A Generally Unheard Classic
big-duck | Tarzana, CA USA | 03/10/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The original release of "Faust" (in Randy's words) "didn't sell enough to pay for my kids' toothpaste."The Randster tackles the classic story, "Faust" with sardonic tongue-in-cheek style that laces through most of his best work, and comes out with a fantastic and subtely (and sometimes out-loud) funny work of art. Great tunes, fantastic production - this album in certain ways culminates a unique and beatufiul career - Randy tackles the heaviest of subjects (God), drags out contemporaries and far more commercially successful friends (Elton John, Don Henley) and creates a work of beauty that is so direct AND off center, that it finds little audience in today's CD buying market place. For those who love "Good Old Boys" - this is a perfect companion. Tackling an even more taboo subject with another disc of Randy on piano, playing the melodies raw.Randy, of course, plays The Devil. And his own personally undecided view of religion comes through. How Glorious is God sings James Taylor as The Big Guy, only to have Randy reply with "We're Only a Figment of Their Imagination." Are they? And if so, whose singing? Ah, the irony. Randy style.Kick in Disc 1 and listen to this masterpiece in lushly produced glory, and now listen to Randy's demos on Disc 2 as he warbles his way through the story - double confirming that the Great Mystery is just as confusing to Mr. Newman as it is for the rest of us.But most importantly, as any good album, it comes down to the music. If you'd like a concept album that breaks new ground while singing about the old, this is for you. Take a chance. You'll never hear anything like it. God Bless Randy for being Randy and taking chances. Or someone should bless him - whoever you personally believe has the ability to do it."
Nothing Else Comes Close
saserfrac | Ventura, Ca United States | 01/30/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I listened to this album (with headphones) for the first time last night and when I wasn't laughing, my jaw was on the floor for the sheer musical greatness that unfolded before me. You gotta hear this with headphones. Christians beware, Randy Newman is on the prowl! But in all fairness to Randy, he says in his liner notes (also great w/ this Dlx pkg) "It doesn't make the case for Atheism more effectively than than the case for religion". If you doubted Newman's artistry before, then Faust will surely correct your oversight!"
Inspired
Glen Koehn | London, Ontario | 12/26/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Clever, blasphemous, corrosively funny and sometimes poignant. It's the real thing. Let's face it: putting this in front of a pop music audience was like feeding oysters and icy vodka to a baby. No wonder it failed commercially. But it bears repeated listening, in my experience. Knowing Goethe's Faust (Part I) helps. The orchestration is creative, the melodies occasionally lovely. I only wish that it had been fully developed instead of staying in its unfinished form, because it would have ranked among the best of American musical theater. The remaining tracks are fragments of a brilliant work."
Track Listings (17) - Disc #1