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Often praised, long troubled actor Robert Downey Jr. makes his solo vocal debut with The Futurist. Having sang in various film and TV projects, it was often rumored that Downey wanted to make a move to the music business. Well, the rumors were true and the results are largely laudable. Vocally, Downey has a unique sound that falls somewhere between the melancholy twang of Bruce Hornsby and the soulful grit of Joe Cocker -- think Bruce Springsteen doing a cabaret night. Musically, he lands squarely in the adult contemporary vein with songs that recall So-era Peter Gabriel and post-Soul Cages Sting -- synthesizers abound. Respectably, Downey wrote many of the songs on The Futurist as well as collaborated with journeyman pop scribe Mark Hudson -- who also shares production credits here with one-time Yes producer Jonathan Elias. That said, Downey's ear tends toward the languid and his lyrics, while heartfelt, are obtuse and often seem to dance around deep issues without revealing much. For example, on the title track he sings, "They'll take the walk/We'll sage the world/Sounds like October/A Futurist nose/Our furious, curious, fantasist code" -- code indeed. Not surprisingly, though, Downey the actor turns out to be a great interpreter of other musicians' work. His duet with Jon Anderson on the classic Yes track "Your Move" sounds absurd in theory, but the rub between Downey's throaty croon and Anderson's angelic background vocals is truly invigorating. Similarly, he seems to bring all the highs and lows of his life and career to bear on his trio version of Charlie Chaplin's "Smile," featuring legendary jazz bassist Charlie Haden. While the album may not hold any clues to the future of Downey's music career, in the moment The Futurist is as unpredictably moving as the best of Downey's film work.
© Matt Collar /TiVo
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Cameron Stone, Acoustic Cello - Jim Cox, Piano - Jonathan Elias, Producer - Robert Downey Jr., Composer - Robert Downey Jr., Performer - Robert Downey Jr., Piano - Robert Downey Jr., Vocal
(P) 2004 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Armand Sabal-lecco, Bass - Gregg Bissonette, Drums - Mark Hudson, Acoustic Baritone Guitar - Mark Hudson, Background Vocal - Mark Hudson, Composer - Mark Hudson, Electric Guitar - Mark Hudson, Lyricist - Mark Hudson, Percussion - Mark Hudson, Producer - Robert Downey Jr., Background Vocal - Robert Downey Jr., Composer - Robert Downey Jr., Keyboards - Robert Downey Jr., Percussion - Robert Downey Jr., Performer - Robert Downey Jr., Piano - Robert Downey Jr., Vocal - Sarah Hudson, Background Vocal - Steve Dudas, Acoustic Baritone Guitar
(P) 2004 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
James Hara, Acoustic Baritone Guitar - Jimmy Haun, Electric Guitar - Jonathan Elias, Producer - Lawrence Schwartz, Arranger - Reggie Hamilton, Bass - Robert Downey Jr., Composer - Robert Downey Jr., Performer - Robert Downey Jr., Piano - Robert Downey Jr., Vocal - Vinnie Colaiuta, Drums
(P) 2004 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Armand Sabal-lecco, Bass - Cameron Stone, Acoustic Cello - Chad Wackerman, Drums - Charlie Bisharat, Violin - Lawrence Schwartz, Arranger - Mark Hudson, Producer - Robert Downey Jr., Composer - Robert Downey Jr., Keyboards - Robert Downey Jr., Performer - Robert Downey Jr., Vocal - Steve Dudas, Acoustic Baritone Guitar
(P) 2004 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Alec Puro, Drums - Jonathan Elias, Producer - Lawrence Schwartz, Arranger - Reggie Hamilton, Bass - Robert Downey Jr., Background Vocal - Robert Downey Jr., Composer - Robert Downey Jr., Keyboards - Robert Downey Jr., Performer - Robert Downey Jr., Piano - Robert Downey Jr., Vocal
(P) 2004 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Armand Sabal-lecco, Bass - Gregg Bissonette, Drums - Mark Hudson, Producer - Robert Downey Jr., Background Vocal - Robert Downey Jr., Composer - Robert Downey Jr., Keyboards - Robert Downey Jr., Performer - Robert Downey Jr., Piano - Robert Downey Jr., Vocal - Steve Dudas, Electric Guitar
(P) 2004 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Armand Sabal-lecco, Bass - Cameron Stone, Acoustic Cello - Greg Bissonette, Drums - John Lennon, Composer - Jon Anderson, Composer - Jon Anderson, Vocal - Jonathan Elias, Producer - Paul McCartney, Composer - Robert Downey Jr., Background Vocal - Robert Downey Jr., Keyboards - Robert Downey Jr., Performer - Robert Downey Jr., Vocal - Steve Dudas, Acoustic Baritone Guitar - Steve Dudas, Electric Guitar
(P) 2004 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Jeff Bunnell, Flugelhorn - Jonathan Elias, Producer - Lawrence Schwartz, Arranger - Reggie Hamilton, Bass - Robert Downey Jr., Composer - Robert Downey Jr., Performer - Robert Downey Jr., Piano - Robert Downey Jr., Vocal
(P) 2004 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Alec Puro, Drums - Gregg Bissonette, Drums - Jonathan Elias, Producer - Reggie Hamilton, Bass - Robert Downey Jr., Background Vocal - Robert Downey Jr., Composer - Robert Downey Jr., Keyboards - Robert Downey Jr., Performer - Robert Downey Jr., Piano - Robert Downey Jr., Vocal
(P) 2004 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Alan Broadbent, Piano - Charles Chaplin, Composer - Charlie Haden, Bass - Geoffrey Parsons, Lyricist - John Turner, Lyricist - Mark Hudson, Producer - Robert Downey Jr., Performer - Robert Downey Jr., Vocal
(P) 2004 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Albumbeschreibung
Often praised, long troubled actor Robert Downey Jr. makes his solo vocal debut with The Futurist. Having sang in various film and TV projects, it was often rumored that Downey wanted to make a move to the music business. Well, the rumors were true and the results are largely laudable. Vocally, Downey has a unique sound that falls somewhere between the melancholy twang of Bruce Hornsby and the soulful grit of Joe Cocker -- think Bruce Springsteen doing a cabaret night. Musically, he lands squarely in the adult contemporary vein with songs that recall So-era Peter Gabriel and post-Soul Cages Sting -- synthesizers abound. Respectably, Downey wrote many of the songs on The Futurist as well as collaborated with journeyman pop scribe Mark Hudson -- who also shares production credits here with one-time Yes producer Jonathan Elias. That said, Downey's ear tends toward the languid and his lyrics, while heartfelt, are obtuse and often seem to dance around deep issues without revealing much. For example, on the title track he sings, "They'll take the walk/We'll sage the world/Sounds like October/A Futurist nose/Our furious, curious, fantasist code" -- code indeed. Not surprisingly, though, Downey the actor turns out to be a great interpreter of other musicians' work. His duet with Jon Anderson on the classic Yes track "Your Move" sounds absurd in theory, but the rub between Downey's throaty croon and Anderson's angelic background vocals is truly invigorating. Similarly, he seems to bring all the highs and lows of his life and career to bear on his trio version of Charlie Chaplin's "Smile," featuring legendary jazz bassist Charlie Haden. While the album may not hold any clues to the future of Downey's music career, in the moment The Futurist is as unpredictably moving as the best of Downey's film work.
© Matt Collar /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 10 track(s)
- Total length: 00:42:38
- Main artists: Robert Downey Jr.
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Sony Classical
- Genre: Klassiek
(P) 2004 Sony Music Entertainment
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