sampo24's Full Review: Photograph Smile by Julian Lennon
Julian Lennon's album Photograph Smile never ceases to amaze me whenever I play it. Though just by hearing his voice, it's sometimes eerie how much he sounds like his father, John Lennon, the music is still his own. He manages to overcome the huge barrier of being compared to one of the most famous singers in the world and to create a beautiful album that can easily stand on it's own.
I remember in an interview, he said something about how he spent so much time trying not to sound like his father that he never really allowed himself to find his own voice. Now, it's obvious that he finally reconciled himself to the fact that he is John Lennon's son and that it shouldn't hold him back. Personally, I don't think the fact that he is John Lennon's son should hold him back or allow people to compare him too much to his father. Though the influences are obviously there, Julian obviously has his own style and a much more mellow feeling to his music than John Lennon had.
Photograph Smile was released after a very long break after his last album. And I'm so happy he finally had the time to make his music exactly the way he wanted to. It is obvious that he put his heart and soul into the entire endeavor. The songs mostly have a smooth, lyrical quality to them. They're very relaxing and have beautiful melodies. You can definitely see the similarities to his father and to the Beatles in general, but it certainly isn't a copy. Through it all, Lennon manages to make his own personal spirit shine through.
My favorite song is definitely the first track, "Day After Day". It's a wonderful song and never fails to lift my spirit. It's a love song about a man who never loses hope and is willing to walk through fire and wait for the moment when he will be with the person he loves.
Two songs are obvious homages to the Beatles, "I Don't Wanna Know" and "Way to Your Heart". The first comes with a neat little video you can play on your computer that does a lot of poking fun at the Beatles, but not in a bad way. You even get to see a Yoko Ono look-alike. It's also a very fun song, probably the most upbeat of all of them on the CD. Meanwhile, the second song incorporates a little bit of the melody from "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" into it. Don't take this to mean that Julian is trying to capitalize off of the success of his father or the Beatles in general, because he isn't. It's more of a way of his accepting the fact that they are a part of him, whether he wants it or not. And the best solution is to accept it and go on rather than fighting it. Julian says, himself, "I used to wonder how was I to forge my own path if all the time comparisons were going to be made. But now I realise they're never gonna go away, no matter what I do. But it's OK. That's my karma."
I find it hard to find a song on the entire CD that I don't like, though it took a little longer for some tracks than others to grow on me. "Crucified" took me awhile to like, for example. Though it's eastern influence is very appealing. Other standouts include "Walls" and "Kiss Beyond the Catcher", the latter which has a more upbeat, jazzy feel to it. And the title track, "Photograph Smile" is just breathtaking to listen to. In general, the album flows together excellently and is completely enthralling...
Overall, this is an excellent album. Julian Lennon certainly proves to the public that his is a great artist on his own merit, not merely because he is John Lennon's son. Though the voices may sound sound the same at times, it's obvious that the soul of the music is completely Julian's. Hopefully, he'll recieve the recognition and respect that he so clearly deserves.
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