Yoko Ono & Plastic Ono Band Between My Head & the Sky Genres:Alternative Rock, Special Interest, Pop, Rock 2009 release. At 76 years young, Yoko continues to kick ass. Between My Head & The Sky is a career-defining album made with her new Plastic Ono Band. The record is a gorgeous, mind-melting blend of styles, restating an... more »d sharpening themes while plunging into the always-mysterious future. The band includes Keigo "Cornelius" Oyamada and his band members Yuko Araki and Shimmy Shimizu, Sean Lennon, Yuka Honda (of Cibo Matto) as well as NYC improvisers Erik Friedlander, Shahzad Ismaily, Michael Leonhart, Daniel Carter and Indigo Street.« less
2009 release. At 76 years young, Yoko continues to kick ass. Between My Head & The Sky is a career-defining album made with her new Plastic Ono Band. The record is a gorgeous, mind-melting blend of styles, restating and sharpening themes while plunging into the always-mysterious future. The band includes Keigo "Cornelius" Oyamada and his band members Yuko Araki and Shimmy Shimizu, Sean Lennon, Yuka Honda (of Cibo Matto) as well as NYC improvisers Erik Friedlander, Shahzad Ismaily, Michael Leonhart, Daniel Carter and Indigo Street.
"Her new album kicks off in style with a funky rockin' freak out, "Waiting For The D Train." When I first saw that title as the album opener, I thought that perhaps the 76 year old artist had images of death on her mind. Was this album a quiet farewell?
Nothing like. Well, something like- but certainly not that opening number. When was the last time you heard an album open like this- let alone an album by a 76 year old?
The album changes gear often, and sometimes dramatically, as Yoko wrestles with ideas of her lovers, legacy, life, and oncoming death. Stand out tracks are the danceable "The Sun is Down," the psychedelic "Calling," the hard hitting "Between My Head And The Sky," and the dreamy "Feel The Sand."
The album readies for the close with a trio of songs led by piano- an instrument that weighs heavily in Yoko's life and home. Here Yoko seems her most open and contemplative. As she invokes images of shuddering coughs, invisible walls, and those she'll leave behind- she also asks, "why is this life so beautiful?"
The last track on the album is a sweet surprise, and reminds us that Yoko is at heart an earnest, funny, soul."
Yoko Ono is an amazing artists!
VD2400 | USA | 09/23/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Yoko Ono's new album is an amazing piece of work/art. It's a beautiful album that blends her past music to her present music. This is an album awaited for many years from her many fans. The album is perfection and couldn't be better. Her vocals are as strong and perfect as ever! May Yoko Ono bring us more art and music very very soon because her many fans have waited too long. May there be a US tour as well! Small towns have many Yoko Ono fans as well as the cities! May the queen of art keep bringing us music and art to learn from! I love you Yoko!"
Still Defiantly Different
DSF | Amish country | 09/23/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I don't love Yoko, but I like her a lot :) BETWEEN MY HEAD AND THE SKY is a mostly very solid piece of work, considerably better than 2001's BLUEPRINT FOR A SUNRISE. Some of the tracks may sound half-finished, with vocals and lyrics that are an awkward fit to the music, but when BETWEEN succeeds, as it does most of the time, it's quite a heady listening experience. The title track is classic Yoko: funky, fierce, and darkly funny. And I imagine even longtime Yoko detractors could come away from touching ballads "I'm Going Away Smiling," "Unun. To," and "Higa Noboru" feeling their hardened hearts at least a little softened.
By the way, be sure to check out Ono's collaboration with Basement Jaxx, "Day Of The Sunflowers (We March On)." It's on the Basement Jaxx album SCARS, and it's crazy kooky brilliant."
Yoko has done it again!
Robert Welborn | Illinois/Florida | 09/25/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I love this CD! I have been a huge fan of Yoko Ono ever since I found an old 45 record with Yoko and Elephants memory!After that, I was hooked! This new CD is really very good...I especially like track #4! I hope we continue to hear from Yoko for a long long time!"
A Classic record from the inventer of Punk,and new age music
Bob Waskiewicz | Wintersville, Ohio United States | 10/03/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I heard some of these songs played on line,and Yoko and Sean performing on The View.It was such a moving moment seeing this Mother and Son teaming up together.Sean Lennon has turned into a great Young Man his Father would be proud of,and a great musician.
This CD isn't for everyone,just fans of this type of music that Yoko Invented HERSELF years ago that help spark the punk rock movement.
In 1981 I bought Yoko's album,"Season of Glass," and was blow away by some of her songs,produced by Phil Spector,Especially the first cut,"Goodbye Sadness,about her late GREAT husband."This record has that same feeling.If you are a fan,your going to love this CD,It's getting alot of notice and awards."