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 enlarge | Artist: Joe Jackson
Label: A&M
Category: Music
List Price: $9.98
Buy New: $5.56
You Save: $4.42 (44%)
New (37) Used (12) from $2.99
Rating:  30 reviews
Sales Rank: 3413
Format: Extra Tracks, Original Recording Remastered
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 586194
UPC: 731458619420
EAN: 7314586194200
ASIN: B00005N8Y9
Release Date: August 14, 2001
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: BRAND NEW, Factory Sealed items direct from the Studios. 30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee. Quick International Airmail!
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 6-10 of 30
 Looks sharp, sounds sharp March 5, 2004
Rocco Dormarunno (Brooklyn, NY)
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
Joe Jackson's first two albums have always represented, to me, what was good about the New Wave/No Wave splash of the late '70s to early '80s. LOOK SHARP was Joe Jackson's impressive first dive into those waters. Although not as consistently engrossing as his next album, I'M THE MAN, this album was a great introduction to the contradictory, self-conscious attitude of late '70s pop. Alternating between comic and pathetic, like "Is She Really Going Out With Him?" to "Fools in Love", the album does have an interesting range. The title cut is probably the most self-conscious in the sense that it figuratively asks, "How should I look and/or behave in this post-punk world? What is the new attitude?" I had just turned twenty when this album came out and, for that reason alone, this cut spoke to me. I worried about having to look "over my shoulder" too.
The DVD has a great sound and the accompanying goodies make it well worth the very reasonable price.
Joe's electrifying debut--brilliant songwriting that beats Costello at his own game December 31, 2004
Dave (United States)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Joe Jackson's debut album "Look Sharp!" was recorded in 1978 & originally released in January of 1979, & what a superb debut it is. Yes, the similarity between Jackson and Elvis Costello (the latter of whom already had two albums out prior to 1979) are inevitable, but Joe simply had Elvis beat in terms of both vocal power and sheer songwriting ability.
Clearly this album was a cathartic experience for Joe--track upon track shows him letting off a ton of steam, & when you match this with the consistently deathless hooks, & punchy performances from the original Joe Jackson Band, the result is an album that is simply electrifying. This is one of those albums where the big hit is merely the tip of the iceberg--"Is She Really Going Out With Him?" is certainly a good tune, but it's kind of thin and annoyingly in-your-face--it makes perfect sense that Joe has come up with various different reworkings of this song over the years for live performance, seemingly as a compromise--this way the fans can't accuse him of totally avoiding this signature tune, yet it also gives Joe the satisfaction of knowing he's not merely pandering to his audience. "Is She Really Going Out With Him?" gets totally blown away by most of the rest of the songs on this album. In general, he sticks with hyperactive "New Wave"-ish rock & roll throughout the album, and it really feels like one of those albums that gets knocked out very quickly, which it was. That's not to say though that there's no variety--he gets in a strong dose of reggae on the sarcastic media slam "Sunday Papers" and on the mellow "Fools In Love", and there's also a funkiness to the ultra-catchy "(Do The) Instant Mash" which has incredibly witty & highly amusing lyrics, as well as an infectious, bluesy guitar lick. "Pretty Girls" is a blast--it starts off humorously similar to Manfred Mann's "Do Wah Diddy", & the song is about guys being utterly powerless when it comes to living in a world full of beautiful girls, & expresses a desperate desire for it to be otherwise with some truly mind-blowing lyrics. Each 'side' (in vinyl terms) ends with a thrilling fast-paced gem--"Throw It Away" is a cathartic rant, & the uncanny "Got the Time" is about the frantic rush people find themselves in to get things done. The uptempo, pleading album opener "One More Time", the bouncy feel-good pop of "Baby Stick Around", & the strutting title track are all gems as well. As much credit as Joe deserves, you've really got to hand it to Graham Maby (bass guitar), Gary Sanford (guitar), and Dave Houghton (drums)--their performances on this album are incredible. This 2001 reissue makes this masterpiece even sweeter by adding some excellent liner notes, plus two non-album b-sides as bonus tracks, both of which are gems--"Don't Ask Me" is another thrilling, fast-paced blast, & "You Got The Fever" is ultra-catchy & sounds kind of like a blend of "Is She Really Going Out With Him?" & the title track. Plus, the sound quality on this disc is superb. One minor complaint is the flawed job that was done in regard to the insertion of track marks--for instance, if you go to track 5 to hear "Throw It Away", you'll find the very beginning of the track to be 'stranded' at the end of track 4 (I apologize if this sounds confusing, but if you try this for yourself, you see what I'm saying). Apart from that though, this is an absolutely terrific reissue of an album that was already terrific in the first place. Few artists in music history have been as tirelessly determined to show their versatility & to make 'Big Statements' as Joe Jackson has--the result has been a career with considerable ups and downs, however, this debut album left no doubt about Joe's songwriting genius. To put it a certain way, this is where it all began for Joe--"Look Sharp!" is, without question, a must-have album.
An Excellent Remastering Job! January 15, 2005
D. Hawkins (Denver, CO United States)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
While watching the "Freaks and Geeks" DVD's recently, there was an episode where Sam buys a Parisian nightsuit and wears it to school, all with the hope of impressing a girl. The song playing as he walks down the hall is "Look Sharp," and it's a perfect marriage of visuals and music. If you watch the episode with the commentary, one of the commentators waxes about how much he loves the song, and especially Graham Maby's bass playing. I couldn't agree more. This is a dynamite album that still sounds phenomenal and that is due in large part to the excellence of Graham Maby. He has to be one of the most unsung bassists ever, but his liquid lines bring the groove to the entire album. The remastering sounds better than the LP I had many moons ago, and I can tell it's one album that I will never tire of. If you want to "look sharp," you should make this your nxt purchase.
You tell 'em, Joe March 8, 2007
mogie skwerl (Beautiful Downtown Newport Va)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Down with chicks! Down with love! Down with Beaver Cleaver! Down with all of that gushy stuff! Up with whatever!
Look Sharp... SHARPER THAN EVER January 16, 2004
Klimari (WANAQUE, NJ United States)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Back in the late 70's when I was a teenager, I purchased this record due to it's unique packaging... A 2 disc 10" "sandwich" album with cool cover art and even a "LOOK SHARP" lapel button. I was shocked to find that the music was incredible as well! Needless to say, even though I still have the record, I haven't heard it in years and stumbled accross it on Amazon. Boy am I glad I did! The album is a total classic that is as fresh as when released sounding even better on compact disc. A MUST FOR EVERY COLLECTION.
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