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8 Time Grammy Award Winner? For Real?

I'm sure everyone out there is sick and tired of my whining. But, I (once again) feel the need to vent.

Today, (Sunday, May 25th) which happened to be a damp, drizzly day in Connecticut, Lisa (my better half) and myself, strolled into FYE in the Danbury Fair Mall. She went her way to DVD movies, and I went mine into "Pop/Rock" CDs. After about 15 minutes or so, Lisa found me at the register with a copy of Norah Jones, "Come Away With Me". As we stood in line, she looked at the CD cover and we discussed my new CD purchase. She noticed that of the 14 songs contained on the CD, only 2 were written by Norah. One song (#13) was a collaborative effort.

We further discussed the fact that many of the best artists use non-original material. But, Lisa did make an intersting comment; "Hmmm, she said. I'm surprised that someone awarded Best New Artist would only have 2 original songs". Again, an interesting observation.

Well, I didn't let that take the wind out of my sails. I just continued looking at that little blue sticker on the front of the CD case stating "8 Time Grammy Award Winner", " Album Of The Year", "Best New Artist", "Song Of The Year". I had never heard the complete album, but I figured, it's gotta be halfway decent.

Upon arriving home I put the CD through my usual ritual (Wash, Cut, Polish and Demagnetize), placed the CD In the Audiomeca and sat back to listen to this exciting new "Grammy" performance.

You're kidding, right? This is it?

O.K.,O.K. Kinda cool voice with a sandy kind of texture, (although, she sounds like she was recorded using a plastic microphone), average piano playing skills (although, on cut #1 the piano sounds like it's under water), and on cut #9, she had an almost Ricki Lee Jones "kind of" quality. Overall, not a bad recording, but I wouldn't put it high on the "sonics" list.

So, this is "today's" Grammy material Huh?

I'm certainly glad I'm not a postal worker skilled in firing automatic weapons, cause I feel like I'm losing my mind.

Has anyone found this "Grammy Award Winner" worthy of it's status?

My opinion? I'd have to concur with the title of the first song,"Don't Know Why".


128x128buscis2
kana813
956 posts
 
Viridian- "Verse," is totally different from PB's past CDs
which cover standards in various group settings.

She takes some chances on this recording, but it's interesting. The recording has some real dynamic range to it. Reminds me of the great coffee house music of the late '60s.

I agree with you on Telarc's excellent sound quality. A Telarc DSD must hear, is Benny Green & Russell Malone- Jazz at the Bistro. Hope they put this one out on SACD.

Aloha.
buscis2's avatar
buscis2 OP
468 posts
 
DB, your tremendous wealth of knowledge is somewhat overwhelming.

It also amazes me at how well your eyes can hear. It is really quite an incredible ability. You must feel very special.

I would have to assume that after the extensive amount of formal education you received pertaining to room acoustics, sound reinforcement and acoustic physics, you would now be capable of looking at a portion of a picture and determining how a room, and the system contained within, sounds.

Very impressive.

So, before I opt to unleash my verbal wrath on you, I think I'll just revert back to a very valuable lesson my Dad had taught me many years ago. He suggested.....

"In times of confrontation, sometimes the best response you can receive is no response at all".

Now, whether you may attempt to comprehend this is totally irrelevant.

But, consider yourself fortunate. Do you understand?....... I didn't think so.

warrenh's avatar
warrenh
2,299 posts
 
Marty, I hated Naked Songs. Ricki Lee's voice doesn't hold its' own-like nails scaping on a chalkboard. She, for my ears, needs plenty of instruments. She's hard to take with just a piano or guitar. Just my humble opinion. She soars in Pop Pop, though.
buscis2's avatar
buscis2 OP
468 posts
 
Are we forgetting, Ricki's first album, The Magazine, Pirates, and Traffic From Paradise? I feel that Ricki's older material was a little more melodic, very well recorded and slightly more indicative of Ricki's style.
paulwp
585 posts
 
DB, some comments, but first let me say that I just played this cd again, first time for my wife, and she thought it was pretty interesting and enjoyable. She thinks Diana Krall performs elevator music, has a very good ear and knows a lot about music, plus she married me a very long time ago, so I've always thought she was exceptionally perceptive.

Your first series of numbers:

1. It isn't bad, except in spots. I don't really have any way to compare it to other modern pop recordings.

2. TAS says the same thing.

3. I am in general agreement, and I find it interesting that someone who starts a thread dissing a very popular and critically well received recording then takes offense at a criticism of the systen on which he evaluates the recording. In fairness to Buscis2, maybe the sofa absorbs some nasties emanating from the speakers, and the configuration of his furniture and all the bouncing soundwaves all result in an accurate response at the listening chair. It could happen.

Your second series of numbers:

Actually, I have nothing to add, but w/re to the number of Grammys she got, I think it's amazing that anything half way decent gets any Grammys at all.

Your final comments: I agree that the voice is pretty well recorded and the album does grow on you.

For a popular recording, a big seller, this cd/lp is pretty refreshing. Instead of criticizing it, people should be rejoicing that something listenable has done this well in the market.

Paul
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