CD Review – Cindy's Love Of Books

CD Review/ Holiday Wishes by Idina Menzel

Posted on December 1, 2014November 25, 2014 by Cindy

Band/Artist: Idina Menzel
Title: Holiday Wishes
Date: October 2014
Label: Warner Brothers

Holiday Wishes, a Christmas album recorded by Tony Award-winning singer/actor Idina Menzel, is out now on Warner Bros. Records.

The album was produced by Grammy Award-winner Walter Afanasieff (Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion, Mariah Carey) and features such classic favorites as “All I Want For Christmas Is You” and “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” as well as Joni Mitchell’s Christmas-themed “River,” one of Menzel’s favorites.

Another highlight is a duet with international superstar Michael Bublé on “Baby It’s Cold Outside.” An exclusive Target edition of Holiday Wishes features two bonus tracks, including “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!”.

Idina’s career has traversed stage, film, television, and music. She was most recently heard as Elsa in Disney’s global box-office smash Frozen, in which she sings the film’s Oscar-winning song “Let It Go.” After her performance of the multi-platinum song at the 86th annual Academy Awards, she made history as the first person with both a Billboard Top 10 hit and a Tony Award for acting.

You might recognize her from Glee. This is where I was first introduce to her and I love the way she sings. She has a beautiful voice.

Idina currently stars as Elizabeth in the original Broadway production of If/Then.

I have been listening to this cd for about two weeks now and I have to say that I feel like I am officially in the Christmas spirit and this will be one holiday cd that I will be buying this year. I absolutely love it and I think if you like the classic holiday songs then you will love this. I think this would be a perfect cd to have playing this year in your home.

As I was listening to this I was trying to figure out which song or songs I loved the best and I love the whole cd although I do have to say that I really love Baby, Its Cold Outside and how could I not because she sings with Michael Buble?

I loved how Idina made each and everyone of those songs hers. The songs that were selected were my all time favorites and its nice to hear a new spin on the classic holiday songs we love and cherish.

Holiday Wishes Track Listing

Do You Hear What I Hear
The Christmas Song
Baby It’s Cold Outside (Duet with Michael Buble)
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
All I Want For Christmas
What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?
December Prayer
When You Wish Upon A Star
Silent Night
River
Holly Jolly Christmas
White Christmas

Bonus Tracks on Target Exclusive

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow
Mothers Spiritual

Official Idina Menzel website: www.idinamenzel.com
* Twitter – @idinamenzel
* Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IdinaMenzel
* YouTube – http://bit.ly/IMHWVID

I participated in the Idina Menzel Holiday Wishes album review program as a member of One2One Network. I was provided an album to review but all opinions are my own.

CD Review/ Melody Road by Neil Diamond

Posted on November 5, 2014November 20, 2014 by Cindy

Band/Artist: Neil Diamon
Title: Melody Road
Date: October 21, 2014
Label: Capital Records

Throughout an illustrious and wide-ranging musical career, Neil Diamond has charted 37 Top 40 singles and 16 Top 10 albums in the U.S. His most recent original studio release, 2008’s Home Before Dark, debuted at #1 in the U.S. and the UK on the Billboard Top Albums chart.

A Grammy Award-winning artist, Diamond is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Songwriters Hall of Fame and a recipient of the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award, one of the highest honors bestowed upon songwriters. Diamond’s many other achievements include a Golden Globe Award, 13 Grammy nominations and 2009’s NARAS’s MusiCares Person of the Year award. In 2011, Diamond received the prestigious Kennedy Center Honor for his lifetime of contributions to American culture.

I grew up with listening to Neil Diamond in my house. My parents were huge fans. So I was thrilled when I was given the chance to listen and review Neil Diamond’s newest cd. I even brought my iPad over to my mother’s apartment so that she could listen to it as well and she loved it and once she told me that I knew what I was going to get her for Christmas.

Listening to the cd brought back so many happy memories from my childhood. I remember my parents playing music on an A track and then upgrading to cassettes. We loved having music playing in the house and I think that is where my love of music comes from and being exposes to it at an early age.

Can I just make a comment on how good Neil Diamond looks?

Track listings for Melody Road:

Melody Road
First Time
Seongah and Jimmy
Something Blue
Nothing but a Heartache
In Better Days
(OOO) Do I wanna Be Yours?
Alone at the Ball
Sunny Disposition
Marry Me Now
The Art of Love
Melody Rose (reprise)

Listening to this cd you know you are listening to Neil Diamond. He has stayed to true to who he is and his sound. This is very much Neil Diamond.

This is his first cd in over six years and honestly it feels like he never left.

“It takes tremendous vision, focus and determination – combined with a mega-dose of God-given talent, charisma and soul – to create music that becomes indelibly ingrained in the fabric of our culture,” shared Melody Road co-producer and Blue Note President Don Was. “For decade after decade, Neil’s songs have been such a major part of our lives. Making this record with him has served as a profound reminder of what a powerful and amazing artist he truly is,” he continued.

Each one of his songs tugs a little at you. I enjoyed listening to the cd as did my mother.

According to Capitol Music Group Chairman & CEO Steve Barnett, “Neil has made a brilliant record, one of the very finest in his singular body of work. His beautiful and heartfelt songs on Melody Road are imbued with the wisdom of a man reflecting on life’s experiences while still looking forward on the road ahead of him. He delivers these songs with the passion of an artist fully committed to his craft, and in that warmly distinctive voice that has brought us so many Neil Diamond classics.

* Official Neil Diamond Website – www.neildiamond.com

* Twitter – @NeilDiamond
* Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/neildiamond

* YouTube – http://bit.ly/NDMelody

I participated in the Neil Diamond Melody Road album review program as a member of One2One Network. I was provided a free album to review but all opinions are my own.

CD Review/ Heart On My Sleeve by Mary Lambert

Posted on November 4, 2014November 20, 2014 by Cindy

Band/Artist: Mary Lambert
Title: Heart on My Sleeve
Date: October 14, 2014
Label: Capital Records, LLC

I was thrilled when I was given the chance to do a review for Mary Lambert’s debut cd called Heart On My Sleeve because I first discovered her when she did the song Same Love with Ryan Lewis and Macklemore. She has a beautiful voice.

I wanted to write a pop album that had profound emotional depth and interesting language, while being accessible and catchy,” she explains. “I wanted the songs to be poignant and raw, but I want to hear them on the radio. I like to describe Heart On My Sleeve as a pop album with a conscience.”

I absolutely love this cd. I love each and every song. During my trial period I played it constantly in the house and I have it listed on my Birthday/Christmas wish list.

Mary’s voice is just breath taking. The only word I can think of its powerful.

“I felt like there were a lot of songs coming out about self-empowerment and challenging beauty standards, and I wanted to write a song along those same lines, but in my voice,” she explains. “It’s easy to paint a pretty picture and tell everyone to love themselves, but it’s way more complicated than that. There is so much shame and guilt in our society, and I think it has deprived a lot of people from living fully. We’re all facing battles. We’ve all had someone who has hurt us, so let’s talk about it. I believe vulnerability is what will save the world. I wanted to point the lens at myself in hopes of inspiring others to do the same. This song is my dirty laundry, and that’s actually really freeing. Now I can walk around with accidental pieces of bagel in my bra and eat it anyway.”

There is no way I can pick a favorite out of her songs because each and everyone is fantastic. I do have to say that next to Rick Springfield her version of Jessie’s Girl is amazing. Its a totally different spin on it and in Lambert’s hands, becomes a dark piano ballad with the twist of being sung by a woman about a woman.

I think this would be a fantastic addition to someone’s music collection.

Tracklisting for Heart On My Sleeve:

Secrets
So Far Away
Ribcage (feat. K.Flay)
Dear One
When You Sleep
Chasing the moon
Jessie’s Girl
Monochromatic
Heart On My Sleeve
Wounded Animal
Sum of Our Parts
Sing to Me
Assembly Line
Sum of Out Parts (alternative version)

For more information on Mary, please visit her official site at www.marylambertsings.com

* Twitter – @marylambertsing
* YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqqqV50zaAc
* Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/marylambertsings

I participated in the Mary Lambert Heart On My Sleeve album review program as a member of One2One Network. I was provided a free album to review but all opinions are my own.

CD Review/ Bulletproof Picasso by Train

Posted on September 4, 2014 by Cindy

Band: Train
Title: Bulletproof Picasso
Date: September 16, 2014
Label: Columbia Records

Bulletproof Picasso is Train’s seventh studio album.

I love the band Train so imagine my surprise when I got the opportunity to review to review this album. I have listened to it for a few days now and I have to say I love this album. I can listen to Pat sing all day and all night. There is something about his voice that I just love.

The album’s first single, “Angel In Blue Jeans,” has soared to the Top 15 of Triple A and Adult Top 40 radio in only a month. I have include the video below so that you can listen to it. I really like this song.

Bulletproof Picasso was produced by previous Train collaborator Butch Walker, and reflects frontman-singer/songwriter Pat Monahan’s penchant for distinctive musical stylings on this one. I think this is one of the reasons I really like Train. They have a distinct sound and style and for me that sets the band out from all the rest.

This will be an album that I will purchase when it comes out later this month. I loved all the songs and I have to say everyone is a favorite for me. They all have a distinct sound and vibe to them. I honestly have to say that Train is the kind of band who can do no wrong to me.

If your looking for something new to listen to then I highly recommend this. You won’t be disappointed. If you are a fan of train then run don’t walk and pick up your copy when it comes out.

Michael has even told me that he likes listening to this cd and was asking when we were going to get it.

Are you a fan of Train?
Tracklisting for Bulletproof Picasso:
1. Cadillac, Cadillac
2. Bulletproof Picasso
3. Angel In Blue Jeans
4. Give It All
5. Wonder What You’re Doing For The Rest Of Your Life
6. Son Of A Prison Guard
7. Just A Memory
8. I’m Drinkin’ Tonight
9. I Will Remember
10. The Bridge
11. Baby, Happy Birthday
12. Don’t Grow Up So Fast

Ways you can connect with Train:
* Official Train Website – http://savemesanfrancisco.com
* Twitter – http://twitter.com/train
* YouTube – http://youtube.com/train
* Facebook – http://facebook.com/train

I participated in the Train Bulletproof
Picasso album review program as a member of One2One Network. I was provided a free
album to review but all opinions are my own.

Train On Tour:

8/28 Gilford, NH Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion at Meadowbrook
8/29 Lenox, MA Tanglewood
8/30 Atlantic City, NJ Borgata Hotel and Casino

Record Release Shows:

9/5 5pm ET Live 1-hour performance on QVC
9/17 Los Angeles, CA Pantages Theatre
9/18 Los Angeles, CA Pantages Theatre
9/21 San Francisco, CA The Masonic
9/22 San Francisco, CA The Masonic
9/25 New York, NY Radio City Music Hall

CD Review/ Mutineers by David Gray

Posted on June 19, 2014June 20, 2014 by Cindy

Band/Artist: David Gray
Title: Mutineers
Date: June 17, 2014
Label: Kobalt Label Services

One of my other passions apart from reading is listening to music and if you ever visit you will always find music playing. I have always loved music and discovering all kinds of music. My musical interest are all over the page and I am sure I might surprise you with the kinds of music I like listening too.

So when I had the opportunity to listen and review David Gray’s Mutineer’s I instantly jumped at the chance to do so. I have never heard any of David’s music before reviewing this and I have to say that after listening to this cd I think I want to check out his other stuff.

David Gray is an established singer from the UK. Not only is he making is way there but he is a success across the pond. He did two sold out tours in the US.

Mutineers is David Gray’s tenth studio album. David released his debut album twenty years and its been four years since his last album. When I was looking up David’s bio I was really suprised because I had thought he was some what of a new musician boy was I wrong.

I am sure there is something for everyone on this album and I have to say that I loved every song on the album. David writes and sings in the folk- rock genre and its evident when you listen to this album.

After listening to Mutineers I have to say I don’t have a favorite song because I love the whole cd. Each song is just as good as the previous one and the one thing I can say is that the songs all blend in together.

I just can’t describe the cd and all I can really say is that if I was stuck in an elevator that I would want this to be playing. Another thing I love about Mutineers is that I don’t have to worry when I play it with Michael around like I would other kinds of music. Michael even likes the cd as I have seen him dancing in his seat while its playing.

I received a free download of the album to review from One2One Network and that all opinions are your own.

Purchase your copy:

iTunes- http://bit.ly/DavidGrayMutineersiTunes
Amazon- http://bit.ly/DGMutineersAmazon

Tracks:
1. Back in The World
2. As the Crow Flies
3. Mutineers
4. Beautiful Agony
5. Last Summer
6. Snow in Vegas
7. Cake and Eat It
8. Birds of the High Arctic
9. The Incredible
10. Girl Like You
11. Gulls

Ways to connect with David Gray:

Official Website – http://www.davidgray.com/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/DavidGray
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/user/TheRealDavidGray
Instagram – http://instagram.com/davidgray
Instagram Contest – http://www.davidgray.com/instagram
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/davidgray

David Gray has announced the upcoming release of a new album, Mutineers. The record is Gray’s tenth studio album and his first in four years. To mark the news, Gray has unveiled the video for ‘Gulls’, the first track from Mutineers to be streamed ahead of release.

To coincide with Mutineers, Gray will tour the UK for the first time in three years. The headline tour, commencing at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall on June 23 will include a show at London’s Royal Albert Hall on June 24. The dates follow a run of sold-out US shows across April and May and three sold-out intimate shows earlier this year at Westminster’s Emmanuel Centre. Additional US tour dates will be announced in May.

Recorded in Church Studios, London and produced by Andy Barlow (Lamb), whose brief was to not let Gray “make the same record I’ve made before.” The result is an album that seems to fizz with the joy of its own assembly and finds Gray steering into unfamiliar territory while cultivating a pugnacious but respectful relationship with his own history. “I know I’ve done something here that has an authority that is inspiring me and I don’t have to worry about my past or any of that. The lovely thing about this is we’ve had the time to experiment, and it’s been wonderful,” says Gray.

David Gray captured the world’s attention with his breakout multi-platinum hit White Ladder, the first of three No.1 UK albums, earning him both Brit and Grammy nominations. He has continued to build on this success, with recent albums Draw The Line (2009) and Foundling (2010), both reaching the Billboard Top 10 in the US.

I am going to include Gull its the first release from the album so that you can an idea of what I mean about his music.

North America Tour Dates & Cities:
See all dates and ticket info here: https://tickets.davidgray.com/
Aug 01 – Boston
Aug 04 – NYC
Aug 05 – Philadelphia
Aug 07 – Columbia, MD
Aug 08 – Charlotte, NC
Aug 09 – Nashville
Aug 11 – Raleigh, NC
Aug 12 – Atlanta
Aug 13 – Indianapolis
Aug 15 – Cleveland
Aug 16 – Cincinnati
Aug 17 – Detroit
Aug 18 – Chicago
Aug 20 – Denver
Aug 21 – Salt Lake City
Aug 22 – Boise
Aug 23 – Troutdale (Portland), OR
Aug 25 – Redmond, WA
Aug 26 – Vancouver, BC
Aug 28 – Oakland, CA
Aug 29 – Reno, NV
Aug 30 – Las Vegas
Aug 31 – San Diego
Sep 03 – Los Angeles

CD Review/ Love & Hate Joan Osborne

Posted on May 1, 2014April 25, 2014 by Cindy

Band/Artist/ Joan Osborne
Title: Love and Hate
Date: April 2014
Label: Entertainment One

This is Joan Osborne’s eighth studio album. Love and Hate has got it all in regards to genre. There is soul, blues, pop etc you name it its there.

I have always been a fan of Joan Osborne so when I was given the chance to review this I quickly jumped on it. I have listen to the cd several times since getting it and I love the entire cd. This is one of the cds that is currently playing in the house during the day.

Joan has written and co-written all the songs on this album. There is 12 songs on the album and each one is different from the other but yet the album blends so well with the songs.

As much as I love every song on the cd and I have to say that it changes almost every time I listen to the cd and you will agree once you hear it but for at this very moment I have to say that I really like: Where We Start (love the lyrics and the music), Mongrels (up beat and a song that makes you want to get up and dance), Up All Night (love the beat in this, finger tapping), Kittens Got Claws ( love the title of the song and the lyrics) and Raga (the lyrics are beautiful and the music is just so relaxing).

Where We Start
Work on Me
Mongrels
Train
Up All Night
Not Too Well Aquainted
Thirsty For My Tears
Love and Hate
Kittens Got claws
Secret Room
Keep it Underground
Raga

Joan Osborne will be going on tour to promote her cd. If you get the chance I hope you will check her out. I think had there been a Montreal date I might have gone to hear her sing.

Tour dates (with additional dates to be announced shortly)

April 3 Bay Shore, NY   Boulton Center
April 4 South Orange, NJ   SOPAC
April 6 Beacon, NY   Town Crier Café
April 9 Wilkes-Barre, PA   Kirby Center
April 11 Ewing, NJ   Trinity UMC
April 12 Annapolis, MD   Rams Head
April 15 Alexandria, VA   Birchmere
April 17 Natick, MA   The Center For the Arts
April 18 Londonderry, NJ   Tupelo Music Hall
April 19 Lebanon, NJ   Lebanon Opera House
April 25 Norfolk, CT   Infinity Hall
April 26   Philadelphia, PA   World Café Live
May 15   Austin, TX   One World Theater
May 16   Dallas, TX   The Kessler Theater
May 17   Cherokee, TX   Creek Music Fest.
May 29 – June 1    Seattle, WA   Jazz Alley (w/Holmes Bros.)
June 5   San Francisco, CA Kanbar Hall (w/Holmes Bros.)

I want to thank Eric from eOne Music for sending this along to me to listen to and review. I really enjoyed it and will end up purchasing the cd now.