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Michelle Shocked - Deep Natural Audio CD

A fair review of the Michelle Shocked "Deep Natural" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Michelle Shocked reviews here, or go back to the Michelle Shocked tabs.

Michelle Shocked Band: Michelle Shocked
Title: Deep Natural
Rating:
Release Date: 2002-04-02
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Joy 2: What Can I Say 3: Why Do I Get The Feeling 4: Good News 5: Forgive To Forget 6: That's So Amazing 7: Peachfuzz 8: I Know What You Need 9: Can't Take My Joy 10: Little Billie 11: If Not Here 12: Moanin' Dove 13: House Burnin' Down 14: Psalm 15: Go In Peace 16: Go Dub 17: I Know What You Dub 18: Match Burns Dub 19: DOD Dub 20: House Burns Dub 21: Forget To Dub 22: Why Do I Dub? 23: Draughts Of Dublin 24: What Dub? 25: Peachfuzz (Version) 26: Can't Take My Dub 27: Fat Brown Snake Dub 28: F2F Dub 29: Mardi Gras Dub

Long and dull
Which is a shame because Michelle Shocked has always been an automatic purchase for me. This album is bad. No more.

I don't know if it happened in the mixing, the recording, or with the instrument choices, but whatever it is, it ain't good. The music is the audio equivalent to pouring porridge through a sieve.

And since she's found religion, her lyrics have gone from razor sharp attitude and storytelling to just bludgeoning us with a club that is both patronizing and wearisome. She's always written about stuff that is important to her, but she did it in a voice that captured my attention. Now it just turns me off.

It is hard to believe this is the same artist that wrote "Anchorage", "Prodigal Daughter", "Memories of East Texas", and "The Cement Lament".


Disappointment
I listened to it twice and probably will never again. I really liked her album "Short Sharp Shocked" and still do, but this one was a waste of money. Her religious and "preachy" fanatical overtones are annoying. There is not much more to say.


A Little Sophomoric, But Very Solid Stuff
The only reason I heard this CD is because I had a chance to meet Michelle Shocked and she personally handed me this CD, which she told me she packaged and shrink-wrapped by herself. Truthfully, this isn't really my type of music, but all things considered, it's really good. I've since seen her perform at one of the local clubs in Los Angeles, and I remember seeing her on the Dr. Phil show protesting the military action against Iraq.

I have the benefit of knowing this artist and what she stands for and believes in, so that's why I can appreciate her music. I know the deeper, spiritual, social, and political meaning behind the lyrics in her songs. However, if you're someone who just happens upon the CD at Blockbuster Music and listens to it simply for its musical value, you might not like it. In my personal opinion, this is a good CD to play in your car on an extended trip so you can listen to the whole thing all at once. There's really no one track on this album that stands out above the others. I also have the companion CD called Dub Natural, which are the same songs as Deep Natural, except without the lyrics. I think both of these CDs come together in one package. That also is a nice CD to listen to, because you really get a feel for Michelle's ability as a musician.


Shocked gets religion
She was ABOUT to fall off that list until she came out with Deep/Dub Natural. I have a very short personal list of musicians whose CDs I always buy.

In my opinion, about Shocked's only flaw is a tendency to preach and as she matured, she made that mistake a few times.

Not in this album! Like her early music, the lyrics are poignant yet nuanced. But, she has broken out of the folk mode without giving it up completely.

Clearly she has had some encounter with God and she uses that as lyrical focus. But don't think this is some boring Christian album. She NEVER falls into cliche even when she re-interprets a song like Amazing Grace. That song, for instance, breaks your heart and renews at the same time.

Great stuff. And don't neglect Dub Natural. I like it maybe even better than Deep Natural. I know that Shocked wasn't the first to do a re-mix second disk, but not many have done it better. It really works -- "Dub" has the feel of "Deep" but is not a needless duplication. I play Dub Natural more than "Deep".

I also hope this CD will open up her audience beyond the folk singer-songwriter crowd. She deserves it. Unfortunately, I doubt this release will get a lot of promotion. Good reason to buy it, though - play if for friends and they will think you have the good taste to not follow the masses.


who is Michelle Shocked? She's incredible!
It was an incredibly glowing review, though. When my local paper ran a review of Deep Natural, I had never heard of Michelle Shocked before. So, I decided to splurge and take a chance and pick up the cd. I popped it in my cd player and sat down. The album opens with Shocked belting out a short acapella song titled "Joy". This song would later be used as part of "Can't Take My Joy". My jaw dropped. "Joy" was powerful and just gave me a little chill. It just felt special, that the album as a whole was going to be something very special. It is.

Even though Michelle Shocked can use her voice as a powerful instrument on songs like "Good News" and "What Can I Say?", she still effectively sings "Psalm" when she goes softer. The range that Shocked can use her voice as an instrument is incredible. . . . as is her gifts as a musician and songwriter. I was completely blown away by Michelle Shocked and she is now one of the few that I will recommend without any reservation.


You can see a complete list of all Michelle Shocked discography, or go back to the Michelle Shocked tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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