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From the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

Eye

Robyn Hitchcock

1990

Eye
Album Summary

This album has been submitted by a user and is not included in any edition of the book.

Eye is the eighth studio album and fourth solo album by Robyn Hitchcock. It was released in 1990 on Glass Fish (UK) and Twin/Tone Records (US). This was Hitchcock's only solo album released between 1985 and 1995, a period in which he recorded most of his music with his backing band, the Egyptians. Eye was recorded acoustically in the style of I Often Dream of Trains (1984) with which it shares a similar green/gold sleeve design, and could therefore be seen as a sequel piece. Eye is entirely self-composed and ran to fourteen songs (vinyl) and eighteen (CD). Hitchcock plays all instruments (mostly guitars), and sings all the vocals.

Wikipedia

Rating

2.68

Votes

66

Genres

  • Rock

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Reviews

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Sep 13 2024
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5

This one meant everything to me in some stretch of the middle 1990s. I'm sure Hitchcock's peculiar arch-wierdery will not be for everyone. But for me, in a narrow alt-rock genre, it is about perfection, and in my opinion Hitchcock's masterpiece.

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Sep 22 2024
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4

Have always liked Robyn Hitchcock. Saw him in San Diego in the early 1990s. He performed Beautiful Girl on 91x as a promo for the concert. He's always been a bit different.

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Sep 13 2024
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4

Robyn Hitchcock often sounds like what a latter day Syd Barrett might've sounded like, had Syd not completely lost his marbles.

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Oct 19 2024
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4

Robyn Hitchcock is definitely an artist who deserved a spot on the original list. Yeah I know, Soft Boys, but his solo stuff is something distinct and special. There's really nothing else out there quite like him, and I enjoyed spending time with this album today. Eye is interesting because without a supporting band it's simply Hitchcock distilled to his finest qualities. Musically, he has a minimalist pop sensibility. But Hitchcock's eccentric approach to songwriting is straight out of the 60s. The lyrics are the star here - whimsical, sardonic, surreal, encircling the occasional nugget of pathos or truth. The overall effect is highly listenable but thought provoking and strange in the best ways. Fave Songs: Queen Elvis, Raining Twilight Coast, Chinese Water Python, Glass Hotel, Aquarium, Beautiful Girl

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Oct 30 2024
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4

It was quirky, but the good sort of quirks, not the oh god jam knitting needles in my ears quirky. Left field, folky but without being annoying, heartfelt. This was a lovely new one on me.

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Sep 13 2024
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3

Firmly believe the British are at their best when they’re taking the piss – there were more than a few moments on this one where Hitchcock’s frank, sardonic delivery got a chuckle out of me. This LP isn’t without its faults, as the more ballad-like tracks drag on without the characteristic wit of their uptempo counterparts, but for the most part it’s pretty solid. Good instrumentals, serviceable melodies, and the album’s characteristic humor all make for a surprisingly enjoyable listen in a genre I usually struggle with.

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Sep 18 2024
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3

Some interesting lyrics, but, with the exception of couple of songs, just not entertaining to listen to. Poorly delivered and produced.

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Sep 14 2024
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4

I have mixed feelings about Robyn Hitchcock. He's obviously talented, but often I find he gets too cutesy-fartsy. On this album though, the cutesy-fartsiness seems to be lower than average, and there are some really nice songs here. I'm going with 4 stars.

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Oct 24 2024
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4

It's not often I've said this in this project, but I think I would have enjoyed this a bit more in my youth when it came out. I was familiar with Robyn Hitchcock's earlier album and found it quite fun and different back in the day. I maybe had just a little less patience for this as it seemed to go on a long time and the quirkyness felt a bit forced to my old jaded self. That said, I did like it a lot!

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Sep 14 2024
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3

Kind of fun and some good poetry. Also some pretty guitar picking in places.

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Sep 17 2024
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3

I can see this album being important if heard at a certain point in life, but it just doesn’t resonate with me in that way. I enjoy the sardonic delivery and lyrics, but the album is too long. However, it does anticipate indie folk that would develop in the decades to come.

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Oct 24 2024
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3

This was interesting, if a bit sparse at times. Not bad…

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Sep 13 2024
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2

This is obviously one of those singer-songwriters who thinks he's an utter genius. He's not. I bet if I searched enough interviews, I'd find one of him saying he's the greatest songwriter of all time. He's not. 2/5.

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Sep 14 2024
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2

I don't think it's rock as it is classified, however it is interesting and I consider it to be more based on the lyrics than on the music, like a kind of trova. I didn't find it outstanding and in the long run it was a bit tedious.

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Sep 14 2024
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2

I think there should be a solo Robyn Hitchcock album on the list, but I would go with I Often Dream of Trains, Moss Elixir, or Jewels for Sophia.

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Sep 14 2024
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2

This has it's moments, but mostly moments that made my right eyebrow raise.

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Sep 22 2024
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2

There was a moment in time where i was into Robyn Hitchcock's voice and i found Globe of Frogs to be decent. Unfortunately this is a bit too artsy and experimental to get into. Didn't find anything that really stuck for me, and the extended spoken bits made it feel like a bit of a slog.

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Sep 29 2024
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2

Folk rock. Me ha aburrido. Un 2.

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Sep 29 2024
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2

Lo-fi folksy singer songwriter album. Not for me. Rating: 2 Playlist track: Queen Elvis Date listened: 01/10/24

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Oct 27 2024
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2

Weird, but eventually broke me down. It's sparse, and very uniform throughout. Very British, reminds me a lot of brit pop acts that would come later A little long, could've used some fat trimming. Dude really likes the word "flesh", too. Not anything I'm rushing back to listen to, unfortunately. Favorite tracks: "Clean Steve", "Executioner"

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Sep 13 2024
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1

The music is simple. The singing wasn't really good, even bad at some times. I wonder how I succeeded in listening to all songs, because after 2 songs I had enough

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Sep 14 2024
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1

This is one of the worst things I've ever heard. When he shuts up for ten goddamn seconds, the music is pretty nice. But he never. ever. ever. shuts up.

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