The Spirit Room Review

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The Spirit Room Reviewas a teenage girl, i often feel as though the music industry is constantly pushing false images and manufactured "girl anthems" at me. to be perfectly honest, i was a bit hesitant to buy michelle branch's major label debut. sure, i'm a big hanson fan, and i know she toured with them. big deal. i was prepared for her to be maverick records' answer to britney spears.
however. . .i've listened to each song on the album a few times, and i must say i'm pleasantly surprised. michelle writes (yes, she actually had a hand in each song on the album) with as much honesty and awkwardness as any teenage girl feels every day. the songs are quite relateable, and she doesn't seem to be some supergirl who i could never aspire to be or meet or know. she's just a regular girl, singing regular songs about regular feelings. i'd say this is maverick records' attempt to corner the regular girl market. anyhow, here's a bit of each song, in detail.
track 1 - "everywhere": it's no surprise that this was the first single from spirit room. pop radio will love it for it's incredibly catchy hooks, and alternative radio will give it a few spins because it's a girl with a guitar. everyone wins. this is a great song, though, and michelle's unique voice packs a ton of emotion.
track 2 - "you get me": now, here's the awkward teen girl song i alluded to before. if ever there was a song for all the girls of the world who were neither popular nor confident, this is it. these lyrics are amazing ('so i'm a little left of center/i'm a little out of tune/some say i'm paranormal/so i just bend their spoon/who wants to be ordinary/in a crazy, mixed-up world/i don't care what they're sayin'/as long as i'm your girl'), as though she's accepted her uniqueness and is embracing it, rather than hiding from it. someone should put this on the soundtrack to gilmore girls. o wait. . .i think "everywhere" beat this song to it.
track 3 - "all you wanted": another well-crafted song for teenage outcast girls to relate to. the lyrics make me think of a girl trying to save a boy from the popular crowd, who are so empty and shallow inside, because she knows he is more than that. i'm relating already!
track 4 - "you set me free": yeah, teenage girls can be relateable, but we can be major saps, too. ('you're in my heart/the only light that shines/there in the dark') despite lyrical mishaps, michelle's vocal ability saves this song.
track 5 - "something to sleep to": this song is actually different than most others i've heard lately. i'm sure she's not inventing some kind of musical style here, but at least it's a change of pace from songs that rhyme 'love' with 'above'. michelle's voice is haunting and melodic at the same time, and her confusion makes this more of a story than a song.
track 6 - "here with me": the beats in this song are more hip-hop than rock, which gives it an interesting feel. i'd like this to be the next single. the chorus is sing-a-long-able. ('i know you had to go away/i died just a little, and i feel it now/you're the one i need/i believe i would cry just a little/just to have you back now/here with me/here with me')
track 7 - "sweet misery": i think this song was taken from michelle's independant release, broken bracelet. the original version was a bit better, though less polished, in my opinion. this heavily produced track falls a bit flat because it removed the guitar, angst feel from the original. the lyrics are still really pretty.
track 8 - "if only she knew": this song is absolutely one of my favorites. everything falls into place here, with the guitars, vocals, lyrics. . .everything. i'm sure that any fan of today's pop divas would change their tune after hearing this one.
track 9 - "i'd rather be in love": wouldn't we all? michelle is wise beyond her eighteen years, and this song proves it. ('why are we afraid to be in love?/to be loved/i can't explain it/i know it's tough to be loved')
track 10 - "goodbye to you": this is definitely another girly, coming-of-age song. it seems to be about breaking up with a first love, and michelle managed to capture all the contrasting feelings that go along with that situation in this heartbreaker.
track 11 - "drop in the ocean": quite a mellow song; perfect to close the album.
i hope that michelle branch is powerful enough to make a mark in the pop music industry. it's about time teenage girls have someone besides britney to idolize. i'm not saying that britney spears isn't fun in her own right, but change is necessary to human existence. i'm tired of being spoken down to, and feeling as though i have to be a sexual object to be important. let's hope that michelle branch gets to enjoy the success she so deserves.The Spirit Room OverviewIncludes Different Artwork Than USA Version and Exclusive CD Rom Section which features Behind the Scenes Footage of the Making of this CD, a Picture Gallery plus a Weblink.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Beyond The Missouri Sky (Short Stories) Review

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Beyond The Missouri Sky (Short Stories) ReviewPat Metheny and Charlie Haden are apparently close neighbours, well, that much is now obvious. These two masterful musicians have become one in a most wonderful way, so close that they're almost the same person.
The recording has an earthy, very "real" sound to it, Metheny is sitting over there, Haden just over there, and you're alone with them, listening to these two masters entertain you. It is an intimate record, to be listened to when you're feeling extremely comfortable for it to achieve its maximum effect.
The melodies and chord choices are superlative, generally I know where they're going to take the tune, but when they make different choices I realise why they're in the league that they are. The results can haunt me, lift me, leave me wondering just how they could have made that melodic line so perfect.
It is not at all provocative, it doesn't jarr the senses in any way. It soothes and relaxes as it passes by. If there has to be any criticism of the record it cannot be directed at the musicianship, which is of the highest order. A number of similar-sounding tracks can eventually coalesce in the memory, and that is a problem here, there are peaks of pleasure and plains of placidity, but they're subtle, and the musical landscape ends up looking rather like the sumptuous cover art.
The only recording niggle I might direct at the recording is that some of Pat's more percussive acoustic notes come awfully close to distorting the recording on a couple of tracks. Depending upon my mood these sometimes enhance that "two masters in your living room" effect, and at other times I'll feel that they're intrusive.
As soon as I bought this album and found such beauty I passed on a recommendation to a friend with similarly avant-garde tastes in other areas (I regularly listen to Bill Nelson, David Torn, Fripp, Russell Mills, Allan Holdsworth etc but appreciate Metheny's tremendous musicality nonetheless). My friend was immediately captured by the same spell. In the years we've known each other he's never used the word "beautiful" to describe any music he's ever talked about, except for "Missouri sky ...".Beyond The Missouri Sky (Short Stories) OverviewFull title - Beyond the Missouri Sky (Short Stories). European tour edition of 1996 album includes a bonus DVD (PAL) with two live tracks, 'First Song (For Ruth)' & 'Our Spanish Love Song' recorded in 1997 at Jazz international festival of Montreal plus o--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Open Fire Two Guitars Review

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Open Fire Two Guitars ReviewThis reissue of a 1959 album for Columbia is a classic! At the time, Mathis was as hot as one could get in record sales with hit after hit following his 1956 breakthrough smash, IT"S NOT FOR ME TO SAY. This album was risky as it was a departure from the "formula" which his audience had become used to. It was terrific then and still is today. This is Mathis in his prime with excellent material comprised of great old standards. A pleasant surprise is the title tune, a little known, wistful ballad which is the equal of any of the better known songs on the album. It would be interesting to hear the mature Mathis of today perform these same tunes with a small ensemble behind him. Until then, enjoy this one it's a winner.Open Fire Two Guitars Overview

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The John Michael Talbot Collection: A Library Of 35 Favorite Songs Review

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The John Michael Talbot Collection: A Library Of 35 Favorite Songs ReviewJohn Michael Talbot began is career in the sixties as a country-rock artist, playing and touring with industry giants. Because of a profound conversion experience, he set out on his own path of writing and singing songs expressing his journey of faith in the Franciscan tradition of the Catholic Church. Over the past twenty-five years, Talbot has recorded an unbelievably broad range of Christian music encompassing many styles, from solo voice and guitar, to orchestra and choir. He has put to music the classic prayers and liturgy of the church, as well as written original material in both acoustic and clasical styles, with a depth of theological and musical integrity. In contemporary Christian music, where glitz and glamor have become an unfortunate by-product, Talbot rises above the commercialization by singing songs, and living a life of humility and service. His songs have been a powerful influence on me and my spiritual journey. I have sung and played his songs in my United Methodist congregation, at church camps, and in my own spiritual retreats. More than anything else, his beautiful music and his life are a witness to the power and presence of Christ. These discs are a collection of his music from across the years. I strongly recommend them to everyone.The John Michael Talbot Collection: A Library Of 35 Favorite Songs Overview

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