Search - Paul Hardcastle :: Hardcastle 2

Hardcastle's Masterpiece

Alan Caylow | USA | 10/03/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I really dig Paul Hardcastle. The multi-instrumentalist best known for the hit song "19" is a master blender of smooth jazz, pop, and soul. It's perfect music to cruise down the highway with or chill out at home to. "Hardcastle 2" is my personal favorite from Paul. Song for song it is irrisistibly catchy. With guest vocalists like Helen Rogers, Paul weaves a smooth aural tapestry in groovy songs like "Livin' In The Shadows," "Got To Be Love," "Star Of The Story," and "You Are The One." Paul also serves up cool instrumentals like "Bird Island," "Peace On Earth," "Jokers Wild," and "Warm Glow." "Look To The Future" is a truly special song about...well, looking to the future, featuring Paul's young daughter Maxine on spoken-word lead vocals. In light of the 9/11 tragedy, this song certainly takes on a whole new meaning. And, for the coup de grace, Paul includes his brilliant, smooth-jazz interpretation of the Pink Floyd classic, "Money," featuring cameos by Sir Laurence Olivier & Bob Hoskins! It's wonderful.When I need music to chill out to, there's nobody better in the world to listen to than Paul Hardcastle. The man's a musical genius. I strongly recommend that you buy his *entire* catalog of excellent albums, but you can't go wrong by beginning with "Hardcastle 2," arguably his greatest work to date. Paul, you are hip! :-)"

Great! Great! Great! :=)

DJ Noah Z | Medfield, MA United States | 03/12/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Great melodies, catchy beats, saxy sax, great vocals (Helen Rogers has such a sultry voice! Imani is incomparable on "Got to be love", Steve Menzies is great on Livin' in the shadows (which is a song that will hook you on Hardcastle right away - and it is track number one! - great lyrics, and terrific arrangements! First time i heard Hardcastl was on WPLM (in the Boston radio market). It was some tune not on this album. I loved it and had to have it in my smooth jazz collection. I rushed to find the CD at Tower Records. They didnt have it. But they did have this album and Jazzmasters One and Two. I bought all three, taking a chance that they were good. Within a week I was completely hooked. I listened to Hardcastle probably everyday for two years! I am a DJ and occasionally play him during cocktail hour time and people always ask me "who is this? it is great!" You want soothing, relaxing, sultry vocals, saxy sax, and a catchy beat...this is for you."

Truly great Music!

Ernest Becker | Friendswood, TX USA | 09/06/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Paul Hardcastle's music is just out of this world. I listen to this disk all the time. Like being in another quiet place. His arrangements and sounds are wonderful. I wish he had more disks out. The vocals are great too. This is just ideal music."