This came out in 1999 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
With his classical training and lounge lizard look, Joe Jackson the pop star was always a bit of an imposter.
But since he more or less resigned from the rock world a few years ago, he’s returned to his true roots in contemporary symphonic music — with impressive results. Like his last work Heaven & Hell, this 43-minute symphony straddles the fence between classical and pop. Musically, explains Jackson, this four-movement work’s themes parallel a journey through life — the chaotic simplicity of childhood, the exuberance of youth, the thoughtful period of maturity and the search for balance with age. But don’t let this high-falutin’ description intimidate you. Even to an unsophisticated ear like mine, it’s still an intriguing, well-crafted composition that bears Jackson’s unmistakable melodic stamp and wit. He may not Look Sharp anymore, but he sounds as sharp as ever.
