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she is a gifted vocalist. and escape. I first heard about Lizz Wright while watching a segment on CBS one Sunday morning. Just listen. into the soul of Lizz Wright. they played just a small part of "My Heart" and I was mesmerized by her haunting voice and words of this beautiful artist.I have since given The Orchard as gifts to a few dear friends whom I feel would understand the depth of this deeply personal and moving collection of songs. I look forward to seeing her in person.
"Another Angel" seems to borrow from Stevie Wonder's "My Cherie Amour", and tunes like "My Heart", "Leave Me Standing Alone", and "This Is" veer uncomfortably close to the stylings of a pop diva like "Shakira". It may sound like a trite observation, but a great voice alone does not make a great album. Lizz Wright has a voice as dark and refreshing as black coffee, but on "The Orchard" the material is a watery mix of unremarkable pop, gospel,and folk-derived songs. She can do much better than this musical dilettantism.
It's all up to her and the road she chooses. I hope this interlude in "The Orchard" is just a stop-over. The possiblities are endless for her--she could be another Anita Baker, Roberta Flack, or sassy Sarah Vaughan. Wright needs to make a choice: does she want to do crossover pop, and mute her talents, or does she want to truly shine.
Ike Turner's steamy "I Idolize You" is done to perfection, and Patsy Cline's "Strange" is given a haunting, understated feeling. There Wright outshines the other album guests like Madeline Peyroux and Oleta Adams.and that is saying something. To create a great album, you need great material. For contrast, and a hint of what Lizz Wright is capable of, try listening to her belt out "Come Rain or Come Shine" on the Toots Thielemans album, "One More For the Road".
"Song for Mia" sounds like something that could come from the Indigo Girls. There are stand-outs among them, to be sure. None of the rest of the album does Wright justice.
Isn't there enough diversity in jazz to fly around the world and back again musically. The tracks on Salt were sufficiently diverse to keep listeners from pigeon-holing her. Branching out and diversifying as an artist is understandable and commendable. That said, Dreaming Wide Awake was tolerable; facilitates peaceful reflection and induces drowsiness when accompanied by a good book.
Sounds like bluegrass, almost from start to finish. What's with the 4-chord effort. But dang. Not feelin' it, really.
The Orchard, however, makes me want my $$$ back. Get outta the Orchard and spend some more quality time in a speakeasy. Which is a shame, because her first album was absolute perfection, from the first tune to the last. So why does she box herself into a corner with her sophomore effort.
Previous songs good too. Hope more to come. Great soulful sound. Interesting song selections.
Don't waste your money. What a letdown. There's no funk; no spark; no fun in this at all.
I was interested in getting to know some new artists, so selected this CD. Every song sounds the same: slow, crooning, boring. This artist was yet another "must have" recommendation on CBS's Sunday Morning program.
I think she was equated with the style of Tracy Chapman--there's no comparison; Tracey surpasses her all the way around. In fact, if I could get my money back, I sure would. My husband and I (patiently) played it while driving on summer vacation and it was so MISERABLE.
I've tried listening to it several time and it doesn't get any better.
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