[.ca] Silvertone

Chronique amazon.fr:
Dès ce premier album, Chris Isaak semblait avoir tout calculé. Toutes cartes en main. Un son construit sur sa voix, naviguant entre Roy Orbison et Elvis Presley, et la réplique que lui donne la guitare de James Calvin Wisley. C'est d'ailleurs d'une marque de guitare bon marché (mais très culte) que cet album tient son titre. Cette guitare qui inscrit la musique d'Isaak dans une histoire, dans une tradition, n'en fait pourtant pas un langage figé, ni un objet de nostalgie. Le mordant de "Isaak la belle gueule" est dans son phrasé velours, avec un coin de mystère. À l'écoute de "Dancing", on a l'impression d'écouter une cérémonie un peu obscure, presque envoûtante. Pour cela Chris Isaak n'a pas son pareil : un vibrato atmosphérique, visionnaire, et opportuniste. Il fallait oser. La suite lui a donné raison, sans le transformer. --José Ruiz

Amazon.com essential recording:
In 1985 synthesizers and big hair were in: reverb-laden rockabilly guitars and smooth-as-silk vocals were not. Yet Warner Brothers took a chance with this unique debut from an unknown singer and his band, Silvertone, from San Francisco. While the rest is history, this is where it all started--with the brooding "Talk to Me," the pained yearnings of the stunning "The Lonely Ones," the sensuous gyrations of "Dancin'," and the haunting "Voodoo." Guitarist Jimmy Wilsey coaxed wonderfully retro yet fresh-sounding atmospherics from his guitar, and Chris Isaak's Roy Orbison-styled crooning and matinee-idol looks created an undeniably sexy vibe. Isaak's love affair with the music of Sun Studios is evident on nearly all tracks, but shines on the rave-up "Gone Ridin'" and the beautiful ballad, "Western Stars." --Lorry Fleming

From Amazon.co.uk:
In 1985 synthesizers and big hair were in: reverb-laden rockabilly guitars and smooth-as-silk vocals were not. Yet Warner Brothers took a chance with this unique debut from an unknown singer and his band, Silvertone, from San Francisco. While the rest is history, this is where it all started--the brooding "Talk to Me", the pained yearnings of the stunning "The Lonely Ones", the sensuous gyrations of "Dancin'", and the haunting "Voodoo". Guitarist Jimmy Wilsey coaxed wonderfully retro yet fresh-sounding atmospherics from his guitar, and Chris Isaak's Roy Orbison-styled crooning and matinee-idol looks created an undeniably sexy vibe. Isaak's love affair with the music of Sun Studios is evident on nearly all tracks, but shines on the rave-up "Gone Ridin'" and the beautiful ballad, "Western Stars". --Lorry Fleming

Origin of the sound:
I really like Chris Isaak and have everything he has made. But, everyone of his albums sounds alike. This is his first album. Besides his classic song, Dancing, there is nothing here that stands out from all of his other albums. This is basically the origins of his sound that he refines and builds upon in later albums. People who have followed him from the beginning may consider this to be his ultimate album because everything later is just a variation of the original. But, if you listen to the later albums and then come back to this one, you may find that the first album is a little bland and is just the seed for better subsequent material.

Isaak's Debut:
Chris Isaak's debut album takes its name from his backing band, Silvertone. The band's sound harkens back to the hey day of Sun Studios where artists like Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and, most notably for Mr. Isaak, Roy Orbison ruled the day. There is a brooding, dark and eerie sound to the songs. "Dancin'" has an almost funky vibe to it, "The Lonely Ones" is a Roy Orbison redux and is an absolutely magnificent song and "Western Stars" is a lilting ballad. Mr. Isaak has a deep, smooth voice that adds a density to the songs while Silvertone plays songs in a way that seems on the surface to be quite simple but are full of nuances. This is a great debut record.

Do not pass up Chris Isaak's debut album!:
Haunting, is the best way to describe this album, which includes songs like "Voodoo" and "Funeral in the Rain". Chris Isaak's first cd is among his best. His ballads are so damn pretty that you find your eyes welling up with tears; Tunes such as "Dancin'" and "Living For Your Lover" have you unconsciously tapping yout toes. It is a remarkable debut album from a remarkable, and at times, underrated, artist.

Chris Isaak's best CD.:
Chris Isaak's first recorded effort is, without a doubt, one of my favorite CDs of all time. It is dark, moody and hauntingly captivating but maintains a lively energy. A MUST for anyone who even remotely enjoys his work, let alone one who truly appreciates it.

• Dancin'
• Talk to Me
• Livin' for Your Lover
• Back on Your Side
• Voodoo
• Funeral in the Rain
• Lonely Ones
• Unhappiness
• Tears
• Gone Ridin'
• Pretty Girls Don't Cry
• Western Stars
• Another Idea \o*\c