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Medusa
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| Part No: | B000002VUC |
| Manufacturer: | Arista |
| MFG Part: | |
| Customer Rating: | 4.5 / 5.0 |
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Post-Beatles, the virtues of deft song interpretation have been consistently devalued in favor of self-contained composer-performers, seldom more so than in the initial response to this sequel to Annie Lennox's triumphant solo debut,
Diva. That album's gripping originals deserve acclaim, but the lush Scottish alto remains one of the most riveting pop singers of the past two decades, and this smartly chosen, meticulously arranged collection of cover versions boasts its own abundant charms in her selection of obscure gems and bona fide classics from Al Green, Procol Harum, Neil Young, the Clash, the Temptations, Paul Simon, Bob Marley, and the Blue Nile. The songs are the rightful stars here, and Lennox brings passion and nuance to a set that plays beautifully. From the cinematic heartbreak of "No More I Love Yous" to the faithful recreation of the Blue Nile's "Downtown Lights," this is ravishing pop.
--Sam Sutherland
| No One Turns To Stone | 2010-05-08 | 3 / 5 |
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Although it reached number one in the UK and eleven in the USA, Annie Lennox's MEDUSA took a beating from critics and fans who hoped the CD would equal the previous DIVA and such late-era Eurythmics releases as SAVAGE. The simple truth is that while MEDUSA is well crafted, and flawlessly sung by Lennox, but it simply isn't memorable.
The recording consists of covers of songs previously written and released by men--which may be a rationale for the title; the word "medusa" has developed a feminist connotation. The opening cut is easily the best: "No More I Love Yous," a fairly obscure piece originally recorded by The Lover Speaks, a band associated with Eurythmics in the 1980s. In Lennox's hands, it develops a delicate musical irony beautifully played out. But the remaining cuts aren't equal to it. Al Green's "Take Me To The River" is awash in excessive synth and drum machines, and Procol Harum's signature "A White Shade of Pale" remains too much associated with that band for Lennox to wrest it from them.
Lennox's version of Neil Young's "Don't Let It Bring You Down" is extremely good, indeed almost equal to "No More I Love Yous," but thereafter everything returns to the commonplace: The Clash's "Train In Vain" is merely okay, The Temptations' "I Can't Get Next To You" is truly dire, and everything else is ho-hum. Lennox's voice is, as always, astonishing, but MEDUSA is truly a minor effort. No one turns to stone on this one.
GFT, Reviewer |
| One of Her Best!!! | 2010-01-08 | 5 / 5 |
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I actually heard a song from this CD for the first time while listening to TV during a siesta while vacationing in Egypt. I had to get the CD as soon as I got home. Simply great. Her version of the Whiter Shade of Pale is especially memorable.
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| Brilliant choice of material | 2009-12-20 | 5 / 5 |
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| One of the things that make this a great CD are the choice of songs. They are of course brilliantly performed but I love it that she chose many songs that I also thought were stand outs. This album shows that Annie Lennox is not only a great performer and musician but a fan of great music by other artists. |
| 5 stars intense soulful inspired pop | 2009-07-06 | 5 / 5 |
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This is really a great covers album, with most of the tracks being better than the originals. The music has a pop listenable quality; but at the same time it is new, soulful, and real. In particular, I love Annie's voice. I don't know how to describe it. It inspires and deepens me. Of the 40,000 songs in my collection, this CD ranks in the top 20.
Check out Satchel's "The Family" (and other work by Brad) and The Tony Rich Project's "Birdseye" and "Words" for some equally intense, heart-centered rock/r&b. |
| love the cd | 2009-06-13 | 5 / 5 |
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| always a great artist. many covers on this one but well done and some very cheeky. |
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