Search - Howard Jones :: Cross That Line

Power and Permanance

Mars Velvet | Green Tree, Blue Earth...Deep Space | 09/28/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

""The Prisoner" begins the album with a superhummable tune, strings, a heavily processed sound that sounds like axe god guitar, and the superstitious belief that photos trap the mortal soul. "Everlasting Love" has piano sweetened grown up love that lasts. "Powerhouse" has Howard going all house music on us! Electro chorus, sweeping synth and a bunch of sexy come ons "you must have been thru college...got a lovin' degree"... Great!!"Last Supper" is the one ballad...the touching song that is a cornerstone on his albums. This is a sad song about the end of a relationship...a couple having their last meal together. So sad how can I go on listening to this album....hmmm what's next?"Cross That Line" is funky! Sparkly! Sweetly sweaty and just fun!"Out of Thin Air" is a beautiful piano solo instrumental. Very impressionistic and evocative of new age beauties like the seasonal epics of George Winston. Just really pretty as it sets up the mood for the rest of the CD."Guardians of the Breath" has a great sound effect: ultra sonic recorded samples of body sounds like blood rushing, teeth tapping, breathing and hair stroking (which sounds like a forest being blown away). The song is about how man takes from the earth and wonders what happens when there is no earth left to take? Deeply issue oriented and heartfelt."Fresh Air Waltz" warms up with synthstrings and a 1-2-3-1-2-3 melody. "Fresh air is just what you need"."Wanders to You" is so different from what Howard has done before. Longing for human contact, musing about vices, the fantasies the mind creates when it gets lonely. "There you are with your golden brown skin....the salt of a marguritta lingers on your lips". But fantasies become reality "there you are with your London gray skin...the cream from a guiness lingers on your lips..". Musicwise the song features a lot of acoustic sounds, brass, bass and drums with a bit of synth. Very good!!!"Those Who Move Clouds" Howard has a habit of ending his albums on a downer. Ussually he wants you think about the subject matter. In this song Howard sings about the powerful people who run the world holding all our fates...the sound grows with Russian shortwave samples murmering. As the sounds builds to its crest it is drowned by a baby's laughter. OK I got the heartcreeps! I do love this because it is so thought provoking!There you go,that's the whole CD! Give it a listen....might make you think!"

Some Strong Moments

Eric Dapkewicz | Los Angeles, CA USA | 11/04/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Much like HoJo's other works (with the exception of "Dream Into Action"), "Cross That Line" is an album with a handful of great songs, and others that fall flat. The album starts off incredibly strong with "The Prisoner" and "Everlasting Love". Two of HoJo's best songs, but radically different. "Last Supper" is a tragic song that keeps you on the edge of tears (well... if you've been in that kind of a situation I guess). And "Fresh Air Waltz" is a positive track which has an infectious melody. "Those Who Move Clouds" is a decent closer, but the rest of the album I tend to skip."

Completely Enchanting

Eric Dapkewicz | 08/06/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Out of Thin Air" is the most beautiful song I've ever encountered! "Powerhouse" rocks! "Those Who Move Clouds" sends chills down my spine! "Last Supper" is a great song. I love this album! It's in my top 5 of all time!"