JEREMY GLOFF
PRESS ARCHIVE
Reviews of '1987'
Released
in 2008
-by Wade Tangelo
-courtesy of
Creative Loafing
If
lo-fi synths and high-drama lyrics turn you on, then 30-something
singer/songwriter/keyboardist Jeremy Gloff is your man. For his
umpteenth DIY solo release (he started issuing discs at a rate of about
one per year in '93), Gloff goes into Boy George mode with a collection
of gloomy club thumpers featuring titles like "Mistakes," "All These
Killers" and "Armageddon Sex."
"This new album is a tribute to the music I loved growing up," Gloff writes in the liner notes. And to his credit, every lyric is sold with the passion of a true believer, even when relating a tale about a bad boy dubbed "drama panties." 3 stars.
-by Prospero72
-customer review
courtesy of Amazon.com
I
actually bought this album quite a few months ago, but have put off
reviewing it simply because I wasn't quite sure how to convey the
enormity of what Gloff has accomplished here. Growing up in the 80's
myself: I can appreciate the genuine love and affection for those early
synth-laden dance tracks. After all this was the era of Madonna,
Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Stevie Nicks, Tina Turner, Prince and
the whole Minneapolis sound. But a singer/songwriter paying homage to
those groundbreaking artists by recording an 80's-styled dance LP? Talk
about a recipe for disaster (with plenty of cheesy kitsch to go
around). And yet Gloff's risk taking is what makes "1987" so
astonishing insomuch that he doesn't just pay tribute to the 80's (and
the artists who influenced him): HE ACTUALLY EMBODIES THAT ENTIRE ERA.
From the authentic drum machine beats to the funky keyboard hooks: this
is the sound of an artist in full bloom. And the songs! Although some
are sexy with an air of risque fun ("Lights On", "Beautiful Boy"): he
does one-up Prince in the sex-equals-spirituality department (the lyric
"Our bedroom an alter/and your body is my shrine." from "Lights On")
while copping a "1999" ode to "Armageddon Sex". But since it's Jeremy
Gloff composing the songs you get more than just frivilous lyrics made
to order for a "sexy party" (to quote Stewie on "FAMILY GUY"): you get
several thoughtful, down-to-earth ruminations on the ins-and-outs of
modern love. From the simple character sketches of "Boyfriend" and
"1987" to the hilarious "Drama Panties" and the oh-so-beautiful ballad
"Don't Forget Her": this is more than some tossed-off, hedonistic
record that you can bump-and-grind to. And even though this is not a
typical Gloff release: these dance tracks are enlivened all the more by
those wonderful Gloff melodies filled with neat little touches here and
there like the percolating hooks of "Good Feeling", the squishy
synth-horns that dominate "Beautiful Boy", the tropical groove that
highlights "Clap Yo Hands", the "Bye bye, baby, bye bye/Sayonara,
sucker!" attitude of "Florida Rain", and the gorgeous vocal chorale at
the end of "Love Alive". I could go on and on. But the last and most
convincing triumph of "1987" is Jeremy's singing. In the past Gloff has
been criticized for his sometimes wispy vocalizing which can hamper his
songwriting skills (a problem that occured all too frequently on the
"ORANGE SONGS"). With his previous release, "NOW'S THE RIGHT TIME TO
FEEL GOOD", he turned in one of his strongest vocal performances yet.
But with "1987" you could almost say he has reached full maturity as a
singer. By making the most of his middle/lower range, and continuing to
wring every bit of emotion (and humor) out of his songs: he comes
across as warm, inviting, and totally in control of his vocal timbre.
Definate kudos to him here. However, for those not familiar with Jeremy
Gloff I would still recommend you buy the aforementioned "NOW'S THE
RIGHT TIME" CD as it is more typical of his work. But if you're in the
mood for some great dance music, grew up in the 80's, or want something
fun and funky to listen to: then by all means get this album as quick
as you can. It's a one-of-a-kind classic. Another BIG plus: cover art
is killer!
HIGHEST BILLBOARD ALBUM CHART POSITION: None.
HIT SINGLES: None.
-by Matthew Rettenmund
-courtesy of boyculture.typepad.com
Jeremy Gloff was kind enough to send me his new CD, 1987, with the understanding that if I hated it I wouldn't plug it. He even said I could throw it away. I almost did! I'm pretty set in my ways. But then again, the album is themed to the 365-day period that happened 21 years ago, so I shouldn't be so surprised that I really kinda liked it. It's very authentic to the era, reminding me of the slightly off-decade Cause & Effect (they were so 1991...and one of them, tragically, has died, don't get me started on a Debralee Scott-esque eulogy again.) It also reminded me of the song "No Condom No Sex" for some reason and, of course, Peter Wolf's "Lights Out". Gloff's video for "Lights On" is below, but I think the album track "Armageddon Sex" is my fave.
-by
J.J. Vicars
-from cdbaby.com
Fans of Techno, Electronica, etc... will of course like this album -it easily stands on its own alongside its contemporaries- but what sets it apart from the pack is that it's a *must have* for anyone who was a teenager back in '87. Gloff is a strong songwriter utilizing many of the era's characteristic writing devices to capture the mood and feel of the times. BOYFRIEND starts off the album the way we used to gear up for a Saturday night. Songs like LIGHTS ON, GOOD FEELING and FLORIDA RAIN recall the radio hits of the time while ARMAGEDDON SEX epitomizes the reckless abandon we all felt living under the threat of the Cold War. LOVE ALIVE is the soundtrack to a movie scene- that scene of aimless drifting right before the movie's climax. If you grew up with FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH, THE BREAKFAST CLUB and PRETTY IN PINK you'll feel it too. The crown jewel of the bunch is the title track. If you were in high school in '87 this is YOUR SONG.
-by TBT
With some encouragement from former Prince protege Jill Jones (featured
in the videos for 1999 and Little Red Corvette) Tampa's Jeremy
Gloff embarked on his own '80s-styled bubblegum pop and electro
adventure. Powered by a cheap drum machine he bought at a
"way-off-the-radar" pawn shop on Florida Avenue, Gloff's new 1987 is witty, theatrical fun.
(Standout cut: Drama Panties).