The Futurist
by Robert Downey, Jr.

Tony Stark tickles the ivories while an upright bass plays in a smoke-filled corner of the bar. I don't know about this one, though. His singing isn't all that good. Sometimes, that doesn't matter too much, but other times it just doesn't work. Some of the songs aren't too good either. This seems like a very personal album - I don't think he was doing it for the money or even to try and get on the radio - so I want to like it better than I do. But it's just a little too strange. I've heard worse though?

From TheDude85 10/29/2020 16:45 | #259915

Robert Downey, Jr. shows he has other talents besides snorting white fluffy powder and waking up in the bed of his neighbors on this 2004 debut album of his musical interest. Released on Sony Classical label, Downey, Jr. plays a smooth piano and croons in a smoky jazz inflected voice in this commendable effort through 10 tunes, more than half of them self-penned (in what sounds like a semi-soul-searching time killer in rehab/detox). The lyrics are sometimes nonsensical at least to this listener - but given heart felt delivery, and supported by other fine musicians throughout. Downey, Jr.'s own musical instrumentation never takes center stage, as it appears he was more comfortable being in the background - there aren't any 10 minute piano solos that erupt here.