Melissa Etheridge - The Awakening
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Music CD Cover
Artist: Melissa EtheridgeEdition: Music CD
Audio: English (Unknown)
CD Release Date: 2007-09-25
Music Label: Island
Soundtracks:
- All There Is
- California
- An Unexpected Rain
- Message To Myself
- God Is In The People
- Map Of The Stars
- Threesome
- All We Can Really Do
- I've Loved You Before
- A Simple Love
- Heroes And Friends
- The Kingdom Of Heaven
- Open Your Mind
- The Universe Listened
- Imagine That
- What Happens Tomorrow
Free Music Notes for The Awakening
Free Music Review: #20 on Rolling Stone's Top 50 Albums of 2007
Hit: 5 Stars
I followed Etheridge's request in the liner notes to listen to the CD all the way through in one sitting and all I can say is WOW and WOW and WOW. I am absolutely amazed at what she has created. Rolling Stone Magazine was accurate in its review that this represents a maturation in Etheridge's skill as a songwriter and her growth as a human being. The Awakening is nothing like her previous work yet it is still Melissa at its heart and is some of the best work she has put out in years. The musical style of the songs range from vintage Etheridge to rock-a-billy to plain rock and roll with wailing guitar rifts, no two songs sound completely alike yet Etheridge is there at the heart of each one.
The CD is a concept album which takes us from Etheridge's journey out to California to become a rock star, as well as, from her quasi-atheism to the spiritual awakening she experienced after being diagnosed and treated for breast cancer. "California" includes, not only, Etheridge's hopes and dreams for the future, but her family's attitudes: "Only a few shall get, but everyone shall need." In "An Unexpected Rain, Etheridge talks about one of her first relationships after arriving in LA, and reveals to the listener that the hurt she caused her ex-lover, in part, lead to that person's attempted suicide. Etheridge has never been this revealing of her personal life. Both "California" and "An Unexpected Rain" talk about events that happened in the 80's and Etheridge intentionally wrote the songs to sound like the music she was making back in the late 80's and early 90's, which fits wonderfully in a "concept album". "Message to Myself" is a bouncy pop tune. "Map of the Stars" is about the down-side of celebrity. "Threesome, despite that the title might lead you to think, is all about monogamy, faithfulness, and family values wrapped up in a twangy rock-a-billy sound. "I've Loved You Before" is a romantic love song which also touches on the concept of reincarnation. "Kingdom of Heaven" is an emotionally powerful song about the darkness religion can bring when it's teachings become perverted and twisted. "Open Your Mind" is all about not being afraid to expand your emotional, spiritual, and intellectual horizons and trusting that you will find answers to the big questions. "The Universe Listened" seems to be about Etheridge's new-found belief that there is more to this reality than "atoms and space" and that the universe does, literally, listen and respond to us. Closing the CD are "Imagine That", which is about the best protest song I've heard in a long time, and "What Happens Tomorrow" is as much a song about hope as it is revealing of Etheridge's urgency for people to wake up to what is happening around them and become the change they wish to see in the world. All these songs are framed by suprising short songs that seem to act as transitions or interludes in the album.
I've been a fan of Melissa Etheridge since her very first album and anyone who has followed her career and can judge her work fairly will have to admit that some of that work has been a stunning burst of creativity while some has left the listener wondering if she had hit the end of the road, creatively. For me this CD is a new career high for Etheridge and easily blows away Yes I Am, although, that album is still right there at the top.
I gave this album 5 stars because that's all Amazon allows, but it is deserving of far more. If you are an Etheridge fan this CD is a must have; if you have been turned off by Etheridge's work in the past give this CD a shot you will be pleasantly surprised.
The Awakening Poster
On September 25th, 2007, Melissa will release her 9th studio album, THE AWAKENING. It has been described as a collection of powerful and playful yet confessional and engaging songs that are personal as well as universal. THE AWAKENING was co-produced with David Cole and recorded with her band: bassist Mark Browne, drummer Mauricio ?Fritz? Lewak, and guitarist Philip Sayce. Etheridge acknowledges that her 2004 breast cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatment brought new perspective to her life and achievements and freed her to be so open on this album.Folk Music CDs
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