The Sole Inhabitant

This is so tight. I cannot wait for his new album. The whole thing is a highlight, esp a modern day She Blinded Me With Science. He pulled out all the stops for this set!

Love this album. I think it reflects what a nice, grounded person he is. Clean lyrics so his kids won't be affected. He's an amazing musician and you would never know he was working on an album and tour when he's out coaching the soccer team. Can't wait for more...

every track is perfect. dolby is a master of his craft. i have spent many years listening to his albums, but never had the chance to see him live. very well done, from the mixing to the production. my itunes collection is so happy to have this album in it's library.

As he is in the studio. From his limited run "Sole Inhabitant" podcast, I gather he's working on new original music now, and I can't wait! Would it be too much to ask for another duet with Eddi Reader, ala "Cruel" from Astronauts and Heretics? Such a beautiful song, and their voices compliment each other so well. But the point is, this is a great live album. Not only are the songs brilliant, but his live performance of them is fabulous. Extremely loyal to the source material, he never-the-less makes minor changes in the live performance that really emphasize the music, and it is fabulous. As with Forty, my only complain is that there isn't more. Where's "Weightless" or "Airwaves" or "Radio Silence"? Where is "Cruel", one of my personal favorites? "Neon Sisters" or "Pulp Culture" and so on? But the selection here is broad enough I can't really complain. Kudos to Mr. Dolby for a fabulous live album, and I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to purchasing new original material in the very near future. Soon, right?

I hate it when the entire album sounds like the keyboard is in control and the artist thinks what he hears is worthy of a cd. My friends out there who pay attention and know a good cd when they listen to one, know this is not that one.

I've never really listened to his music, or knew of any (until I knew he did She Blinded Me With Science), but he pioneered into a genre, in my eyes. Music is great, performances are great (saw him in New Orleans not long ago at all)... great work!

Eleven songs--eleven thumbs up!! The songs sound better than the originals! Dolby comes roaring back onto the scene and this album is testament to it. My only complaint is that this isn't a three-CD collection! The CD, like the concert, ended too soon!

While I could write a review that sounds like it belongs in Rolling Stone Magazine, I can sum everything up in one sentence. Buy this CD.

If the only song you know by Thomas Dolby is called "She Blinded Me With Science", no offense, but you don't know Thomas Dolby. I bought his first LP, The Golden Age of Wireless, on vinyl back in 1983 and have been hooked ever since. The Sole Inhabitant marks the return of one of my all-time favorite songwriters after a 12-year absence. Dolby performs stripped-down versions of some of his best work using an array of state-of-the-art, classic, and homegrown MIDI controllers. Highlights include surprisingly moving performances of "Leipzig" and "Flying North", plus a personal favorite of mine, "The Flat Earth". Thomas Dolby has always been able to project warm, emotional songs against a genre of music that is often cold and aloof. So, what are you waiting for? The Sole Inhabitant CD/DVD is truly "poetry in motion".

"The Sole Inhabitant" marks the return of Thomas Dolby, too long away from a music scene that could desperately use his talents. Stripped of the hype surrounding his "hits", Dolby was always in his best form with the scintillating arrangements and quiet lyrical thoughtfulness of the music that didn't make it into airplay rotation. This CD re-presents a portion of his catalog as a one-man show. By the necessity of the performances, all entirely live and solo, anything remotely considered fluff is stripped away. The result is a thoroughly refreshing review of a musical path not capable of being trod by many. Mr. Dolby is quite earnestly about re-connecting with his core audience, and the CD succeeds quite well in that regard. Of particular value are his podcasts. They make his intentention clear. The "Leipzig Is Calling" podcast presentation in particular, the music portion of which is a different take than the one appearing on the CD, is a masterwork performance. If you have any concerns that Dolby is just another 80's rock star looking to cash out, that will be quickly stripped away by the podcasts. He's a real human being trying to connect in a personal way with his fans. This is not the last we'll see or hear of Thomas Dolby. This CD is a review of where we've been with him. He wants all of us onboard for the journey ahead. Be there.