The Life and Times of an Imaginary Rock Star 2LP (2017)

8 reviews for The Life and Times of an Imaginary Rock Star 2LP (2017)

1. Rated 4 out of 5

   Beverley Gee – January 22, 2017

   This ain’t dirty nonsense, this ain’t stupid games…

   The long awaited production from Ruben Vine, a collaboration of sublime artists that blend so well. The narrations, the lyrical, social documentary of our time, the musicians, the graphic artists: a piece of art resonate of the ‘ War of the Worlds’, the stage awaits?

   …Tip tap tippetty toe, down to the vinyl store you’ll go….

2. Rated 5 out of 5

   Getglobalized – February 12, 2017

   Wow great to get an album that seems so much more than just an album. This feels epic in every way. Superb story telling weaves and knits great songs and lyrics in an extrodinary way. Compelling journey of music, narration and imagery combine to deliver an incredible album. Original and stylish. It’s not often albums these days drift and absorb you into another dimension. This really is a fantastic package. Glad I got the comic too as the artwork is outstanding. All reminds me of how great albums used to be! SuperFantastic.

3. Rated 5 out of 5

   Martyn John – February 17, 2017

   Seems to me this is just the album for the growing resurgence of vinyl, the return of the concept album, a complete package here of the kind that got lost in the digital download era.. was drawn to the album by the packaging, the cover, the comic book.. maybe not the best way to choose your music, but Ruben doesnt disappoint, this is top notch stuff all the way through. Loved reading the comic and listening to Ruben’s adventures, and both parts stand up on their own… more independent artists like this please

4. Rated 4 out of 5

   Dirk Freeking – February 26, 2017

   Kinda reminds me of early Bowie with a bit of Nick Cave thrown in, both listening to War of the Worlds while searching for the meaning of life in a post apocalyptic theme park. Great packaging, original music style, should do well given the right exposure

5. Rated 5 out of 5

   Martyn Frongle – March 1, 2017

   First caught my attention visually, what a great package to celebrate the return of vinyl – it had to come up with goods though, and Ruben doesnt disappoint.. dark narrated adventures, eclectic mix of styles, plently of original wierdness.. this is concept album for the disfunctional 21st century.. great stuff, loved following the album and the comic (fantastic artwork)

6. Rated 4 out of 5

   PunkOnline.co.uk – March 22, 2017

   In a collaboration between Ruben Vine and the renowned British actor Michael Jayston and accompanied by a twenty-eight page full colour comic, this is a truly unique release particularly in it’s physical form.

   Ruben Vine is an underground alternative musician and artist who currently resides somewhere in East Sussex. He is the main protagonist in this production and the purveyor of words. He appears as the Imaginary Rock Star, sings, plays bass and other instrumentation. Michael Jayston is a well renowned actor and lover of cricket who resides in Hove, Sussex. He has enjoyed acclaimed and critical success in theatre, television, films, and radio, Dr.Who and as a voiceover artist and narrator since 1962. He continues to perform. In this production he appears as the narrator.

   Ruben produces a punk rock sound that reminds me of The Apostles in that it’s raw and melodic at the same time and the narration from Jayston is sublime. There is a documentary narration and DIY punk rock accompaniment – the concept album sounds too strange to be true but it absolutely works and it works really well. It’s one of my favorite albums for some time. Nuketown appears with narration and then as a punk track with female vocals before Vine brings in his vocal snarl – it’s in your face and angry.

   The story of the life and times of the imaginary rock star builds throughout the double album with Jayston’s beautiful narration backed by keyboards, strings as well as the regular guitar, bass and drums. Vine’s songs alternate with those narrated tracks and he varies his approach with Gossips exploring the gypsy punk genre and bringing his own version of it.

   I have no idea whether Vine and Jayston intend to perform the album as a play/musical but it would lend itself well to the stage. It is an extraordinary approach to punk rock with DIY and professionalism production values colliding, punk with acting – The Great Liberator echoing The Men They Couldn’t Hang. There is punk, folk, jazz all wrapped up in a single package. I found the entire package simply brilliant.

   http://punkonline.co.uk/ruben-vine-the-life-and-times-of-an-imaginary-rock-star-review/

7. Rated 4 out of 5

   Kim Harten – April 7, 2017

   A lavish package released for Record Store Day (Saturday 22nd April 2017), on double vinyl LP, CD, or download, accompanied by a 28 page comic illustrated by Francisco Maldonado and Oscar Blanco. The album features the apparently unlikely pairing of underground musician Ruben Vine and well-known actor Michael Jayston, known for his role in Shakespeare productions, historical dramas, soaps, sitcoms and Doctor Who. What we have here is a sort of allegorical punk rock opera, with Ruben Vine’s heavy-hitting music punctuated by scene-setting narrations from Michael Jayston.

   The music draws largely from punk, metal, classic rock, and hard-edged alternative rock, whilst taking on board ideas from beyond the rock sphere and also combining rock subgenres in a creative manner. Swallowed by the Mainstream blends lazy, hazy psych-rock with choppy post-punk riffage. Gossips employs strings and piano for a sophisticated artistic touch. The Journey is another string-led piece, most akin to chamber pop, featuring a catchy chorus alongside a pro-underground, pro-free thought manifesto narrated by Michael Jayston. Modern Lament sets punky vocals to an inventive orchestrated arrangement. The theme of the album and its accompanying artwork celebrates underground creativity over mainstream blandness.

   The story is set in a dystopian world populated by ‘junkie consumers’ who blindly follow the messages pumped out by the cathode ray tubes that double as their own heads. It is the job of the underground heroes, led by Ruben Vine himself, to combat the morass of banality, violence, prejudice, greed and environmental destruction that is the norm among these people. Ruben Vine urges creative people to take control of their own destiny by embracing the DIY philosophy, as an antidote to the corporate music industry dictating people’s tastes,

   http://www.blissaquamarine.net/albumreviews30b.html

8. Rated 4 out of 5

   Diane – April 19, 2017

   ‘The Life and Times of an Imaginary Rock Star’ is the latest album from musician and artist Ruben Vine. This eclectic collection fuses punk, rock and metal with the trappings of concept album. It also boasts linking narration by the great Michael Jayston, who Whovians know better as the sinister Valeyard.

   Ruben Vine is a Sussex-based alternative rock musician and artist. As well as being a prolific musician, Vine runs ‘Articles of Faith’ – an online store selling lightboxes, t-shirts, posters and other paraphernalia featuring his artwork. Vine provides the main vocals on ‘Imaginary Rock Star’ as well as playing bass and the title role.

   The Idol

   Michael Jayston played the Valeyard throughout season 23 of Doctor Who, ‘The Trial of a Time Lord’. His character torments the Sixth Doctor, acting as a prosecutor with his own motives in mind. The Valeyard was one of the better aspects of a lacklustre final TV outing for Colin Baker’s era. So it’s no surprise that Jayston has reprised the role in several Big Finish productions. Without giving away the twist in a thirty-year-old story, there’s a reason the Valeyard works as an adversary to the Doctor.

   Concept Album

   This is most definitely a concept album, drawing inspiration from the likes of ‘Ziggy Stardust’ or ‘War of the Worlds’ – the latter being directly quoted. While each song can stand alone, they’re only scenes in one 45-minute story. On first listen, it’s definitely best to hear the whole thing in one sitting before you pick out favourite scenes.

   The Moral

   With such a variety of styles, which songs you enjoy the most will definitely depend on taste. For me, the earlier tracks definitely stand out as the strongest including ‘Nuketown’. ‘Gossips’ is also an earworm, with a refrain that got stuck in my head for days after only one listen.

   While the narration and songs merge more later on, Jayston’s links in the first half come in separate tracks with a backing score. It goes without saying that Jayston is a master of his craft and does a fine job. But what surprised me is just how well his hard-edged voice is suited to the tone of the album. Even lines that seem too bizarre for him to deliver straight are given the utmost conviction. The man was born to narrate surreal sci-fi concept albums, it seems.

   The Rule of the Mob

   The absolute high point for me is ‘Oh My Days’ and the narration that precedes it from Michael Jayston. Not only does this mark the protagonist’s turning point, it shifts the album’s tone towards more heavy metal songs. But it’s tempered with elements of folk music, with plenty of violins and snare drums, to add a surreal edge. Though perhaps not as catchy as the earlier songs, the change definitely emphasises the album as a journey.

   https://blogtorwho.com/the-life-and-times-of-an-imaginary-rock-star/