Search - Jill Sobule :: I Never Learned to Swim: Best of Jill Sobule

A good sample of Jill Sobule's work

Jerry Gilio | Cicero, IL USA | 03/21/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This "best of" collection is a good way to enjoy the wide variety of Jill Sobule's music. It contains a good cross-section of her wit and musical styles, which range from stories like "Margaret" to the haunting "Houdini's Box".The liner notes include a brief comment by Sobule about each song. For example, about "Resistance Song": "Every record of mine must have at least one WWII reference."Two of the songs, "Big Shoes" and "Smoke Dreams", were previously unreleased. "Big Shoes" is a tale of a young girl teased about her orthopedic shoes. But leave your angst at the door. It's light-hearted and easy to relate to for anyone teased as a child."Stoned Soul Picnic" was the only Sobule track on a Laura Nyro tribute collection. "Bitter", "When My Ship Comes In" and "Love Is Never Equal" are from the increasingly hard to find "Happy Town" album. And, of course, it contains her popular single, "I Kissed A Girl".This is a great introduction to Sobule's work or a good way to have some of her best in one convenient package."

Jill, honey, you've done it again...

Duayne Price | Keller, Texas United States | 03/22/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is probably the best "Best of..." cd I have heard in quite some time. Jill has included all of her best stuff here, plus some really cool new songs and rarities. Of the new songs, I really enjoy "Smoke Dreams" and "Big Shoes". They are quite different songs, but both are excellently performed and written. Also included is Jill's cover of Laura Nyro's classic, "Stone Soul Picnic". INCREDIBLE! Jill really knows how to cover a song! Most of these songs were already released on other cds. Included is Jill's biggest hit, "I Kissed a Girl", from her self-titled album. There is also "Bitter" and "When my Ship Comes In" from the album "Happy Town", plus the gorgeous "Mexican Wrestler" from her latest effort, "Pink Pearl". All of the songs on the cd are wonderful, and flow beautifully. However, I do wish that Jill would have included a few live cuts. The only way to experience Jill is to see her live. Catch a show, if you can, and discover one of America's best-kept secrets!Oh, and don't forget to take a look at the liner notes. HILARIOUS! Jill gives us all of the lyrics to the songs, plus little anecdotes about the songs themselves. There is some really funny stuff in there. Jill probably has the best sense of humor of anybody in the biz!"

The tip of the iceberg.

Randy Roten | Norcross, GA USA | 03/21/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This collection of songs is an excellent introduction to Jill Sobule and a great overview of the material that Jill is known for - catchy melodies, arrangements that range from intimate to highly detailed, entertaining subject matter, and humorous social commentary. Most of these tracks are from Jill's four CD releases, with three other tracks added, opening with a wonderful cover of Laura Nyro's "Stoned Soul Picnic" and including a rowdy large-group version of "Big Shoes," a frequently-requested live-show favorite about one of Jill's more woeful adolescent experiences.Attempting to categorize Jill's talent would require way too many words. Hearing her music is undemanding and fun. Seeing her play live is always a treat. Meeting her after the show brings home what a genuinely giving person she is. Her indifference to celebrity and sensitivity to the human condition makes her regular people, except that she writes great songs about what it's like to see everything going on around us.This collection lets the listener see just a little bit of what Jill is capable of, with the promise of more treasures in wait. And, if you bring your CD to her show, she'll autograph it for you."