Track Listing

1. OuttaTheBag
2. ForARide
3. Brotherman
4. Satisfied
5. InAFlood
6. Hush
7. GravelDrive
8. Perfect
9. Sold-Motel
10. Woman
11. Wasteland
12. TurnTheLightsOn
13. Mailman (TheLyingSong)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #66854 in Music
• Released on: 2005-10-03
• Number of discs: 1

Album Description
The former Velvet Underground Keyboardist/Cellist and Legendary Record Producer ("Patti Smith-horses", "The Modern Lovers", "The Stooges" debut) delivers his second album for EMI. This time around, the master has truly outdone himself with one of the most cutting edge albums to arrive on the market. The first thing to hit the listener is the sonic excellence of the recording, as each track reveals an aural wonder! Cale has called on every artistic instinct from deep within his soul to create what may well be the defining album of his career. The songs defy categorization; you'll hear hard rock, a tender ballad, hip hop inspired grooves ("Hush"), avant-garde sounds...all with melodies written by someone who really understands how to use poetry to effect and the tools of a modern studio. He credits inspiration from Dr. Dre, Pharrell (Of the Neptunes), Erykah Badu, Gorillaz, Doves, Curtis Mayfield and Beyond.

Customer Reviews

New album from John Cale
There is another record from our hero Mr. Cale. This album is odd and I have yet to find in it an album I love. There are, however, some moments that truly astound. Mailman is a wonderful example of how to structure a song. Great backing vocals and a set of lyrics that seem at once abstract and familiar. Hush is an overtly simple thing of beauty.
Here's the deal, I guess - If you insist (as I do) in buying John Cale records, you're always going to be surprised, annoyed and confused. You're also going to own some of the finest records recorded. Art is never simple. I guess I prefer the John Cale that provides us with beguilling string sections and atonal piano in the middle of strange pop songs. That doesn't happen here - much. This is a not influenced by LaMonte Young / John Cage. I recommend this record, but I recommend you get HoboSapiens first.

Some wonderful moments
Black Acetate is more appealing than Hobo Sapiens in its greater variety of styles and stronger melodies. It opens with the funky Outta The Bag where Cale sings falsetto. The next two, For A Ride and Brotherman, are a bit messy an ultimately forgettable.

The first highlight comes in the form of Satisfied, a slow and tuneful ballad reminiscent of his Paris 1919 album. In A Flood is memorable slow masterpiece, a blend of the sorrowful and eerie in the lyrics and lovely instrumentation.

Hush has an edgy feel and funky undertone, in the same vein as Outta The Bag but without the falsetto. Gravel Drive is another atmospheric gem with beautiful background vocals and chiming guitar, quite an evocative song of loss and nostalgia.

The album's catchiest pop song is called Perfect, an uptempo number with a driving beat and plenty of hooks, like something from the Island years. There are great tempo variations on Woman with its complex arrangement and appealing chorus. This one grows on you.

The love song Wasteland has a memorable tune, flowing arrangement and gorgeous piano flourishes. Turn The Lights On is a driving rock song with a lilting tempo and prominent guitars, and the album concludes with Mailman (The Lying Song), a mid-tempo rock ballad with charming moments and noteworthy piano and viola.

In my opinion, Black Acetate offers more variety and memorable songs than Hobo Sapiens. In short, a typical John Cale album with at least four masterpieces in the form of Satisfied, In A Flood, Gravel Drive and Perfect, a lot that is good, like Woman, Wasteland and Turn The Lights On, and some unnecessary indulgence. Overall a great return to form and an essential album for John Cale fans.

File under: mad Welsh bugger
I bought this after hearing the last single 'Perfect' on BBC Radio Wales then catching the man on Jools Holland's 'Later' I decided to invest in the album. Best buy I've made all year by many a mile. Although 63 this man could teach some of the younger, wet behind the ears pups a thing or two about making exciting and thrilling music. This is the first album I've bought of his and I'm determined to seek out more from his extensive back catalogue. Recommended.