Search - Jimmy Somerville :: Manage the Damage

One of the most unique voices in pop music

Eric Wahl | Bozeman, MT, USA | 04/28/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I have to say I knew this album was out awhile before I bought it . . . cautiously. I really despised Sommerville's ultra-dull VH-1 on Nembutol last disc, but there's just no other voice like his, and I read good reviews of Manage the Damage, so I got it. Happily, it's made me entirely forget his last dud. This album is controlled and well-thought-out musically. Only one song is a bit overly-preachy (about physical abuse), but that's the only irritation (a lyrical one; the song sounds nice). The opening track reminds me of a catchier version of the song he recorded for the film Orlando--vaguely operatic/house/orientalist--very cool, and my favorite track on the disc. But what I like just as much as Sommerville's voice is that this album has the sound of something that won't grow immediately stale, and it's great finding a CD I can listen to all the way through without skipping tracks. Glad I bought it."

Manages the Damage rather remarkably

boy_with_the_thorn_in_his_side | Atlanta, GA United States | 03/04/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Jimmy Somerville is an artist who incorporates the disco/70's style of music into the dance and EBM genre (like the lounge singer meets a modern Donna Summer). His voice flows with today's dance and electronica. A welcome soloist in the tradition of The Pet Shop Boys, but much more layered and enriched with his falsetto vocal ranges. Only the British could produce an operatic quality male singer as the "pushing 40"- but still with vision- Jimmy Somerville. A tenor with eurodisco in his blood, and even though eurodisco is getting a bad rap these days, Jimmy proves with all of these tracks that he's got "Something To Live For"... for "This Must Be Love". A beautiful man with unmatched vocals and talent."

Actually I'd give it 7.5 out of 10

07/11/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"There are 14 tracks on the Australian edition. Wow, value for money. If you've have followed Jimmy's career, you'd like this album. He sings differently because there are not as many "song" songs as previously.It is slightly better than the DARE TO LOVE album. Very dancy with a bit of an edge. Jimmy could definitely join forces with Faithless or Massive Attack or Mono and create great music. The disco mix of "Lay Down" is excellent.He is singing much lower than before (still impressive) probably to attract a wider audience or not to detract from the mood of the album. The first track "Here I am" is a great opener, and the vocal reminds me of the song "Coming" from ORLANDO. My favourite song is "My Life" which I hope becomes a single.This is a quite a focused effort, sounds nothing like the House single he cut a couple of years ago with the Weather Girls. It's not a throwaway album."