Diana Krall - The Girl In The Other Room
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Free Music Notes for The Girl In The Other Room
Free Music Review: Diana Krall - The Girl In The Other Room
Hit: 5 Stars
The most famous export of the small Canadian coastal city of Nanaimo, British Columbia (with the tasty chocolate-custard Nanaimo bar running a close second), sultry jazz diva Diana Krall is back with a brand-new husband, brand-new songs and a brand-new album. The Girl In The Other Room finds the singer/pianist collaborating with husband Elvis Costello on six original compositions (out of twelve songs in total), a choice that's resulted in a more openly personal musical experience. Though some may be tempted to play spot-the-Costello-influence (the confident rendition of Bonnie Raitt's Love Me Like A Man, perhaps?), Krall holds her own with ease but did anybody doubt it after 2001's The Look Of Love? Interestingly, though most of her previous releases dealt with love, love and more love, this new album isn't as explicitly romantic, as if Krall has been able to lay aside her yearnings and, quite literally, start singing a different tune.
The album begins with Mose Allison's Stop This World, followed by the Krall/Costello-penned title track with its quiet, lonely heroine, then by I've Changed My Address which describes Krall's returning to her jazz club roots only to discover that the club has been turned into a sports bar.
Narrow Daylight is artlessly beautiful, more gentle gospel pop than true-blue jazz, but as Krall draws to an increasingly intimate conclusion, it is Departure Bay that really stands out in its poignant revelations of her courtship with Costello and of her family's first Christmas without her mother.
Free Music Review: the best yet from Diana Kralll
Hit: 5 Stars
I always thought that Diana Krall was nice to listen to, but with nothing extra that made me buy any records of her. That was until I saw and heard her Live in Paris DVD, where the Canadian singer stepped out from the former slick and almost icy approach and delivered that extra. Suddenly you could feel the warmth in her voice, her ultra sensual charisma came through with full force - I was hooked. Still feel though that her albums are too polished for my taste, I stick with the fantastic live DVD.Now Mrs Krall has made a studio album that connects to the feeling on the Live DVD. The musical setting is much more intimate than on her previous albums. Basically you have one tight band, where the two most impressive musicians to my ears are Anthony Wilson on guitar and Christian McBride on bass. Diana Krall herself sings like a goddess and plays a very good piano. The songs are a mix of jazz, blues and pop, with a more rootsy feeling than her usual repertoire. There are also a mixture of covers and original songs. The originals are all written by Diana Krall and Elvis Costello, though Costello has only contributed to the music on the majestic title track, otherwise he has stuck to the words. There is a natural flow to the song sequence on the album and the originals stand up very good to the covers.
There are in my opinion no weak songs on the album, and my favourites (today) are the title track (Krall/Costello) and Temptation (Tom Waits).
Audiowise the album is very good recorded and produced.
Highly recommendable!!
Free Music Review: Great disc
Hit: 5 Stars
The write below who has a hard time with playing this in his computer is simply WRONG!This CD will play on any computer after you put it in (i've tried it on my Mac & PC as well as at work on a PC). You do not have to register with her fan club first.
simply start you favorite music software (I use iTunes or MusicMatch) after the little ad for her website runs. and then press play. very simple. You can close that ad out easily by clicking the X in the upper right hand corner.
What's so hard about that?
Basically I did sign up for her fan list because Krall is now offering FREE advance access to her fans for purchasing concert tickets. most other big name bands are charging for this luxury.
The only thing on this disc that is different at all is the little ad for her website/fan list. That ad does not prevent you from doing anything - it may stop your music player software from auto starting though. Simply start it up manually and press play and do whatever you would have done on your computer after that. . . .
I wote a prior review about the music - personally I think it is brilliant. I did not want to hear more standards from Krall and this is a great direction for her. I never can understand why some people feel entitled to their personal vision of what the artist is.....more fun for me to follow where the artist is going. If I don't care for it I move to a new discovery.....
enjoy this album - I feel it her best yet
Free Music Review: Diana has taken her musicianship to a new level
Hit: 5 Stars
The early Diana Krall albums were filled with terrific piano playing and very original vocal lines. While the megahit "When I Look into Your Eyes" departed from the intimate jazz club-type settings of the early albums, it's orchestral arrangements still proved to be fresh and interesting.
I had been really disappointed with the follow-up album, "The Look of Love" -- it seemed way too sanitized and commercialized with absolutely none of the vocal or piano originality of the earlier works.
So, when I saw Diana's new album, "The Girl in the Other Room", I was a bit reluctant to buy it, fearing it would be even further down the sterile dull path she seemed to have gone the past few years. But the copy featured a DVD/CD dual disc format, so I decided to buy it for that novelty alone.
Wow, what a delicious treat this album turned out to be! There's more creativity and rich musicality to this work than her last 3 or 4 albums combined. Some have commented that they've been disappointed with the pop-focused tunes, but take a few more listens and you discover lots of layers to these tunes-- deeply personal lyrics, great musicianship, and terrific Dolby DVD sound.
Diana has proven herself not only an innovative vocalist and pianist, but now a talented songwriter as well. Lets hope this is the start of some even better stuff to come.
Free Music Review: Elvis and Di making beautiful music together
Hit: 5 Stars
I have been entertained by Diana Krall's past work, but this record is the first thing she's done that actually *moved* me. I thought of DK as an "ice queen," and her vocals on the syrupy Look of Love CD bordered on the phoned-in. But this... Diana, I didn't know you had it in you. Wow!And I am baffled why those who have enjoyed her music in the past feel so betrayed. All her former attributes are here in strength, her graceful playing and singing, but with the added depth of emotional communication. What's not to like? Not jazzy enough? This is jazzier than Look of Love.
When I saw Krall perform Narrow Daylight on the Today show, I confess I did think of Norah Jones, but listening to other songs from this collection, I completely forgot about Norah. Elvis Costello's songs sound much better with Diana singing them, and the covers she chose add a great variety.
In her voice I hear the magic of love and the tragedy of loss. I wish her the greatest happiness, and I hope that she and Elvis can make their love last. Not only for their sakes, but for mine -- I am looking forward to more records like this! Every aspect of this production, from the writing, arranging, engineering, singing and phrasing, is at the peak of the art. I wouldn't say I'm in awe, but almost.
Please, at least give The Girl in the Other Room a listen, give it a chance. Art this good deserves at least that much.