Annie Lennox - Songs of Mass Destruction
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Free Music Notes for Songs of Mass Destruction
Free Music Review: Searingly emotional with a soaring voice
Hit: 5 Stars
Has it been a dark road that has carried Annie Lennox all the way from the new wave pop of the 80s Eurythmics to a stellar solo career? Well there may have been some somber moments and dark corners but Songs of Mass Destruction (SOMD) in spite of its somewhat depressing and prophetic title, offers a lot of variety, the whole encapsulated in Lennox's beautiful, soaring voice. Many commentators rightly state that this is the best instrument in the piece.
SOMD opens with the single, Dark Road, which amply demonstrates Annie's range. It is dark but at the same time rich in tonal quality and provides the listener with an indication of the quality still to come. If you love Annie's voice, you will love Dark Road and Through the glass darkly.
Next comes Love is Blind a joyous piece of pop that Annie belts out and which also includes a very enjoyable rap.
Then, getting a little deeper into the tangled and powerful emotions that surround a breakup comes the slow burner "Smithereens." At first it seems like a less interesting track but then begins to grow on the listener with repeated listens. It is now a favourite.
Ghosts in my machine kicks the tempo back up again and has an infectious chorus that the listener wants to sing along to, addresses imperfect humanity, which is a general theme of the album overall and leads to Womankind which flies the feminist banner high, again offers a slice of rap and is something that you will want to or can't help singing along to, whether man or woman!
Through the glass darkly is a soaring ballad that underlines the pain of emotional despair and fully showcases Annie's wonderful voice. Many have said that the album is worth its price for this track alone. Lost is also powerfully sung and has become one of my favourites on the disc. I love the layered vocals and the high notes that Annie reaches.
Sing is OK and is similar to a chant with African accents and an announcement at its start that the song has been created to support a charity trying to prevent Mother-Child transmission of AIDS/HIV, a worthwhile cause to support. Annie's voice outshines and outpowers the chorus of "equals."
Big Sky is a big interesting ballad and Fingernail Moon rounds the set off in a reflective frame of mind having a very relaxing feel to it and adventuresome lyrics.
Annie has done a good job in SOMD and I am looking forward to her next.
Free Music Review: Songs of Mastery & Devotion
Hit: 5 Stars
Annie Lennox's gorgeous voice is a paradoxical blend of sadness and joy, frailty and strength, woe and wonderment. Songs of Mass Destruction is a masterpiece that reflects Annie's talents as a vocalist, back-up singer, composer, and lyricist. These songs will get under your skin and into your soul.
The album begins gently, with "Dark Road." Simple musical accompaniment lets Annie's passionate lead vocal stand out, as she weaves a wistful, pessimistic yet hopeful message to a loved one. The song builds in intensity, peaks, and ends calmly. The next cut, "Love Is Blind," is remarkably intense, with a rock vibe, superb back-up echoing harmonies, and an incredible conclusion with Annie repeating the words "so screwed up" six times. "Smithereens," a beautiful ballad that builds to a dramatic crescendo, is followed by "Ghosts in the Machine," another driving rock song which is a blast to sing along with.
"Womankind" features Annie harmonizing and singing back-up for herself, which is always a joy, and a rap from Nadirah X. "Through the Glass Darkly" is my favorite cut on the album, with a vocal that soars. "Lost" begins simply and builds into a layered, rich drama. "Coloured Bedspread" is a paean to a blanket. Why? Why not! This sounds very much like a Eurythmics track.
"Sing," the song to raise awareness for a treatment that prevents pregnant HIV positive women from passing on the disease to their children, has been discussed a fair bit by others here; it is fun to try to pick out voices of some of the other singers who offered their voices. "Big Sky" is another vehicle for Annie to demonstrate the range, clarity, and power of her voice, and the poignant final song, "Fingernail Moon," is a bit of musical harmonic heaven.
I would urge those who did not get hooked on first listen to give the album a chance. I've been playing it non-stop for days, and with each listen I discover new pleasures and new beauty.
And finally, if you have the chance to see Annie perform live, you'll be amazed. I saw her last weekend, and the performance was just incredible. She has so much energy, and her joy in performing is clear. And oh, that voice...
Free Music Review: The Dark Road Fantastic
Hit: 5 Stars
I am in love.
Last night, as I typed away at my memoir, I listened to the long awaited new album by Annie Lennox.
I have been a long time fan of her work. My first introduction to her was the Eurhythmics but I fell in lust with her when she started her solo career and I have been in love with her ever since.
Contrary to most people, I loved her last album Bare. I felt it was a gorgeous piece of musical art and it touched me, moved me and made me feel. What more could you ask for from music?
And then, silence. For four years there has been nothing from this Diva of music. Therefore, I was caught off guard when I was in HMV the other day and saw a new album by her: Songs of Mass Destruction.
I was floored! I couldn't be that out of touch with the music scene could I? How could I not know that she had a new album out? When did this happen? Why was I the last to know?
I had to get it. I couldn't afford it, but I got it anyway. I am so very glad I did.
It is a beautiful, moving album. Much lighter than the very introspective and private Bare, Songs of Mass Destruction is an incredibly medley of sound, emotion and feeling. As I typed away at my memoir, I found myself stopping, fingers still on the keyboard, the lyrics washing over me.
I have several favorites on the album: Dark Road, Fingernail Moon, Ghosts in My Machine, Sing. Really, I love the entire album. As always, though, there is one song that sticks out for me. One song that becomes an anthem for me of sorts.
That song is Smithereens.
I'm going through a particularly difficult time with a family member and this song, these words, just spoke to me.
How is it she seems to know exactly what to say? How is it she can see into my life? This is the true power of music, I think. The power to make you feel, the power to make you remember, the power to connect to something within you and within your life.
I know that I'll be listening to this album all weekend. Why not do the same? Do yourself a favor and pick up the album.
And just let yourself listen...
Free Music Review: A Beautiful Sadness
Hit: 5 Stars
When I first heard that Annie Lennox was releasing a new album called "Songs of Mass Destruction,"I thought that perhaps she was going to go political, and sing songs about the horrible state of our world. I then heard the single "Dark Road" and thought, "what exactly is Annie singing about here?" I thought the message was a bit ambiguous, but after a few additional listens I realized that maybe I was supposed to feel a sense of ambiguity, because Annie was feeling this way herself. I've come to really like this song, but I still get a little confused.
The second song "Love Is Blind" shocked me a bit on my first listen. She sings, "sometimes I feel like I don't exist, cut my veins and slit my wrists. Goodbye. Goodbye." What?! I have never in my life heard a singer speak of suicide, and certainly never expected to hear it from Annie Lennox. I related to the song deeply though, in that I have attempted to end my life a few times, and the feelings expressed in this song are exactly the feelings that I felt during my emotionally traumatic events.
The large portions of the album are songs of love lost, abandoned love, despair, and the reawakening of the emotional strength to recover - and the flipping of the finger. The songs could come across as depressing, especially if you are not an evolved person, that has experienced the hurt and pain of an extreme breaking of the heart. As a 54 year old man, I am able to realize that the emotions expressed on this album are universal, and Annie Lennox is not only speaking to us about her life, but also offering her experiences for our lives.
I own all of Annie Lennox's solo albums, and many of the Eurythmics (did I spell this correctly?) albums, and "Songs of Mass Destruction" speaks to me in a very personal way, and is Annie's most beautiful musical creation yet. I have been listening to it a lot since purchasing it, and I encourage all mature music lovers to buy this album, and listen to it with an open heart.
Free Music Review: "If you see Saint Annie, please tell her thanks a lot..."
Hit: 5 Stars
That line is from Bob Dylan's song "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues". I thought it was appropriate because I am truly grateful to Annie Lennox for the passion and attitude she has created in the recording studio for the last 25 years, both as one of The Eurythmics and as a solo artist, accent on the word "artist". This time around, Annie presents us with a mixture of confessional ballads and harder, dancier tracks, all written by the Lady herself.
"Dark Road" starts out pretty bland but has a strong mid-section reminiscent of Eurythmics music. Likewise, "Smithereens" thankfully grows in strength as the song progresses. "Through the Glass Darkly" and "Lost" are ballads that I like better because they lean toward the dark side musically. Unfortunately, one of the ballads is the least successful track; "Fingernail Moon" despite being a pretty song with the usual good, creative arrangement, seems to be a strain on Annie's voice.
So you've probably guessed that I prefer the up-tempo tracks, and you are right. "Love Is Blind" sounds like it could have been lifted straight from the "Touch" album. "Ghosts In My Machine" rocks like "Missionary Man" right from the start. "Womankind", a driving dance track, reminds me of "Take Me to the River" from "Medusa", and "Big Sky" sounds like a dramatic R&B song Annie-style, again like the ones on "Medusa". "Coloured Bedspread" is one of the best, with interesting lyrics and tight, hard dance music. And "Sing" is another synth-dance cut, accompanied by prominent piano which reminds me of 90's Club music.
Now don't get the idea that I don't like the ballads. I just prefer the up-tempo tracks, and if a song has to be a ballad, I'd rather it be dark and moody than light and sunny. The fact is, Annie once again has released a classy, well-produced work that we should all appreciate in this time of scarce good music.