Audio CD review:
Melissa Manchester - Angel Dance

Melissa Manchester - Angel Dance

Band: Melissa Manchester Title: Angel Dance Rating: Release Date: 2004-08-02 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: I'll Know You by Your Heart 2: Angels Dancing 3: Bend 4: When Paris Was a Woman 5: After All This Time 6: Lucky Break 7: When I Look Down That Road 8: Where the Truth Lies 9: Tyfyfim 10: Still Myself 11: Crazy Loving You 12: Mother's Prayer 13: It's the Light

Going "Home To Myself" After she scored with "don't Cry Out loud" arista moved her into a slicker less personal direction and while Melissa can sing anything with out question, my favorite Melissa Lp's were her first 5 or 6 without question. Those of us that have been with Melissa since 1973 when her first Bell Lp arrived "Home to Myself" this is a wonderful return to the Melissa we fell in love with. This project shines with my favorites being "Bend" and "Still Myself". On "Bend" it is back to melissa with a piano and it just doesn't get much better than that. . Listen While You Walk Down This Road! Once again Ms Manchester regroups and changes with the times, only to reflect one of her truest most passions. . singing and songwriting from the heart. She has come full circle and back to her roots in the days of Home To Myself and Bright Eyes. Back to accoustics and less drama, more in the contempoary vein of Norah Jones and Diana Krall. Those who are familiar with her will either love this CD or hate it, depending on which time period attracted them to her. But a good ear and smart heart can't ignore the likes of I'll Know You By Your Heart. It's sultry, Sade-ish sparce sound with the words and wisdom of Joni Mitchell. Manchester's vocals are raw and exciting as it embraces the lyric and releases it's strength and vulnerability. The best cut on this CD is Angels Dancing, a story line about people in everyday life that touch you. . . if your hand is out. Her vocals sore to new heights and total confidence against a light rock backround. If AOR stations were intellegent, they would be playing this along side Shawn Colvin and many others like this genre. While the MOR stations would pick up Bend, perhaps one of the best ballads of the year. Lyrically and musically, this song is one that most will be able to relate. It may even remind you of Bonnie Raitt's I Can't Make You Love Me. I'm sure that this will be discovered by a country artist that will turn this into a huge coiuntry hit. Go for it Faith Hill!! Shania Twain, LeAnn Rimes or LeAnn Womack may try to grab it! There are many new colaborators here with Manchester including Rupert Homes Where The Truth Lies and Paul Williams Crazy Loving You. Other highlights include the top 10 single After All This Time with Keb' Mo', When I Look Down That Road, the funky Lucky Break and the Japan bonus track It's The Light. She also included as a bonus her solo live version of the Columbine inspired A Mother's Prayer. She plays it live with her piano in a Carole King like essence of her Midnight Blue days. Also check her duet version with Colin Raye. Good voice, so-so songs. I love Melissa's voice but the choice of songs here is just a so-so mix of unmemorable tracks. You can see a complete list of all Melissa Manchester discography, or go back to the Melissa Manchester tabs