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i'm hoping the album is all new original material. I don't want to see stuff that is on another album / CD.

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TommyBahama wrote:i'm hoping the album is all new original material. I don't want to see stuff that is on another album / CD.

I'd love to see (and hear) the same thing but his current track record doesn't bode too well in that regard. If nothing else, he does seem to have a good ear in regards to choosing high quality material to cover, just as he's done throughout the majority of his career going back to tunes such as "The Ballad of Spider John" and "Defying Gravity". Only thing is, these days I prefer the original versions of some of the tunes he's covered on his latter day records. For instance, I thought it was great that he covered Mary Gauthier's "Wheel Inside the Wheel" but his rendition doesn't come close to her being as good as hers (at least to my ears). Better to cover high caliber songs by others than to turn out weak original material. News that he's working with Will Kimbrough again is a very good sign.

Tiki Torches wrote:

TommyBahama wrote:i'm hoping the album is all new original material. I don't want to see stuff that is on another album / CD.

I'd love to see (and hear) the same thing but his current track record doesn't bode too well in that regard. If nothing else, he does seem to have a good ear in regards to choosing high quality material to cover, just as he's done throughout the majority of his career going back to tunes such as "The Ballad of Spider John" and "Defying Gravity". Only thing is, these days I prefer the original versions of some of the tunes he's covered on his latter day records. For instance, I thought it was great that he covered Mary Gauthier's "Wheel Inside the Wheel" but his rendition doesn't come close to her being as good as hers (at least to my ears). Better to cover high caliber songs by others than to turn out weak original material. News that he's working with Will Kimbrough again is a very good sign.

i do like his cover of all night long!!!

TommyBahama wrote:

Tiki Torches wrote:

TommyBahama wrote:i'm hoping the album is all new original material. I don't want to see stuff that is on another album / CD.

I'd love to see (and hear) the same thing but his current track record doesn't bode too well in that regard. If nothing else, he does seem to have a good ear in regards to choosing high quality material to cover, just as he's done throughout the majority of his career going back to tunes such as "The Ballad of Spider John" and "Defying Gravity". Only thing is, these days I prefer the original versions of some of the tunes he's covered on his latter day records. For instance, I thought it was great that he covered Mary Gauthier's "Wheel Inside the Wheel" but his rendition doesn't come close to her being as good as hers (at least to my ears). Better to cover high caliber songs by others than to turn out weak original material. News that he's working with Will Kimbrough again is a very good sign.

i do like his cover of all night long!!!

Just listened to the version he did with Lionel Ritchie from his Tuskegee album. Good fit as far as the style of some of Buffett's latter day stuff but I can't say I'm a fan of the song in general (or this particular version). Probably has a lot to do with how I've never been a Lionel fan or a fan of Adult Contemporary type music.

Just saw the mention of Lighthouse in another thread. That would make a good song for the St Somewhere Tour.

Can't wait to hear some new tunes.

conched wrote:Just saw the mention of Lighthouse in another thread. That would make a good song for the St Somewhere Tour.

Can't wait to hear some new tunes.

Not a fan of most covers, but I really like his take on lighthouse that he performed live.

Somewhere Over China
Something So Feminine About A Mandolin
All the Ways I Want You
Madamosielle Volez Vous Danser
Beautiful Swimmers

I would hope that if it is a new studio album that it would have new songs.

The Lost Manatee wrote:I would hope that if it is a new studio album that it would have new songs.

From what I have heard so far, it is, I just doubt that much of it will be new original material. Like it or not, that's pretty much become the norm with his records over the years. Like I've said previously, I'd rather him handpick some well written songs from other songwriters than include poorly written originals. Unfortunately, the decline in his creativity as a songwriter has also seeped into his live show throughout the years, with a heavy reliance on cover material.

Ok it's been out for awhile and I love it. I hated it at first, but honestly it's still in rotation in my catalogue.

jbfinscj wrote:Ok it's been out for awhile and I love it. I hated it at first, but honestly it's still in rotation in my catalogue.

It didn't leave my CD player for at least the first couple of weeks after it came out. Time will tell how it stands up to the rest of Buffett's overall output but that's a pretty strong showing, especially for his recent works.

Tiki Torches wrote:

jbfinscj wrote:Ok it's been out for awhile and I love it. I hated it at first, but honestly it's still in rotation in my catalogue.

It didn't leave my CD player for at least the first couple of weeks after it came out. Time will tell how it stands up to the rest of Buffett's overall output but that's a pretty strong showing, especially for his recent works.

I'm shocked by how much I like it. It's one of those albums that requires a few play throughs before it can be appreciated. It's weird how certain albums and artists grow on you over time.

I was pleasantly surprised. I didn't care for Buffet Hotel and there are songs on that one that I like less every time I hear them. Songs From St. Somewhere is just the opposite. I won't live long enough to like Karaoke, Useless Information or I'm No Russian, but the rest of it is growing on me. I was shocked, not surprised, that I liked Earl's Dead and Einstein Was A Surfer. The titles alone were enough to trigger the gag reflex. A solid effort.

LIPH wrote:I was pleasantly surprised. I didn't care for Buffet Hotel and there are songs on that one that I like less every time I hear them. Songs From St. Somewhere is just the opposite. I won't live long enough to like Karaoke, Useless Information or I'm No Russian, but the rest of it is growing on me. I was shocked, not surprised, that I liked Earl's Dead and Einstein Was A Surfer. The titles alone were enough to trigger the gag reflex. A solid effort.

Earles dead is such a great far fetched story.

This album rocks minus I'm no Russian.

Colour of the sun gives me goosebumps

FinsUp6835 wrote:This album rocks minus I'm no Russian.

I'm still skipping past "Too Drunk To Karaoke", I don't see that changing.

LIPH wrote:I was pleasantly surprised. I didn't care for Buffet Hotel and there are songs on that one that I like less every time I hear them. Songs From St. Somewhere is just the opposite. I won't live long enough to like Karaoke, Useless Information or I'm No Russian, but the rest of it is growing on me. I was shocked, not surprised, that I liked Earl's Dead and Einstein Was A Surfer. The titles alone were enough to trigger the gag reflex. A solid effort.

I seem to be in the minority with I'm No Russian. This is by far the best song on the album. The story alone is worth the price of admission for Songs From St. Somewhere. To me I'm No Russian is the best song on the album. It took me about fifteen spins through this record to realize my love for the track. Russian is so enjoyable and just a great song. Buffett sure knows how to take you on a journey and put you in the actual scene. The vivid imagery I see in my mind is placing Jimmy Buffett as James Bond from Casino Royale when Bond valets the Land Rover. Replace the Land Rover with the Lamborghini Elemento and change islands from the Bahamas to St. Barth and the story just unfolds in my mind. Living in Tampa Bay his reference to the Jill Kelley situation with the "chick drone strike" to me was priceless! If Buffett were to make short films of his songs, I'm No Russian would be at the top of my list, right under the Ballad of Skip Wiley.

I definitely agree with Karaoke... I'd wouldn't be missing anything if the first four songs on the album were removed. I really like everything starting with Serpentine - Cartegena (Spanish Version), there isn't anything I'd change. However, Somethin' 'Bout a Boat and Einstein Was a Surfer feature terrible lyrics strung together. At least Boat is catchy and semi-enjoyable. Earl's Dead, the only saving grace is the story behind it. This goes back to Buffett being able to take you on a musical journey in your mind, Earl's Dead definitely makes it happen. But, the lyrics are just flat out stupid! Next up, Karaoke. There isn't anything I can say, this song is flat out awful!

The rest of the album is solid new-school Buffett. To me he hasn't had a bad album since the 80's with Hot Water. However, I could take or leave License to Chill. But, I will add this. I'm so thankful that Jimmy decided to release a vinyl copy of St. Somewhere. It's about time he released an album on vinyl! Correct me if I'm wrong, but this is his first vinyl release since 1989. Side bar conversation, I really hope he goes back and re-releases and releases his catalog on vinyl. Back to the topic at hand, even with my distaste of the first four songs, Songs From St. Somewhere really is a good record and I hope others find as much enjoyment in I'm No Russian as I do!

requiem960 wrote:

LIPH wrote:I was pleasantly surprised. I didn't care for Buffet Hotel and there are songs on that one that I like less every time I hear them. Songs From St. Somewhere is just the opposite. I won't live long enough to like Karaoke, Useless Information or I'm No Russian, but the rest of it is growing on me. I was shocked, not surprised, that I liked Earl's Dead and Einstein Was A Surfer. The titles alone were enough to trigger the gag reflex. A solid effort.

I seem to be in the minority with I'm No Russian. This is by far the best song on the album. The story alone is worth the price of admission for Songs From St. Somewhere. To me I'm No Russian is the best song on the album. It took me about fifteen spins through this record to realize my love for the track. Russian is so enjoyable and just a great song. Buffett sure knows how to take you on a journey and put you in the actual scene. The vivid imagery I see in my mind is placing Jimmy Buffett as James Bond from Casino Royale when Bond valets the Land Rover. Replace the Land Rover with the Lamborghini Elemento and change islands from the Bahamas to St. Barth and the story just unfolds in my mind. Living in Tampa Bay his reference to the Jill Kelley situation with the "chick drone strike" to me was priceless! If Buffett were to make short films of his songs, I'm No Russian would be at the top of my list, right under the Ballad of Skip Wiley.

I definitely agree with Karaoke... I'd wouldn't be missing anything if the first four songs on the album were removed. I really like everything starting with Serpentine - Cartegena (Spanish Version), there isn't anything I'd change. However, Somethin' 'Bout a Boat and Einstein Was a Surfer feature terrible lyrics strung together. At least Boat is catchy and semi-enjoyable. Earl's Dead, the only saving grace is the story behind it. This goes back to Buffett being able to take you on a musical journey in your mind, Earl's Dead definitely makes it happen. But, the lyrics are just flat out stupid! Next up, Karaoke. There isn't anything I can say, this song is flat out awful!

The rest of the album is solid new-school Buffett. To me he hasn't had a bad album since the 80's with Hot Water. However, I could take or leave License to Chill. But, I will add this. I'm so thankful that Jimmy decided to release a vinyl copy of St. Somewhere. It's about time he released an album on vinyl! Correct me if I'm wrong, but this is his first vinyl release since 1989. Side bar conversation, I really hope he goes back and re-releases and releases his catalog on vinyl. Back to the topic at hand, even with my distaste of the first four songs, Songs From St. Somewhere really is a good record and I hope others find as much enjoyment in I'm No Russian as I do!

I admire your chutzpah for standing up for "I'm No Russian" as well as Buffett for having the cajones to record it but I just can't get through it. There are certain performers of the caucasian persuasion that can effectively and convincingly pull off rapping, Jimmy Buffett isn't one of them. At least not to my ears.

I agree with "I'm no Russian" if you appreciate it for the story...which I do. I also agree with Tiki Torches that I'm not a fan of Jimmy's rapping. I actually appreciated the song more after hearing Jimmy explain the back story to the song during the album preview program that he did.