"a cloudy bit of creativity"
author: michael barnes
Austin360 blogs > Out & About > Archives > 2005 > December > 21 > Entry
Rating the CDs
By michael barnes | Wednesday, December 21, 2005, 05:54 PM
CDs: Some readers have asked the criteria I use for selecting CDs reported in this venue. Every day, I receive three or four CDs, unsolicited, in the mail. I listen to all of them. (Well, almost all. Life’s too short for novelty acts such as Il Divo.) Half of the little jewels go into the charity bin after just a few cuts. If I persist all the way through, or, better yet, listen more than once, I’ll include a micro-review of that CD in this blog. A third or fourth listen can prompt a printed review in XL.
There’s no need to guess why “Opposite You” (PS Classics) is my Pick of the Day. It features Broadway stars Marin Mazzie and Jason Danieley singing jazzy show tunes and American standards. It’s like a dimly lighted cabaret living inside your headphones, with Mazzie and Danieley flirting through music and lyrics. The only suspense: Which will sing the higher part, the soprano or the tenor?
The rest of today’s worthy CDs are listed in order of preference: 1. “Del Tredici, Theofanidis, Bernstein” (Telarc), a tremendous effort by Robert Spano and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus to journey to the edgiest ends of choral music; 2. “15 Hours Unravelling” (Luther), Porterdavis’ under-your-skin pop; 3. “The Long Road Home” (Fantasy), which revives the seminal voice of John Fogerty; 4. “Handstand” (Loudhouse), Mike Kindred’s mix of blues, jazz and rock. which makes me want to track down his next Austin performance; 5. “A Lil Sump’m Sump’m” (Warner), Jon Nicholson’s pumping rock, not always felicitous; 6. “Two Way Mirror’ (Frenchmusic.com) from Austin singer-songwriter Renee French, a cloudy bit of creativity; 7. “Humming By the Flowered Vine” (Matador), which records Laura Cantrell’s geographic and lyrical disconnections; 8. “Closing In” (Matador), by the metalmen in Early Man, deservedly at the end of this list, but most metal does not magnetize me.
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Give a listen, and you'll be hooked!
author: Lucky Boyd, My Texas Music
Renee French brings her angelic voice to disc on this well-produced, well-written project. French, under the tutelage of renown vocal genius Debbie Beinhorn, delivers flawlessly on this collection of beautiful ballads that tell of life, love, and lament. A pristine gathering of musicians adorn this Dave Sebree production. Eric Daub's piano lays the foundation of the tracks and the layers of stellar performances frame French's dynamic vocal work. This is one of those 'date' albums that I talk about now and then. Turn the lights down low, cook something low-cal, invite your date for dinner and just let the magic happen. There's just enough jazz to make this a great 'play all day' disc. Give a listen and you'll be hooked.
Read more...
Give a listen, and you'll be hooked!
author: Lucky Boyd, My Texas Music
Renee French brings her angelic voice to disc on this well-produced, well-written project. French, under the tutelage of renown vocal genius Debbie Beinhorn, delivers flawlessly on this collection of beautiful ballads that tell of life, love, and lament. A pristine gathering of musicians adorn this Dave Sebree production. Eric Daub's piano lays the foundation of the tracks and the layers of stellar performances frame French's dynamic vocal work. This is one of those 'date' albums that I talk about now and then. Turn the lights down low, cook something low-cal, invite your date for dinner and just let the magic happen. There's just enough jazz to make this a great 'play all day' disc. Give a listen and you'll be hooked.
Read more...