Eureka

• Artist: Jim O'Rourke
• Rating:
• Release Date: February 16, 1999
• Genre: Rock

Review

It's a good bet to expect the unexpected with Jim O'Rourke -- no matter which hat he's wearing (solo artist, bandmate, producer, remixer, etc.), each of the endlessly prolific projects that bears his name takes on a shape and identity all its own while retaining the originality and ingenuity that have become the hallmarks of his singular body of work. Eureka is perhaps his most stunning and surprising detour yet, a full-blown excursion into lush, melodic pop; granted, there's something inherently perverse about the very notion of O'Rourke and Chicago underground cronies like trombonist Jeb Bishop and cornetist Rob Mazurek tackling such classicist stuff, but instead the album is short on irony and long on affection -- in fact, its most subversive dimension is its very real mainstream appeal. What's most fascinating about Eureka is that its big, bright pop is actually the perfect showcase for O'Rourke's mastery of sound -- highlights like the epic opener "Women of the World" and a joyously schmaltzy cover of the Bacharach/David chestnut "Something Big" are crafted with remarkable care and depth, the former in particular building and blooming in truly majestic fashion. On a conceptual level, of course, it's easy to view Eureka as another in a long line of deconstructionist experiments, a reading more overtly avant songs like "Movie on the Way Down" and "Through the Night Softly" certainly bears out; on a deeper level, however, it's a true labor of love, and its sheer exuberance and creativity go further in re-shaping the pop aesthetic than any pure intellectual exercise ever could. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Prelude to 110 or 220/Women of the World	Ivor Cutler, Jim O'Rourke	Jim O'Rourke	(8:46)
Ghost Ship in a Storm	Jim O'Rourke	Jim O'Rourke	(3:54)
Movie on the Way Down	Jim O'Rourke	Jim O'Rourke	(7:37)
Through the Night Softly	Jim O'Rourke	Jim O'Rourke	(4:47)
Please Patronize Are Sponsers	Jim O'Rourke	Jim O'Rourke	(3:04)
Something Big	Burt Bacharach, Hal David, Jim O'Rourke	Jim O'Rourke	(3:13)
Eureka	Jim O'Rourke	Jim O'Rourke	(9:11)
Happy Holidays	Jim O'Rourke	Jim O'Rourke	(1:36)

Credits

Fred Lonberg-Holm (Cello), Rob Mazurek (Cornet), Jim O'Rourke (Synthesizer), Jim O'Rourke (Bass), Jim O'Rourke (Guitar), Jim O'Rourke (Piano), Jim O'Rourke (Composer), Jim O'Rourke (Vocals), Jim O'Rourke (Multi Instruments), Jim O'Rourke (Bells), Jim O'Rourke (Main Performer), Jim O'Rourke (Fender Rhodes), Jim O'Rourke (Lap Steel Guitar), Jim O'Rourke (Hammond Synth), Bob Weston (Trumpet), Ken Vandermark (Saxophone), Julie Pomerleau (Violin), Julie Pomerleau (Viola), Jeb Bishop (Trombone), Steve Butters (Steel Pan), Edith Frost (Vocals (Background)), Rian Murphy (Drums), Michael Colligan (Clarinet), Darin Gray (Bass), Brian Calvin (Vocals (Background)), Ken Champion (Piano), Ken Champion (Pedal Steel), Feria Garteris (Vocals (Background)), Tim Barnes (Percussion), Jennifer Peterson (Vocals (Background))

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