but it gets old real quick.

I think the theme of the album is great also. Makes me want to pack up and start traveling.

Demerara · Post by **Demerara** » March 20, 2002 10:02 am

Rushed out and bought the album yesterday at lunch, and I've listened to it a half-dozen times. Some observations, track-by-track, and personal favorites (noted with "^" - the universal "fins up" symbol!):

Blue Guitar: The album leads off with Africa rhythms, like the track "Great Heart" from Hot Water. It's a foot-shuffler.

Mademoiselle (Voulez-Vous Danser): The intro is similar to that of the title track. This a pleasant little number.

Autour du Rocher: Jimmy delves into a jazzy soul-infused number that might have worked better played up-tempo and without the French. I found the call-and-response of "Alors: Alors" particularly annoying.

Savannah Fare You Well: Not as catchy or as moving as some of the other ballads, but what sets this one apart is the steel guitar.

^All The Ways I Want You: Written by Bruce Cockburn, this is a great choice. It's a very touching ballad that might have worked equally well for Bruce Springsteen or Hank Williams Jr.

Last Man Standing: Thematically, this is about as close to the Jimmy-as-beach-bum stylings as the album gets. In atmosphere, the song reminds me of some of the material on Coconut Telegraph - which, ultimately, is a good thing.

What If The Hokey Pokey Is All It Really Is About?: I get the concept, and the message is classic Buffett, but the song seems to lack energy. Picking up the tempo a notch probably wouldn't have hurt.

Altered Boy: Reminiscent of "Slow Boat to China" in its tongue-in-cheek interpretation of a musical genre - in this case, tiki-room - but less appealing.

USS Zydecoldsmobile: I can't decide what to make of this track, which is so unlike anything Jimmy has ever recorded. There's no denying it's a good song, but does it belong on a Buffett album? The jury's still out, and the chorus may end up making the difference.

^Some Day I Will: If there's a song on this album that could fit seamlessly onto one of Jimmy's "heyday" albums, it's this one. A brilliant piece of music, it's at turns achingly beautiful, soaring, and optimistic. It offers a credo that's worth considering.

^Far Side of the World: Probably the best thing Jimmy has written alone in years. In 5:48 he manages to encapsulate, musically, his entire career. I hear overtones of his first two albums in the second stanza, and the melody is undeniably catchy - as catchy as anything on his previous 32 albums. If Margaritaville was his best shot at a #1 song, this is the next best thing. It's that good.

^Tonight I Just Need My Guitar: Absolutely beautiful. It's an introspective, hauntingly effective song featuring Jimmy and a guitar - nothing more. It's stripped bare of all the traditional Buffet trappings - about the only thing that could have improved it would be to have Fingers' harmonica moaning during the play-out. As an album closer, it's d*mn near perfect. Maybe this one sets the stage for an acoustic album?

Overall: four great tracks, four good tracks, two tracks I can't decide about, and two tracks that don't do much for me. I give it 7/10.

twelvevoltmann · Post by **twelvevoltmann** » March 20, 2002 10:10 am

Demerara - I couldn't agree more!!! You said it best!! Good job my friend!

Russie · Post by **Russie** » March 20, 2002 11:07 am

Day Two and I'm still hooked. I put it on loud while preparing for the day and my feet danced my out the door. A fun way to start the day.
I understand some of the critical observations BUT if you look at it from a tounge in cheek stand point, everything fits and fits well.
Loosen up, lay back and enjoy the ride.

capts/vbubbles · Post by **capts/vbubbles** » March 20, 2002 1:19 pm

I absolutey LOVE savannah fare you well!

sailingagain · Post by **sailingagain** » March 20, 2002 1:30 pm

It grew on me a lot more the second time around, but I really miss the "Island feel" of other albums.

clrwfins · Post by **clrwfins** » March 20, 2002 2:23 pm

This is a fabulous collection of tales and music. I must agree that the best songs on the CD are written or co-written by the man himself. "Far Side of the World" stimulates my sense of adventure and I feel that Buffett has taken me to a world that "Some Day I Will" visit. These two songs embody the wisdom, reflection, and observation that Buffett possesses. "Last Man Standing" reminds me of my wife, my brother, and me--we always are up for one more go 'round. "As for the other tunes, Blue Guitar is well written and arranged and delivered with Buffett style--I love the African feel throughout. "Savannah Fare You Well" is appropriate and well done. Autour Du Rocher is a funky off the wall departure that slowly reals in the Buffett touch. Mademoiselle has quickly grown on me. Altered Boy is still too far out for me right now, but funny. Hokey Pokey is hilarious. All the Ways I Want You tells it like it is. USS needs further review by this listener. Buffett concludes the CD like he concludes his adventures--poignant without dwelling. Well done Mr. Buffett! Thanks for letting so many live vicariously through you.