Her Mystery Not of High Heels and Eye Shadow

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Her Mystery Not of High Heels and Eye Shadow
Studio album by
Jonathan Richman
Released2001
GenreRock
LabelVapor
ProducerNiko Bolas, Jonathan Richman
Jonathan Richman chronology
An Introspective
(2000) 		Her Mystery Not of High Heels and Eye Shadow
(2001) 		Action Packed: The Best of Jonathan Richman
(2002)

Her Mystery Not of High Heels and Eye Shadow is an album by the American musician Jonathan Richman, released in 2001.[1][2] It was his third album for Vapor Records.[3] Richman supported the album with a North American tour.[4]

Production[edit]

The album was produced by Niko Bolas and Richman; Richman felt that some of his previous albums had been overproduced.[5][6] Richman was again backed by stand-up drummer Tommy Larkins.[7] Ralph Carney contributed on woodwinds.[8] "Vampiresa Mujer" is a remake of Richman's "Vampire Girl".[9] "Give Paris One More Chance" is a new version of a song Richman recorded for Jonathan Sings![10] "Leaves on the Sidewalk After the Rain" and "Maybe a Walk Home from Natick High" are instrumentals.[11] "Springtime in New York" describes walking through Tompkins Square Park.[12]

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[8]
Orlando Sentinel[13]
The Philadelphia Inquirer[10]
Pitchfork8.0/10[14]

The New York Times wrote that "rock's mooniest troubadour veils his wit in a cloud of romantic simplicity."[15] Pitchfork noted that "albums this unpretentious are increasingly rare ... that's what makes Her Mystery Not of High Heels and Eye Shadow so seductive."[14] The Hartford Courant called Richman "so forthright and free of irony that he may be mistaken as a children's performer, he is nonetheless full of unique adult insights."[9]

The Orlando Sentinel praised "My Love for Her Ain't Sad", writing that "the open harmonies in the gut-string guitar solo fall somewhere in the rich middle ground between country, folk and rock."[13] The Washington Post concluded that "Richman can seem a little too stuck in (or on) his own past... Yet there's always the fresh amour of songs like 'Me and Her Got a Good Thing Goin' Baby' to reinvigorate his sorta folky, sorta old-timey rock-and-roll."[16] The Gazette said that "the disc has a rough, deliciously sloppy garage-band feel to it."[6]

AllMusic stated that "the title track is pure magic; its moonstruck words and gently swinging sound, even its cumbersome title, posit an alternative universe in which rock & roll only became more innocent and naïve after the '50s."[8]

Track listing[edit]

No.TitleLength
1."Her Mystery Not of High Heels and Eye Shadow" 
2."Springtime in New York" 
3."Me and Her Got a Good Thing Goin' Baby" 
4."Couples Must Fight" 
5."I Took a Chance on Her" 
6."Maybe a Walk Home from Natick High School" 
7."Give Paris One More Chance" 
8."My Love for Her Ain't Sad" 
9."Leaves on the Sidewalk After the Rain" 
10."Tonight" 
11."Yo Tengo Una Novia" 
12."El Joven So Estremece" 
13."Con El Merengue" 
14."Vampiresa Mujer (Vampire Girl)" 

References[edit]

  1. ^ Reger, Rick (5 Oct 2001). "Jonathan Richman, Saturday at Metro". Chicago Tribune. p. 7.24.
  2. ^ Labriola, Tony (Nov 12, 2001). "The Week's Best New Music". CMJ New Music Report. Vol. 69, no. 8. p. 5.
  3. ^ "Jonathan Richman (and the Modern Lovers)". Trouser Press. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  4. ^ Hopper, Kevin (1 Feb 2002). "Rock's biggest wide-eyed optimist keeps the faith". Albuquerque Journal. p. 15.
  5. ^ Jackson, Blair (Feb 2002). "Jonathan Richman: Her Mystery Not of High Heels and Eye Shadow". Mix. Vol. 26, no. 3. p. 151.
  6. ^ a b Perusse, Bernard (5 Nov 2002). "Jonathan Richman a modest master". The Gazette. p. D1.
  7. ^ Simpson, Peter (12 Jan 2002). "Rock". Ottawa Citizen. p. J4.
  8. ^ a b c "Her Mystery Not of High Heels and Eye Shadow Review by Daniel Browne". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  9. ^ a b Catlin, Roger (18 Oct 2001). "New on Disc". Calendar. Hartford Courant. p. 6.
  10. ^ a b Klinge, Steve (9 Dec 2001). "Jonathan Richman Her Mystery Not of High Heels and Eye Shadow". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. H12.
  11. ^ Eng, Monica (22 Feb 2002). "Jonathan Richman's musical feast". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. 12.
  12. ^ McDonnell, Evelyn (Nov 8, 2001). "Rock". Miami Herald. p. 33G.
  13. ^ a b Abbott, Jim (2 Nov 2001). "Richman's Lyrics Traipses Touch Heart". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 12.
  14. ^ a b "Her Mystery Not of High Heels and Eye Shadow Jonathan Richman". Pitchfork. Jan 16, 2002. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  15. ^ Powers, Ann (12 Oct 2001). "Jonathan Richman". The New York Times. p. E27.
  16. ^ Jenkins, Mark (15 Feb 2002). "Jonathan Richman". The Washington Post. p. WW9.
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