Artist: Chris Isaak Album: Heart Shaped World

Year: 1989
Duration: 0:0-1

Heart Shaped World by Chris Isaak: A Critical Review

Chris Isaak might be one of the most underrated musicians of the 80s and 90s. With an artsy yet sophisticated style, he managed to use his distinctive voice to craft a unique blend of rockabilly, blues, and pop that appealed to a wide variety of listeners. One of his most successful albums was the critically acclaimed Heart Shaped World; a recording that perfectly encapsulates his essence. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at this 1989 release, highlight its most innovative parts, and review some of its best songs while discussing the history of the artist and the music genre.

For Isaak, the Heart Shaped World album was the culmination of his musical career. After having some success with his eponymous debut album and making a name for himself thanks to his song Wicked Game, it was time to hit it big. The 1989 album had a range of influences, including Roy Orbison and Elvis Presley - with whom he would be compared often - but the unique blend of genres was all Isaak's own.

One of the most impressive aspects of Heart Shaped World was the production quality. The record was produced by Erik Jacobsen, who had previously worked with Tom Rush, and he used his expertise to create a timeless sound that perfectly matched Isaak's voice. The album managed to blend the 50s with a modern twist to create songs that don't sound dated to this day.

As for the songs themselves, we have a handful of gems that are easily recognizable and accessible to any fan. The track Don't Make Me Dream About You is a pulsating rocker that showcases Isaak's guitar playing skills, while Blue Spanish Sky is one of the finest ballads he ever wrote. But the highlight of the album is the iconic Wicked Game, a haunting ballad that has become one of the most recognizable songs of the 80s thanks to its use in films and TV shows.

Best known for his visual art imageries in his music videos, Chris Isaak adapted to this modern technology in his Heart Shaped World album and utilized the possibilities of late 80s technology to produce several innovative segments on the album. One of these was Talk to Me, a song that featured a hidden track that could only be played backward. At the end of the track, when played backward, Isaak recites a poem that adds to the melancholic and enigmatic feel of the album.

Overall, Heart Shaped World is an album that manages to remain timeless thanks to its unique blend of influences. Isaak showcases his full range of talents here: from songwriting to guitar playing to singing off-key on purpose. While it might not have been as commercially successful as other albums from the era, it remains an essential part of any serious music collection.

In conclusion, if you haven't given Heart Shaped World by Chris Isaak a proper listen yet, now is the perfect time to do so. This album is a beautifully crafted and executed classic that deserves to be remembered and listened to by generations to come. Its combination of rockabilly, blues, pop, and electrifying guitar riffs makes for a truly unique experience. Surely, Heart Shaped World is an album worth its critical acclaim.

In conclusion, if you haven't given Heart Shaped World by Chris Isaak a proper listen yet, now is the perfect time to do so. This album is a beautifully crafted and executed classic that deserves to be remembered and listened to by generations to come. Its combination of rockabilly, blues, pop, and electrifying guitar riffs makes for a truly unique experience. Surely, Heart Shaped World is an album worth its critical acclaim.