“18” , the Album, is Stunning!

justintime · Unread post by **justintime** » Sat Jul 16, 2022 5:13 pm

The “Jeff Beck/Johnny Depp” new album, “18 ” is out as of Friday, July 15th. Imho, it is an amazing compilation of fantastical, atmospheric, diverse musical pieces, old and new. Their magic and beauty linger easily, in both head and heart. What a versatile, incredible band Mr. Beck has!

Glancing over titles (some maybe not immediately familiar) will hopefully leave you in a bit of a quandary and perhaps you’ll do what I ultimately did: Begin at the beginning, turn up the volume, and enjoy, uninterrupted, start to finish. I really love this album! Johnny’s emotional renditions throughout capture pieces of his life and he shares them with us. Every word is clear.

Dullard that I am, I finally realized a lot of thought went into putting this playlist “puzzle” together. Rightfully so. The result: Janis Ian’s lovely ”Stars” sits snugly between “Let It Be Me” and “Isolation”. Perfection!

Nice, also, to note contributions from Tommy Henriksen acknowledged on several pieces.

Unread post by **fireflydances** » Sat Jul 16, 2022 5:50 pm

I am impatiently waiting for my CD to arrive and so I have 'cheated' just a bit and listened to the tiny excerpts of each track that are online. I particularly fell for Stars, which I don't think has been featured in any of the concerts -- but I could be wrong. Had not heard this Janis Ian song before (although perhaps her rendition was very different). The lyrics are very beautiful and examine celebrity and how that affects a person. A beautiful choice sung absolutely beautifully by Johnny.

justintime · Unread post by **justintime** » Sat Jul 16, 2022 7:19 pm

Here is a YouTube version of Janis singing Stars in 1974. It’s a truly lovely performance (well, in my opinion
anyway):

Unread post by **fireflydances** » Sat Jul 16, 2022 7:39 pm

justintime wrote: ↑
Sat Jul 16, 2022 7:19 pm
Here is a YouTube version of Janis singing Stars in 1974. It’s a truly lovely performance (well, in my opinion
anyway)

Thank you so much justintime! It's such a very beautiful song.

Unread post by **fireflydances** » Mon Jul 18, 2022 2:44 pm

The CD came last night. I don't have anything I can use to actually play a CD (long story) 'cept the car. So, after work I put the CD in and took off somewhere listening to every single track. It's rare to find an album that is absolute perfection. But this one is. What? The name '18' makes sense now. I think somewhere on the ride home I turned sixteen again. There is such an integration of old and new, raging and loving all mixed up. A bouquet to Brian Wilson in some tracks, and if you grew up on his sound, you'll know what I mean. And then 'Oo, Baby, Baby' and I was on the dance floor one moment and remembering lost love in the next --- and Depp's voice sends you, just sends you....mistakes I know I made a few. I'm crying..." Just, man, Johnny.

Every single song got inside, every one was exactly as you wanted it to be. I am godsmacked truly. I didn't think they would fit together as they do -- I think it's Jeff that makes this happen.

Go get this one. There is nothing here not to love....

gipsyblues · Unread post by **gipsyblues** » Tue Jul 19, 2022 4:16 am

Of course, I got my cd yesterday and I am very happy.

Johnny and Jeff are a very good team on stage. It's just so nice to see that Johnny is finally happy and free again.

Endora · Unread post by **Endora** » Tue Jul 19, 2022 4:28 am

It's on Spotify now (at least it is here in the UK) Isolation is the most popular track by far (5m streams), then Hedy Lamar (0.9m), then Venus in Furs (0.25m)

SnoopyDances · Unread post by **SnoopyDances** » Tue Jul 19, 2022 4:37 am

The album is heading to the top 20 on Billboard.

Unread post by **fireflydances** » Sat Aug 13, 2022 5:48 pm

Here we are over a month since those albums arrived, and my copy continues to make me so very happy. I have to admit to listening to it twice daily through July, to and from work, and now in August bringing the album with me every time I drive some place. It's become a kind of comfort, a solace or even a refuge. Frankly, it freed me, it cured me which is such an odd thing to realize. When the news on my radio or TV begins to bug the hell out of me, I put the album on and bury myself in Johnny's voice or the guitar work of Jeff Beck. Of course I've listened a multitude of albums over the years, but having an album where every song means something and needs to be played is highly unusual and I wondered about that. I think part of it is that each song on this album brings or gives something very specific to me. For example, Midnight Walker has become the signal that I am free of whatever has been bugging me and I am now entering a place of contentment. I always think Death and Resurrection as Johnny walking through the flames of several years destruction and finally burning himself free. Its finding illumination and a new soul. It's the one song that I would like to sit down and talk to him about. Sad Motherf*king Parade gives me energy and bouys my spirits. It's a lovely burst of swearing.

Yes, I could go through all of them, and I will come back and finish this list, but then, most likely we each have our 'takes' on these songs, and what I'd really like is to hear others' experiences with this album. What are you getting from it? Do you like it or only parts of it? How often do you listen to it? And anything else you'd like to share.

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