Madeleine Peyroux - Half the Perfect World
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Free Music Notes for Half the Perfect World
Free Music Review: Over-rated
Hit: 3 Stars
I'm unimpressed. I had originally heard the title track and thought the entire CD would be as good. It's not. I wasn't at all impressed with some of the other classic re-workings.Free Music Review: Not Billie and KD is the best part of the Album
Hit: 2 Stars
First of all I was given this disc as a Christmas gift, and had no idea who Madeleine Peyroux was. Still, I am into Jazz quite a bit, check my other reviews to be sure.
The jazz I enjoy is usually a bit more experimental, or historically significant. So, how to grade the CD when her music is perhaps, an "acquired" taste? First of all, I was intrigued by the fact that this album is produced by former Joni Mitchell husband and producer, Larry Klein. How is the production quality to the CD? Not very good. Many instances the gain on the bass parts or on drums in some of the songs pegs the meters and causes an un-wanted distortion. Her voice is suitably recorded with little processing, though, and that's a good thing.
So, what about Madeleine's voice? She obviously uses a lot of the Billie Holiday techniques, especially some shorter sustain, and lots of bends. When she does this she does sound very much like Billie Holiday, but never just like Billie. Billie had a purer sound, and her pitch was better by far. Madeleine is more pitchy, sometimes sounding like she lacks vocal control. I understand some jazz singers simply sound like this, and that's fine, but other singers exhibit much more control.
Someone mentioned that she is more pure jazz than Nora Jones. Perhaps she is, the songs are more standards than Nora sings, but Nora Jones has an incredible control and vocal depth that Madeleine completely lacks. Madeleine sounds like she simply doesn't practice her craft enough. This recording sounds very much like a polished demo rather than a finished product. Nora has control of her pitch. She is always in tune. Madeleine has some problems keeping it in tune.
Which brings me to the duet, the Joni Mitchell tune River, which is beautiful. But KD Lang outshines Madeleine. It is incredible the difference, KD has so smooth of a voice, and--even though KD tries to keep it down, realizing this is a Peyroux album rather than a KD Lang album--KD still sounds so good I'm wanting to go out and hear HER latest release instead of plowing through this sleepyhead recording.
I must admit though, overall, I didn't fall asleep and I can understand why someone would enjoy the Holiday-isms on this album. It is nice to hear Holiday singing and Peyroux does a nice tribute to Billy in her stylings.
Madeleine Peyroux should be able to up her game by getting better production, and maybe getting some more original writing. Nicely packaged, though. Pretty music, but not really fantastic. 2 stars.
Free Music Review: Fine Voice - Not Thrilled About the Songs or Arrangements
Hit: 3 Stars
I can totally understand why many people like this artist. She has a fine voice (which sometimes DOES sound much like Billie Holiday). On this particular cd, I do not like some of the song selections (The Summer Wind for one), or some of the light-weightedness of the arrangements (why put the riff for Jingle Bells into Joni Mitchell's song 'The River?).
Free Music Review: Perfection from Peyroux
Hit: 5 Stars
As I wrote about Dreamland...I wasn't familiar with Peyroux until seaching for new sounds on the Internet a few months ago. Thanks to Amazon and your reviewers, I found her....even though 11 years after her debut! I now have all 3 albums: "Dreamland", "Careless Love" and "Half a Perfect World". What a voice, what fun, what sounds, what's not to like about her. And to have her sing Bessie, and Billie, and Cohen and Piaf, and Patsy, and then sing River with K.D.!! She hit all my hidden buttons.
Gosh! I smiled with her version of "Smile" and then was moved to her blues! And then her own creations are icing on the croissont.....maybe even dark chocolate! Delicious. Ignore the very few nay-sayers who like to overly compare, and just enjoy her for being Madeleine ... singing songs that you enjoy listening to. Like others have said, play her anytime, in the car, during dinner, or for your own private concert with your lover.
Free Music Review: half
Hit: 1 Stars
the perfect world and half the talent or less (far, far less, as a matter of fact) of the artist she rips-off. if I want to hear some Billie Holiday, I'll listen to Billie Holiday, thank you very much.