Search - George Harrison :: Brainwashed (Special Edition with Bonus DVD)

The Light that Has Lighted the World, continues

Richard Borden | Pittsburgh | 11/20/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"There is no 'buyer beware' here. Often with posthumous releases, you never know how 'ready' the artist had his work. 'Brainwashed' from the legendary George Harrison has everything but a George here on earth to promote it and possibly tour with it. It's great, not 'All Things Must Pass' great, but great compared to much of what passes for music in 2002. If you liked The Traveling Wilburys, you'll love it. If you liked 'Cloud Nine' you'll love it -- in many ways it's 'Cloud' Part 2. And if you loved him as a Beatle, there's no way you won't like it. Lots of juicy slide guitar. It's also very topical. Stand out tracks are: the perfect album opener, the kicking "Any Road"; "Rising Sun", with its topical commentary; the weepy "Never Get Over You", and a personal favorite is his demo-sounding cover of "Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea", reminding one of "For You Blue" from bygone days. Jeff Lyne, of ELO fame/Wilburys, lends the production hand and, fortunately, doesn't make it into an ELO album. It's 'solo George' pure and simple, and there will never be anything like it again. As the sticker bluntly says: The Final Studio Album. Thanks for leaving it behind, George. A tip: spend the extra few bucks and get the enhanced/with DVD version rather than just the audio CD, absolutely beautifully packaged and makes a better 'gift' to give."

4 1/2 stars for George's last album

Wayne Klein | My Little Blue Window, USA | 11/20/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Although it doesn't have the scope or depth of Harrison's solo debut (All Things Must Pass although technically speaking Wonderwall was his first solo album), Brainwashed is one of the best solo albums Harrison made. The sad part is that he'll never be able to follow up on this terrific album. None of this is being said after looking through rose tinted glasses; the songs on Brainwashed are among his most accomplished and lyrically adept since ATMP, Living in the Material World and Cloud Nine).Although finished by Jeff Lynne in collaboration with Dhani Harrison (they both added additional touches such as rhythm guitar overdubs, strings whether appropriate and backing vocals on some of the uncompleted tracks), Harrison's distinctive slide guitar playing and singing are never buried or obscured. Lynne and Dhani Harrison have lovingly applied their musical craft to finish this terrific album in a style that Harrison would have approved of (although Lynne does mention in the DVD included that Harrison might have thought the production touches a little too much and apologies by saying, "sorry George but they were such beautiful songs". They still are and, I don't doubt, that Harrison would have approved).It's as he never quit recording. Brainwashed sounds like the logical successor to Cloud Nine and the Wilbury albums. Harrison, Lynne and Dhani Harrison build an accomplished and tuneful musical ladder that allows George to climb to the top. When he gets up there he lets his playing speak for itself. Brainwashed features some of George's most affecting and powerful playing.The opening track Any Road, Vatican Blues and Stuck Inside a Cloud (a personal fav of Dhani's, it's track number 7 as 7 was George's favorite number)are all outstanding. Harrison's collaboration with Jools Holland and his band on the standard Devil and the Deep Blue Sea isn't camped up. Harrison plays "uke" (as he and Dhani call it). Holland and his band give a nice swing texture to the track.The magnum opus, though, is the title track. Brainwashed manages to roll all of Harrison's favorite topics into one. The use of sitar and other Indian musical textures both look back to Pepper and acknowledge that Harrison's affection for Ravi Shankar and Indian music was never a fad for George. It's a powerful 6 minute piece and still manages to end the album on a positive note. George's tasteful slide playing is all over the album and reminds me what an accomplished and talented player he was. He may never of had the chops of Hendrix but then he didn't need them. His lyrical and melodic playing always was a highlight of his solo work.The DVD in the deluxe backage is a short documentary on the making of the album. It includes glimpses of the recording of the album both when Harrison was recording and Lynne & Dhani were finishing it. There's a number of brief interviews of George situationed throughout the video. We also get to see a music video that George recorded with Jools Holland and his band for the song Devil and the Deep Blue Sea. Additionally, there's clips for Any Road and Stuck Inside a Cloud that uses footage of George on his estate.The big question will be is the DVD and extras worth it? Certainly if you're a big Beatles or Harrison fan. I wish the DVD could have been longer and included any number of the videos being created for the album. The sticker, poster and guitar pick are nice additions. Given a few more listens, I might change that 4 1/2 star review to a five!"

About the guitar pick and packaging

Wayne Klein | 11/29/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Yes, the album is great. Only regret that there's not more of it, but maybe there will be more of George's late career work released in time. (And maybe "All For Love" too, someday.) But the deluxe edition packaging needs some praising. This is a primo box package. Beautiful Dark Horse logo in glossy black on flat black with title and signature in George's own writing. Have any critics commented on his "By George Harrison" byline? The inside of the box is "wallpapered" with Oms. The poster isn't really a poster so much as a fine photo of George (Hawaii? 2000?)as opposed to CD booklet sized image. The Dark Horse sticker is a little something extra, nothing more. So many "critics" are complaining about the DVD. Why? Yes, it is short but it is incredibly well crafted, with great interviews. I wish the whole lip syched "Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea" were included, since it obviously exists. BUT the best part of the whole deluxe box is the "autographed" guitar pick. Even if you are not a guitarist, you have to appreciate the collector's value of this little, last Fab memento. As if saying, "Here's a pick for you to keep while I'm gone to remember me by." And for nonbelievers, it will be worth far more than your old Beatles cards and lunchbox in time because it is a limited edition. But what's with the album cover anyway? Is it really just saying that we are all mannequin/dummies with our televisons turned on? I prefer the box set cover."