Robert Downey Jr.

[Memorex]

Though he has a new movie out, my topic is The Futurist, his album from 2004. A few times a year I come back to this album and can't get enough of it. I bought it when I was working 27 hours a day and it looped over and over in my headset and so maybe it just sunk deep in. It's a bit unfocused lyrically, but some great musicians and great music, in my opinion. Cool cover of Yes' Your Move with Jon Anderson on Bk vocals.

Anyway, wondered if anyone else has heard it. Here's one of the songs - Kimberly Glide.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuLLapklGok

I also really like his version of River.

[majik]

Wow, thats cool.

[Rick]

Though he has a new movie out, my topic is The Futurist, his album from 2004. A few times a year I come back to this album and can't get enough of it. I bought it when I was working 27 hours a day and it looped over and over in my headset and so maybe it just sunk deep in. It's a bit unfocused lyrically, but some great musicians and great music, in my opinion. Cool cover of Yes' Your Move with Jon Anderson on Bk vocals.

Anyway, wondered if anyone else has heard it. Here's one of the songs - Kimberly Glide.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuLLapklGok

I also really like his version of River.

Never heard of it, and definitely never knew he could sing. But he can. I will be looking farther into this. I've always been a RDJ fan, even through his trials and tribulations. Normally I would dismiss a guy that's done the shit he's done, but I didn't do that with him. Not sure why.

[Memorex]

Yea - me too. I am glad he made it out. Watching him after Iron Man earned all those millions was cool. True phoenix-type story. It looked like his days were numbered.

[Andrew]

RD Jr is the man. What a survivor. Class act.

[Duncan]

He sounds a like a cross between Sting and Huey Lewis.

[Peartree12249]

Yea - me too. I am glad he made it out. Watching him after Iron Man earned all those millions was cool. True phoenix-type story. It looked like his days were numbered.

It just goes to show that no matter how far down the rabbit hole people go in their addictions, there is always hope and a strong recovery program can lead to amazing changes in people's lives.

[JRNYMAN]

RDJ is one of my favorite actors - definitely in my top 5 - and has been for a long time. He's phenomenally talented at many things. I've had his album for probably.... 10 years I guess and like you, I seem to circle back to it now and then. For those who weren't aware that he plays the piano, this album doesn't do his abilities justice. And while the content of the album is great and he really plays well on it, his playing is very reserved. He's classically trained with a huge penchant for Jazz/Blues and when he sits down at the piano just to play,.... WHOA! It's pretty fucking impressive - and that's coming from womeone who's played keys all his life and has an appreciation for the ones who are a cut above the rest. He's no Rick Wakeman by any means but either is his personal style.

He was on "Inside the Actor's Studio" a while back and James Lipton was very direct and up-front with his questions and to RDJ's credit, he met each of them head-on - including the ones that you could see clearly made him uncomfortable discussing. I agree with The Wombat, RDJ is definitely a class act and a brilliant actor. We've only seen a tiny bit of what he's capable of. One of his best performances was in a movie titled, "Two Girls and a Guy". Very obscure film and a bizarre character he was playing but his performance in it was outstanding. He also plays the piano in the movie which is great too.

[Memorex]

RDJ is one of my favorite actors - definitely in my top 5 - and has been for a long time. He's phenomenally talented at many things. I've had his album for probably.... 10 years I guess and like you, I seem to circle back to it now and then. For those who weren't aware that he plays the piano, this album doesn't do his abilities justice. And while the content of the album is great and he really plays well on it, his playing is very reserved. He's classically trained with a huge penchant for Jazz/Blues and when he sits down at the piano just to play,.... WHOA! It's pretty fucking impressive - and that's coming from womeone who's played keys all his life and has an appreciation for the ones who are a cut above the rest. He's no Rick Wakeman by any means but either is his personal style.

He was on "Inside the Actor's Studio" a while back and James Lipton was very direct and up-front with his questions and to RDJ's credit, he met each of them head-on - including the ones that you could see clearly made him uncomfortable discussing. I agree with The Wombat, RDJ is definitely a class act and a brilliant actor. We've only seen a tiny bit of what he's capable of. One of his best performances was in a movie titled, "Two Girls and a Guy". Very obscure film and a bizarre character he was playing but his performance in it was outstanding. He also plays the piano in the movie which is great too.

My favorite movie of his and a very interesting take on one of the all time great songs (You Don't Know Me). The song has been covered dozens of times and I lean to the Kenny Loggins live version and Charlie Rich version, but I did like RDJ's take, which is totally different.