Review: 'Voices' by Hall and Oates

'Voices,' Hall and Oates, 1980, RCA. Cover: ordinary. Lyrics not included. 


We've kind of liked Hall and Oates since we were in grade school and heard 'Jingle Bell Rock' and 'Rich Girl.' Their songs can be a bit repetitive, but they often have a good beat and melody. This tape, from all the way back in 1980, has 'Kiss On My List,' one of our favourite Hall and Oates tunes.

'How Does It Feel to Be Back' is about a guy longing for his girl; 'Big Kids' is about a guy who believes his relationship with his girl will never end, and about how we're all just big kids on the inside, even if we're supposedly grown up; 'You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling' is about a guy who knows his girl doesn't feel the same way about him any more; the feeling of having the girl of your dreams is explored in 'You Make My Dreams'; and 'Everytime You Go Away' is about a guy who can't get a girl to see how much he loves her. (Those last two are also among our favourites.)

There's a song about a guy who's paranoid his girl will find someone new on her trip to Africa ('Africa'), and a song about the singers in the subway, a tribute to 'doo wop' songs ('Diddy Doo Wop').   

Note: mild language.

Favourite lyrics include: '(Because your kiss) your kiss is on my list/(Because your kiss) your kiss is on my list/Because your kiss is on my list of the best things in life/(Because your kiss) your kiss is on my list/(Because your kiss) your kiss I can't resist' ('Kiss On My List'). 

Review: 'High Civilization' by Bee Gees

'High Civilization' by Bee Gees, 1991, Warner Bros. Records. Cover: has Big Ben on it (a plus), but it's awfully busy. Inside has another odd picture and a photo of the gents who make up Bee Gees. Lyrics included.


This album is a bit of a divergence from what we remember of the Bee Gees, though they still use that signature falsetto, in 'Happy Ever After,' for example. Some of the lyrics are confusing, such as those in 'Party with No Name,' which could be about a group of Cupids, and 'Ghost Train' (we don't really get the connexion between a ghost train and romantic love). 

Then there's 'Evolution,' about deviant love; 'When He's Gone,' about a guy who thinks he's better for a woman than her other lover is; 'Secret Love,' about forbidden love; 'Dimensions,' about a guy in love with a girl who's too much for him; and 'The Only Love,' about a guy who can't get over a break-up. 

There's a call for a better world in 'High Civilization,' and a guy refuses to let his girl go in 'Human Sacrifice,' which has some pretty dark lyrics.  

All in all, not our favourite Bee Gees album, but it is different. 

Favourite lyrics include: 'And there's no price on what/You hold/Till it's gone/And it keeps moving on . . . How can you say to me/That I should go on living/I left the only life I had with you' ('The Only Love'). 

Review: 'The Earth Is . . . ' by Air Supply

'The Earth Is . . . ' by Air Supply, 1991, Giant Records. Cover: interesting. Lyrics are included.


Air Supply excels at the ballad, and this album proves it. Enduring love is explored in 'Stronger Than the Night'; 'The Earth Is' talks about how we're all connected and need each other; 'Speaking of Love' is about deep love and looking for confirmation of it. 

Unexpectedly, there's a song in Spanish on this tape, 'Dame Amor,' which is about a man wanting his love to give him her heart. The loss of love is the subject of 'Without You,' and the lyrics are nature-inspired in 'Dancing with the Mountain,' about being alone with the one you love. 

Then there's 'Bread and Blood,' the lyrics of which we have a serious problem with, as it's concerned with faith not getting in the way of love. 

All in all, this isn't our favourite album. But it does have 'Without You,' which we've always liked. 

Favourite lyrics include: 'No I can't forget this evening/Or your face as you were leaving/But I guess that's just the way the story goes . . . I can't live, if living is without you/I can't give, I can't give anymore' ('Without You'). 

Review: 'The Best of The Alan Parsons Project' by The Alan Parsons Project

'The Best of The Alan Parsons Project,' by The Alan Parsons Project, 1983, Arista Records. Cover: not great. Lyrics not included. 


The Alan Parsons Project can be a bit weird, which may be why the cover of this album is odd. They have seven lead singers on this tape, most of whom are quite good. 

'Eye in the Sky,' one of our favourites, is about a guy who's figured out his girlfriend is cheating; 'Games People Play' is about getting past the games; 'Time,' a slower tune, is about a guy leaving his girl and his friends, maybe forever. 

Two of the oddest tracks are 'Pyramania,' about believing in pyramid power (so weird) and 'Psychobabble,' which we like, about a guy seeing a psychiatrist. 

'Don't Let It Show' is about keeping a stiff upper lip after a break-up; 'Can't Take It With You,' which has images of the River Styx in it, is about death; and 'Old and Wise' is about getting past the things that hurt you when you're older and wiser. 

Note: mild language. 

Favourite lyrics include: 'Games people play,/You take it/You leave it/Things that they say, Honor Brite/If I promise you the Moon and the Stars/Would you believe it,/Games people play in the middle of the night' ('Games People Play'); 'Don't say words you're gonna regret/Don't let the fire rush to your head/I've heard the accusation before/And I ain't gonna take any more' ('Eye in the Sky'). 

Review: 'Surfacing' by Sarah McLachlan

'Surfacing' by Sarah McLachlan, 1997, Arista. Cover: pretty. Inside includes artwork and one other picture of McLachlan. Lyrics not included.


One of our favourite songs on this album is 'I Love You.' It's a slow, haunting, lovely song, and McLachlan sings it so beautifully. 

Most of the songs on this tape are from the darker side of life: there's the well-known 'Building a Mystery,' which is actually pretty weird, with dark lyrics; 'Adia,' about a love ended and the feelings left over; 'Do What You Have to Do,' about enduring when someone leaves you; and 'Witness,' which involves questions about faith. 

'Black and White' tells of living up to others' expectations and not knowing who you really are, and 'Full of Grace' is McLachlan's take on wanting to be better to your lover. 'Last Dance,' an instrumental, is one of the few tracks on the album which doesn't involve depressing lyrics. Still, McLachlan's voice is smooth and appealing. If you like Sarah McLachlan, you might want to try this album.   

Favourite lyrics include: 'And the night's/Too long/And cold here/Without you/I grieve in my condition/For I can't find the words to say I need you so' ('I Love You'). 

Review: 'No Strings' by Sheena Easton

'No Strings,' Sheena Easton, 1993, MCA Records. Cover: classy. We don't have the CD jacket, so we don't know if lyrics are included. 


This is Sheena Easton's take on some classic songs. Her voice is very well suited to the type of song she chose for this album, though we do wish she didn't waver quite so much, particularly in 'Someone to Watch Over Me.' 

'If You Go Away (Ne Me Quitte Pas)' is one of our favourites on the CD; it's quite well done, is just slow enough, and has excellent, lonely lyrics by Jacques Roman Brel. There's some nice piano playing in 'Body and Soul,' about a love lost; and then there's the jazzy medley 'I'm in the Mood for Love/Moody's Mood for Love,' about feeling romantic when the right person is next to one. 

'The Man That Got Away' is another good example of Easton's singing abilities, about a woman still in love with the man who left her. The thrill of being in someone's arms is explored in 'The Nearness of You,' and there's another medley, 'Little Girl Blue/When Sunny Gets Blue' -- the two songs have very similar lyrics and work well together. Easton also does Barbara Streisand's 'Never Will I Marry.'  

Favourite lyrics include: 'I'm a little lamb who's lost in the wood/I know I could, always be good/To one who'll watch over me' ('Someone to Watch Over Me'); 'How many roses are/Sprinkled with dew? . . . How far is the journey/From here to a star?' ('How Deep Is the Ocean'); 'If you go away, if you go away, if you go away/If you go as I know you must/There'll be nothing left/In this world to trust/Just an empty room/Full of empty space/Like the empty look/I see on your face' ('If You Go Away'). 

Review: 'Talk on Corners' by The Corrs

'Talk on Corners,' The Corrs, 1999, Atlantic/Wea. Cover: lovely. A very photogenic family. We don't have the CD jacket, so don't know if the lyrics are included. 


The Corrs are a band who blend their Irish background with a pop sound. The band consists of three sisters and a brother: Andrea (the vocalist), Caroline (drummer), Sharon (violin), and Jim (guitar/keyboard). 

This CD has a nice mix of songs. It's a retooled version of the original 'Talk on Corners,' minus a few songs; because we don't have the original album, we can't compare the two.

One of our favourite tracks on the CD is 'I Never Loved You Anyway,' a bitter song about a girl who's SO over her guy. Another favourite is the Celtic instrumental 'Paddy McCarthy,' which has a really good rhythm . . . and it's hard to go wrong with a Celtic sound. There's a distinct Celtic sound (notably in the violin strains) in other songs, as well, most particularly in 'Runaway' and 'I Never Loved You Anyway.'

There are a couple of cover songs: Stevie Nicks' 'Dreams' (another favourite) and Jimi Hendrix's 'Little Wing.' In our opinion, the Stevie Nicks version of 'Dreams' is the superiour, but we like this one, too. We also like 'Only When I Sleep' -- this one has interesting island references in the lyrics, and a dark and dreamy melody.    

Favourite lyrics include: 'In the stillness of remembering what you had/And what you lost/And what you had/And what you lost' ('Dreams'); 'And come to think of it/I was misled/My flat, my food, my everything/And thoughts inside my head' ('I Never Loved You Anyway'). 

Review: 'Swinging on a Star' by Bing Crosby

'Swinging on a Star,' Bing Crosby, MCA. Cover: good. We don't have the CD jacket, so don't know if it comes with lyrics or not, but except for not knowing Latin, this may not matter; Crosby's voice and enunciation are so clear that you'll probably understand every word.


Our parents instilled in us a love of Bing Crosby's music, so this album is sentimental and special to us. Perhaps predictably, it has a bent towards romance: 'Moonlight Becomes You' (which shows off Crosby's voice nicely), 'Constantly,' 'Sunday, Monday or Always,' and 'The Day After Forever' are all romantic, as is 'If You Please,' which has some truly poetic lyrics. 

There are also some really upbeat songs: 'Road to Morocco,' with Bob Hope, is one of our favourites. Then there's 'Ain't Got a Dime to My Name,' about a guy who's free and doesn't care that he's broke; the slower (but still happy) 'Going My Way'; and 'Swinging on a Star,' a quirky song which tells kids to stay on the straight and narrow if they want to grow up right. 

There are two Christmas classics, 'Ave Maria' (to which Crosby's voice is well suited) and 'Silent Night.' We also like 'Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral (An Irish Lullaby),' which Crosby does as appropriately soft and tender. 

Favourite lyrics include: 'We may run into villains but we're not afraid to roam/Because we read the story and we end up safe at home (yeah)/Certainly do get around/Like Webster's Dictionary we're Morocco bound' ('Road to Morocco'); 'Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral/Too-ra-loo-ra-li/Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral/That's an Irish lullaby' ('Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral'); and all of 'Silent Night.'     

Review: 'The Best of Carly Simon' by Carly Simon

'The Best of Carly Simon' by Carly Simon, 1975, Elektra. Cover: pretty. We don't have the CD jacket, and so don't know whether lyrics are included.


We've always liked Carly Simon. This CD has some of her greatest hits, including one of our favourites, 'You're So Vain.' It also has 'That's the Way I've Always Heard It Should Be,' a depressing song about the dark side of marriage, about doing what's expected rather than what you want. 

'Legend in Your Own Time' is about a chap who does his own thing but is missing out on love; then there's 'Haven't Got Time for the Pain,' about a woman who was used to heartache but who is now happy due to the love in her life; and '(We Have) No Secrets,' about a woman who knows everything about her guy and wishes she didn't. And be sure to listen to the grooving 'Night Owl,' which showcases a piano and saxophone alongside Simon's lovely voice. 

This is a good album, filled with a nice variety of Simon's songs. 

Favourite lyrics include: 'Well you're where you should be all the time/And when you're not you're with/Some underworld spy or the wife of a close friend' ('You're So Vain'). 

Review: 'Piano Man' by Billy Joel

'Piano Man' by Billy Joel, 1973, Columbia. Cover: not the most attractive we've seen. We don't have the CD, so we don't know if it comes with lyrics or not.


This is a terrific album and includes some of Billy Joel's best songs. Perhaps most notable (certainly one of our favourites) is the title track, about a man who plays piano at a bar and the people he sees there. The piano figures heavily not only in this song but throughout the album; the harmonica, banjo, sax, and organ are also put to good use on various tracks.

'Travelin' Prayer' is a prayer for a man's girlfriend to be all right whilst the man in her life isn't with her. There's a frantic beat to this song, a contrast to the idea of it being a prayer, which would normally be expected to be more sedate. But it works well, giving the impression that the man's prayer is a desperate one. Then there's 'Ain't No Crime,' a song about human nature; 'You're My Home,' a touching track about deep love; and 'Stop in Nevada,' told from the woman's point of view, about starting over. 

The songs are strong, with a depth of emotion one likes to hear; the music is catchy, and Joel has a good voice. 

Note: mild language and sex. 

Favourite lyrics include: 'He say, Son can you play me a melody/I'm not really sure how it goes/But it's sad and it's sweet and I knew it complete/When I wore a younger man's clothes' ('Piano Man'); 'Well he never traveled heavy/Yes he always rode alone,/And he soon put many older guns to shame/Well he never had a sweetheart/Though he finally found a home/Underneath the boothill grave that bears his name' ('The Ballad of Billy the Kid'). 

Don't forget to check out the other stops on the tour!

Ms. Yingling Reads (msyinglingreads.blogspot.com)

It’s About Time, MaMaw (itsabouttimemamaw.blogspot.com)

Review: 'Greatest Hits' by Bangles

'Greatest Hits' by Bangles, 1990, Columbia. Cover: interesting. 


A classic 80's band, Bangles have done some really good songs, and a lot of them are on this album. 

We particularly like the rendition of Paul Simon's desolate 'Hazy Shade of Winter' (which has a great beat as performed by Bangles) and the haunting 'Following,' about a love that goes both ways even though the guy says he doesn't want her following him. We also like the peppy 'Walk Like an Egyptian.'

There are other love songs, like 'Eternal Flame,' 'Be with You' (about a woman wanting the guy to feel like she does), 'I'll Set You Free' (about a love ending due to distance), and 'Where Were You When I Needed You' (about a love that ended because the guy wasn't there when the girl needed him). 

Other songs include 'Hero Takes a Fall,' 'Going Down to Liverpool' (a cheery song about taking it easy), and 'Manic Monday' (written by Prince, about the daily grind).  

Bangles have a knack for creating danceable beats and sing-along tunes, and they have terrific harmony. It doesn't matter that they were popular twenty years ago; their songs endure.    

Favourite lyrics include: 'Look around/Leaves are brown/And the sky/Is a hazy shade of winter' ('Hazy Shade of Winter'). 

Review: 'The Water Is Wide' by Alex Beaton

'The Water Is Wide' by Alex Beaton, 1995, Glenfinnan Music, Ltd. Cover: nifty. We don't have the inside of this one, so we don't know if lyrics are included. 


This album, particularly the title song, has special meaning for us. We borrowed it out of Mom's personal music library; Mom and Dad (especially Mom) loved Alex Beaton. He's a family favourite. 

The title song is probably our favourite, for personal reasons. It's touching and deep, and has a beautiful melody. 

Another reason we love this CD is because it has so many ship songs on it (three in all). 'White Squall' is about a sailor reminiscing on a young man lost at sea under his supervision. The story takes place in the lakes of Wiarton, where people even now lose their lives to the squalls. 'Jeannie C.' is about a shipwreck in which not only a mate was lost, but the ship herself; the man singing will never go to sea again. It's a sad song, as are most ship songs, 'The Mary Ellen Carter,' being the exception. This song is about men rebuilding a ship that was lost. It also carries the message to 'rise again' in the face of adversity. 

Other songs include 'No Man's Land,' about a man wondering what life and death were like for a 19-year-old soldier whose grave he's visiting. Then there's 'Forty Five Years,' about a man still madly in love with his wife after decades of being together. 'The Lily of the West,' which has had lyrical changes depending on the artist who sang it, is about a man who kills his rival and still loves the woman who betrayed him.

Most of the songs on this album are touching, moving, or outright sad. It's not the album to listen to on a bad day.     


Note: mild language. 

Favourite lyrics include: 'Well, I hope you died quick and I hope you died clean/Or, Willie McBride, was it slow and obscene?' ('No Man's Land'); 'So it's just my luck to have the watch, with nothing left to do/But watch the deadly waters glide as we roll north to the "Soo,"/And wonder when they'll turn again and pitch us to the rail/And whirl off one more youngster in the gale' ('White Squall'); 'I'll never know just what we struck/But strike we did like thunder/John Price gave a cry and pitched overside/Now it's forever he's gone under' ('Jeannie C.').

Don't forget to check out the other sites on the tour!

 There's a Book (also on Twitter!) 

A Word's Worth 

Review: 'Celtic Woman' by Celtic Woman

'Celtic Woman,' Celtic Woman, 2004, Capitol Records. Cover: attractive. Inside has more pictures, not only of the singers, but of the musical director/composer, David Downes. Lyrics are not included.

We got this CD one year from our mom for Christmas. It not only has wonderful music and beautiful vocals, but it has page-long biographies of each of the members of Celtic Woman, as well as of David Downes. 

The first track, 'Last Rose of Summer (Intro)/Walking in the Air,' is one of our favourites; Chloe Agnew has a lovely voice, and the sweeping music in this song enhances that nicely. We love the lyrics on this track. Agnew's first album, 'Chloe,' was recorded when she was just 12 years old. 

'May It Be,' another favourite of ours, was featured in 'The Lord of the Rings' (though there it was performed by Enya). It's quite an adventurous tune, with lyrics like 'Morni? ut? li? (Darkness has come)/Believe and you will find your way.' This one is sung by Lisa Kelly. Kelly has performed in many concerts in Dublin's National Concert Hall. 

We really enjoy the Celtic words in some of the songs, such as 'Siuil A Run (Walk My Love),' and the music in this particular track is quite beautiful. Orla Fallon sings this one; Fallon is also a harpist, and has won many awards worldwide, including The International Pan Celtic Harp Competition (twice). 

Mairead (don't you love these Celtic names?) Nesbitt plays the fiddle on the album; two notable tunes are 'The Butterfly' (for which lyrics may be found online, but they are not sung here) and the lively 'The Ashoken Farewell/The Contradiction.'  

Tracks include the classic 'Danny Boy,' sung by Meav Ni Mhaolchatha. Mhaolchatha has two solo albums, 'Meav' and 'Silver Sea.' 

David Downes' performing credits include concerts in Carnegie Hall, Boston Symphony Hall, Wembley Arena, and on Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C. 

Favourite lyrics include: 'The villages go by like dreams/The rivers and the hills, the forests and the streams' ('Last Rose of Summer'); 'Suddenly swooping low/On an ocean deep/Rising up a mighty monster from his sleep' ('Last Rose of Summer'); 'I'll sell my rod, I'll sell my reel/I'll sell my only spinning wheel/To buy my love a sword of steel' ('Siuil A Run'). 
Don't forget to check out the other sites on the tour!

Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers - Twitter: @Grgenius

A Word's Worth

Review: 'Life for Rent' by Dido

'Life for Rent' by Dido, 2003, Arista. Cover: we like it. Inside has more black-and-white pictures. Lyrics included. 


We first found out about Dido when we saw one of her videos; then we heard 'White Flag' and knew we liked her sound. On this album, we find our favourite, 'White Flag,' about a woman still in love with her ex; 'Stoned,' about a woman who wants to fall freely in love, whilst her lover keeps her at a distance; and the title song, 'Life for Rent,' about a woman who doesn't know how to settle down in life or love. 

We particularly like the music in 'White Flag' and 'Who Makes You Feel.' 'Who Makes You Feel' is about a couple still in love despite the fact that things are changing between them. Dido's voice gets a wonderfully whispery quality in this one. 'Do You Have a Little Time' also showcases the whispery quality she can get.  

All of the songs on this CD were written by Dido Armstrong, with the help of others except on 'See the Sun,' which was written by Dido alone. 

Favourite lyrics include: 'I will go down with this ship and I won't put my hands up and surrender' ('White Flag'); 'He told me he's packed up your books and your letters and things/And as the sun sets on Mary, it's rising on him' ('Mary's in India'). 


Don't forget to check out the other stops on the tour!

Kid Lit Reviews

There's a Book

Review: 'Breakaway' by Kelly Clarkson

'Breakaway,' Kelly Clarkson, 2004, RCA. Cover: good picture. There are more pictures of Kelly Clarkson on the inside. Lyrics included. 


Basically, this album rocks from start to finish. Some of the deeper lyrics come from Clarkson herself, though other writers do a very good job on this CD, as well. 

There's a lot of anger and angst in this album. 'Since U Been Gone' (one of our favourites) is one of the angry ones, as is 'Walk Away'; but 'Since U Been Gone' is the more powerful of the two. 'I Hate Myself for Losing You,' 'Addicted,' and 'Behind These Hazel Eyes' are definitely angst-filled; 'Behind These Hazel Eyes' is about a woman who refuses to cry (on the outside) any more even though she's still cut up on the inside. 'Addicted' is about a woman who can't break free of a love she knows is wrong for her. And 'I Hate Myself for Losing You' says it all.

There's some really good guitar and percussion on this album (hence the rocking), particularly on such tracks as 'Hear Me' (Josh Freese is on the drums, and Clif Magness does the acoustic and electric guitars and bass on this song). 

'Beautiful Disaster' is live. 'Addicted,' like 'Where is Your Heart,' starts off slower and picks up later. 'Addicted' is sort of bluesy, especially in the lyrics, and shows off the texture of Clarkson's voice.     

Favourite lyrics include: 'How can I put it, you put me on/I even fell for that stupid love song/Yeah yeah, since you been gone' ('Since U Been Gone'); 'Now all that's left of me/Is what I pretend to be/So together but so broken up inside' ('Behind These Hazel Eyes'). 

Review: '0304' by Jewel

'0304,' Jewel, 2003, Atlantic. Cover: nice except for the Day-Glo colours. Inside has two more pictures of Jewel, nearly identical. CD is Barbie doll pink (ugh). Lyrics included. 


Jewel's lyrics show a dark side that contrasts with her girl-next-door look. There's plenty of sex in here, and also some creepy, disturbing lyrics ('Haunted,' which she says is from the stalker's perspective, and which is her favourite song on the album to sing).

Continuing with the more shady side of life, 'Stand' is about all the problems and pain life offers (though it presents hope in that we can stand together); 'America' is about all the problems in the U.S.; and 'Yes U Can' shows the seedier side of clubbing. 

There's light in the album, too: 'Run 2 U' is a celebration of love, 'Doin' Fine' is about being young and reckless, and '2 Find U' is about the turning point in a relationship, when the couple either parts or sees it through. '2 Become 1' is about the closeness a woman feels with her lover, 'Becoming' describes a woman's transformation, and 'Fragile Heart' tells the story of a woman who's been hurt before but is still hopeful.  

Jewel intended this album to be 'a modern interpretation of big band music,' something that 'combined dance, urban and folk music.' Personally, we don't really get the big band influence, though we do hear the dance,urban and folk music bit. 

There are liner notes included: brief notes on Jewel's thoughts and experiences in making these songs. 

Note: bleeped out language (strong). 
    
Favourite lyrics include: 'Running fast through a fairy tale/Dark woods; starless night/Feel cold air in my lungs/Full moon, u follow me . . . ' ('Sweet Temptation'). 

Don't forget to check out the other stops on the tour!

There's a Book also on Twitter @the1stdaughter
A Word's Worth 

Review: 'Bare' by Annie Lennox

'Bare,' Annie Lennox, 2003, j records. Cover: simple and effective. Inside has more pictures of Annie Lennox. Lyrics included. 


We've liked Annie Lennox since the 80s when she was in Eurythmics; we were always fascinated by her voice and her looks -- that short hair, so unusual, and she had it bright red at the time. It didn't hurt that she's Scottish (as we are, on our Dad's side).  

On 'Bare,' her hair is still short, but now it's pale blonde. The voice is the same, though, and still draws you in . . . 

'A Thousand Beautiful Things' is dreamy. Part prayer, part call to a significant other, it could be thought of as a precursor to the prayer of 'Oh God (Prayer)' at the end of the album, although they are very different prayers. 'Pavement Cracks,' about a woman trying to get over a break-up, leads us into 'The Hurting Time,' about how everybody hurts and needs to hurt. 

One of the unusual parts of the CD is in 'Honestly,' wherein Lennox's back-up vocals weave in and out of the main song. The back-up vocals actually have more to say in this song than the main lyrics do, and the way they mix and entwine with the main lyrics is one of the many reasons this album is a must-have for Lennox-philes.  

Then there's the driving 'Wonderful,' the anger in 'Bitter Pill,' and the isolation of 'Loneliness.' A couple realises they're at the end of the relationship in 'The Saddest Song I've Got,' and a romance goes wrong in 'Twisted.' Lennox runs the gamut of emotion in this CD, and it's a treat for anyone listening.

If you are an Annie Lennox fan and haven't got this album, do yourself a favour and get it. If you are not familiar with Annie Lennox, or if you haven't heard her since her days in Eurythmics, do yourself a favour and listen to some of these or other songs on http://www.songarea.com/mc/16/annie_lennox.html#.UR_9Px03uSs 

Note: mild language. The pictures of Lennox are in the nude (bare), but she's covered. 

Favourite lyrics include: 'The city streets are wet again with rain/But I'm walkin' just the same/Skies turned to the usual grey/When you turn to face the day' ('Pavement Cracks'); 'Don't you ever call me/I don't wanna see your face/Don't you dare to call me/Don't darken up this place' ('Bitter Pill'); 'Well here I go remembering again/All the anger and the blame . . . /People in glass houses shouldn't throw those stones/But . . . something just flew through my window pane' ('Erased'). 

Review 'Songs in A Minor' by Alicia Keys

'Songs in A Minor,' Alicia Keys, 2001, jrecords. Cover: cool. More pictures of Alicia Keys are on the inside, and there's one on the CD itself as well. Lyrics not included.   


Only two of the songs on this album weren't written by Alicia Keys: 'How Come You Don't Call Me,' by Prince, and 'Never Felt This Way,' by Brian McKnight and Brandon Barnes. The songs tend to showcase Keys' incredible voice and piano playing; in fact, if you don't like the piano, you probably won't care for this album. 

'Piano & I' kicks off the CD, followed by 'Girlfriend,' about a girl who's jealous of her guy's female friend. Our favourite, and the reason we bought this album, is 'Fallin',' about a woman who can't help falling in love with a man who isn't good for her. Keys' voice is outstanding in this track. 'Troubles' is about a woman who's there for her man, and the grooving 'Rock Wit U' has particularly good flute arrangements courtesy of Isaac Hayes and The Isaac Hayes Orchestra. This song also shows Keys' range in the background vocals. 

We're treated next to the slow groove of 'A Woman's Worth,' about what a woman deserves and how to treat your significant other. 'Jane Doe' concerns a woman unwilling to let her man go when another woman tries to come between them. There's a duet with Jimmy Cozier ('Mr. Man'), and some truly great piano playing in 'Never Felt This Way.' We also liked the percussion in 'Why Do I Feel So Sad.'

Note: strong language.

Favourite lyrics include: Sometimes I love ya/Sometimes you make me blue/Sometimes I feel good, at times I feel used/Lovin' you darlin' makes me so confused ('Fallin''); There's no escape on the spell you have placed/Leaving my heart and my mind ('Rock Wit U').  

Review 'Laundry Service' by Shakira

'Laundry Service,' Shakira, 2001, Epic. Cover: excellent. Inside has more pictures of Shakira. iQue hermosa! Lyrics included. 


You don't have to understand Spanish to enjoy Shakira's music (though it probably helps). Some of the songs on this album are written in Spanish, but even if you don't remember the Spanish you learnt in high school, you'll find yourself grooving along to them, perhaps even singing to them, as the lyrics are included. And you can sing 'Whenever, Wherever' in both English and Spanish, as the Spanish version, 'Suerte,' is recorded later on the album.   

Most of the songs on this CD are danceable; the first, 'Objection,' and the last ('Objection' in Spanish), 'Te Aviso, Te Anuncio,' are both tangos. You may even catch yourself dancing in anticipation before 'Whenever, Wherever' starts. 

There is a slower, gentler song, 'Underneath Your Clothes,' a celebration of love, which is also good, but we tend to prefer the more active songs on this CD. Shakira's band relies heavily on guitar and drums, and Adam Zimmon (guitar) and Miriam Elli (percussion) do a bang-up job. 

'Rules' is a playful set of rules a woman has established with her significant other. 'Fool' is about a woman hopelessly in love with someone who might not love her back. And 'Eyes Like Yours (Ojos Asi),' one of our favourites, has a bit of an Arabian flavour.    

Review: 'Jagged Little Pill' by Alanis Morissette

'Jagged Little Pill,' Alanis Morissette, 1995, Maverick Recording Company. Cover: Artistic. Inside has two more pictures. Lyrics included. 


We remember first hearing of Alanis Morissette when her video 'You Oughta Know' came out. We were fascinated by the sound of her unusual voice & the anger in that song. However, Morissette is more than an angry, wronged woman, & she reveals that in this album. 

Her thoughtful 'All I Really Want' matches the indignance found in 'Right Through You,' about a big shot's comeuppance. Then there are the more pensive tracks: 'You Learn,' about accepting life's lessons, doing stupid things, & learning from it; 'Ironic,' about the ironies of life; & 'Not the Doctor,' about a woman wanting a man to take her for who she is instead of what she represents to him. 

'Perfect' is about parents wanting their kids to be just that; it's sad & true to life. ('If you're flawless, then you'll win my love,' sings Morissette.) 'Mary Jane' is an expression of concern for a friend. 

Dave Navarro's guitar is excellent in 'You Oughta Know,' and Morissette's harmonica lends a signature sound to the album. 

Note: strong language.