Westlife - Allow Us to Be Frank
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Free Music Notes for Allow Us to Be Frank
Free Music Review: Can "Frank" Be Too Frank?
Hit: 3 Stars
Prime Cuts: Ain't Love A Kick in the Heart, I Left My Heart in San Francisco, The Way You Look Tonight
With a catalogue stocked with amorous ballads (such as "I Wanna Grow Old with You," "I'll Be Loving You Forever," "Miss You Nights" among others), Westlife has gone full monty with an album of romantic excavates. Taking a tasty sojourn back to the sepia tones of the bygone pop standards era, these five Irish heartthrobs have decided to tackle Frank Sinatra's songbook. Though dabbling with the legendary Blue Eyes' repertoire is by no means novel, it's the first time a "boy band" has aspired for such lofty acme. However, with its legions of young fans who are vastly unfamiliar with Sinatra, Westlife is on safe turf in covering some of the more familiar (and sometimes over done) tunes.
Nevertheless, romantic moments abound as the recesses of the heart are deftly expounded on these paeans. Accompanied by a cadre of some quixotic sounding strings, "Fly Me to the Moon" has a chimerical feel. Singing the praises of his paramour's pulchritude, "The Way You Look Tonight" despite its numerous covers, is still one of Western civilizations' greatest love songs. Elegantly constructed and poetically worded. Love's gripping effects has never been more eloquent phrased than in "I Left My Heart in San Francisco," a track that's also been commonly associated with Tony Bennett. Tellingly, Westlife must have been listening too closely to Bennett's track as they veer perilously too close to the great crooner's rendition. Even when the tempo picks up on the single "Ain't Love A Kick in the Heart" or "That's Life" or "Mack the Knife," these lads sound like they are having fun.
However, I have a few quibbles with this entire project: First, Westlife has been known for their harmonies, though they did utilize some of them here, most of these covers sound more like solo efforts than a group endeavor. Second, hailed from Ireland, Westlife has on occasions brought in their Celtic touches, but these tracks sound so much like Frank Sinatra that it begs the question: can "Allow Us to Be Frank" be far too frank (pun intended)? Third, most of these tracks clock in at less than three minutes and they are at best straight forward renditions of these classics, but somehow I wish Westlife would have re-interpreted these songs giving them a more youthful and more contemporary feel. If it's just carbon copies of the originals, then isn't this project tautological?
If you like a collection of great romantic Sinatra classics, then this CD will suffice. However, if you want something a little more than professional karaoke, then there are better tribute albums to the Blue Eyes. "Allow Us to Be Frank" is a little too ambitious for these twenty somethings; I hope a door is kept open for a re-visitation maybe a few more years down the road.
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Free Music Review: Top Notch
Hit: 5 Stars
As 1) a guy, and 2) one who is not familiar with the original songs, I have to say that this is a suprisingly well sung album. I don't see why people criticize a 'lack of soul', or focus on the orchestra. I think that interpretations of what constitutes 'soul' in music varies from person to person. Personally, I think this album has plenty of 'soul', and to spare!
Also, while the orchestra does a great job, the vocals are what I LISTEN to. And, here, the vocals are GREAT.
The songs on this particular album may not sit well with some of the band's admirers given the types of songs that Westlife has sung in the past, but this CD is one that you can just pop into your player and press 'repeat'.
Relaxing, sometimes catchy, sometimes romantic, and otherwise just plain fun melodies, this is one that would be ideal for you if you just want something to relax to or even sing along with. Alternatively, also recommended if you're inviting someone over to your house for a date! :)
Free Music Review: hits and misses
Hit: 4 Stars
This is a fun album, literally. It's pretty obvious the guys are having a good time singing a number of the all time big band standards. They're trying to emulate the sound of the fifties rat pack, sinatra, davis jr., martin and the likes, and surprisingly they almost pull it off.
They are assisted by a very tight and confident orchestra, who fortunately stick to the classic arrangement style of the fifties. Well produced and very well arranged.
The first 5 songs are great. The boys handle the songs and the arrangements well, but when it goes wrong it goes very wrong. While 'come fly with me' is already just so-so, Mack the Knife is downright terrible. The brawn presented in the singing is forced, the timing is off and it gets very close to bad karaoke style performance. San Franciso and Summer Wind are very good again, but the mess of Clementine is almost unforgivable. Again they mess up in an up-tempo song, the opening lines are awful, forced, terrible phrasing and timing, and absolutely no feeling for improvisation. They just try too hard, and lack the feeling for letting the song and arrangement lead them in the performance.
However, the next track 'When I fall in love' is absolutely majestic. Again, mostly due to a brilliant orchestral arrangement and performance, but also beautifully sung. There are probably hundreds of renditions of this song, but this one is absolutely one of the best I've heard in a long long time. This track alone already makes this a 4-star album.
The finish, That's Life, makes sense as a closer for the album but is a bit of an anti-climax. It's ok, but doesn't follow 'If I fall...' too well and kind of ends the album with a whimper.
All in all a very nice first effort for Westlife in this genre, and although a bit unbalanced definitely worth buying.
Free Music Review: Sorry Frank - it's not your fault
Hit: 1 Stars
On behalf of Frank if feel very sorry for him cause this album is not really a need to buy ! The songs are nice arranged but without any heart and soul. What could be the reason to buy this CD ? Flat and dry voices with nothing different or special. It sounds like a studio project where nobody spent a lot time to train these young voices! I'm soory but if anybody has ever heard a Sinatra Song from whom ever, Diana Krall, Jamie Cullum, Harry Connick Jr. or even Robbie Williams .... There is an endless list of really good song interpretations Frank would be very glad with. This CD has nothing special and most of the songs are not even in the right tune of these boys! Their short breath versions of some really lovley songs just show the high quality of 2004 's technology. But no techology can get you body & soul in the right tune. If you want to swing in a good mood please do not buy this poor Album, try "Only You" - Harry Connick Jr. last album or any soulful album ;-) and you'll feel the differenceFree Music Review: HERE WE GO AGAIN1
Hit: 4 Stars
Westlife wallows in the Rat Pack-vein and what a gig it is.Mostly the credit must go to the enormously swinging back-up orchestra.That means of course a lift for crooners ,as Frankie certainly knew,i.e.if lacking a purely tonal voice but instead possess a technical first rate timing and phrasing.
We`ll never have a supporting orchestra like May,Riddle or Hefti again but this aggregation is not far behind.