Jim O'Rourke Eureka CD

Personnel includes: Jim O'Rourke (vocals, various instruments); Julie Pomerleau (violin, viola); Fred Lonberg Holm (cello); Flim Barnes (percussion).
Recorded between July 1997 and December 1998.
It's a good bet to expect the unexpected with Jim O'Rourke -- no matter which hat he's wearing (solo artist, bandmate, producer, remixer, etc.), each of the endlessly prolific projects that bears his name takes on a shape and identity all its own while retaining the originality and ingenuity that have become the hallmarks of his singular body of work. Eureka is perhaps his most stunning and surprising detour yet, a full-blown excursion into lush, melodic pop; granted, there's something inherently perverse about the very notion of O'Rourke and Chicago underground cronies like trombonist Jeb Bishop and cornetist Rob Mazurek tackling such classicist stuff, but instead the album is short on irony and long on affection -- in fact, its most subversive dimension is its very real mainstream appeal. What's most fascinating about Eureka is that its big, bright pop is actually the perfect showcase for O'Rourke's mastery of sound -- highlights like the epic opener "Women of the World" and a joyously schmaltzy cover of the Bacharach/David chestnut "Something Big" are crafted with remarkable care and depth, the former in particular building and blooming in truly majestic fashion. On a conceptual level, of course, it's easy to view Eureka as another in a long line of deconstructionist experiments, a reading more overtly avant songs like "Movie on the Way Down" and "Through the Night Softly" certainly bears out; on a deeper level, however, it's a true labor of love, and its sheer exuberance and creativity go further in re-shaping the pop aesthetic than any pure intellectual exercise ever could. ~ Jason Ankeny
Jim O'Rourke's reputation as an inaccessible avant-garde music boffin is shattered by the beguiling charm of EUREKA. After more than a decade of abstraction, experimentation, and improvisation, O'Rourke unleashed this playful curveball as if to prove he was human after all. Lush and complex arrangements decorate these slightly bizarre songs. The nearest comparison is probably Van Dyke Parks's 1968 magnum opus SONG CYCLE. Both albums are richly rewarding if you're prepared to persevere beyond the initial strangeness.
Nimble acoustic guitars dominate the trance-like opener "Women Of The World" (written by deadpan Scottish absurdist Ivor Cutler). O'Rourke is a classically trained multi-instrumentalist, and his playing is imaginative and full of rich texture, but there's nothing po-faced about EUREKA. A light and happy mood is sustained throughout the album. The Latin-flavored "Something Big" takes its cues from the exotic pop of Esquivel, and is a joyful highlight.Entertainment Weekly (4/9/99, p.77) - "This Chicago-based underground scenester performs trippy mutations on everything from cool jazz to prog-rock to Sergio Mendes bossa nova..." - Rating: B
The Wire (1/00, p.67) - Included in Wire Magazine's "50 Records Of The Year ['99]"
The Wire (4/99, p.68) - "...gorgeous, a silky confection with its heart in late 60s orchestrated American pop, with just enough edgy noises to hold onto its avant status..."
CMJ (3/15/99, p.22) - "...Chicago's favorite avant-son has pulled a fast one on fans of his deconstructionist aesthetic, as the album plays it atypically melodic and pop centric. In fact, EUREKA is practically easy listening, marked by light, jazzy arrangements and swank instrumental detail..."
Mojo (Publisher) (1/00, p.30) - Ranked #32 in Mojo Magazine's "Best of 1999"
Mojo (Publisher) (4/99, p.108) - "...O'Rourke blends brass, woodwind, double bass, strings, steel guitars and pianos into a heady tropical punch, garnished with lyrics that cover everything from cakes to car crashes..."