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Lizz Wright
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Dreaming Wide Awake
Verve Forecast
Release: 6/14/2005
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Rated:
Review by:
Craig Keyes
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This album definitely has a dreamy quality to it. I love Lizz
Wright's voice, and I think the music industry deserves a
singer of her caliber. My opinion about dreams is very few
people outside our personal realm care about what we
dream. Dreams are our own personal experiences, and for
the most part they only have meaning for the dreamer
whether they are wide-awake or fast asleep.
With that being said, judging from the album's cover I
thought I was in for an Indigenous world sound, but I quickly
found out Wright's style is more contemporary Midwestern,
similar to that of Bonnie Raitt. Enthusiasts will need to
actually listen to this disc because the album cover does not
reflect the music inside. I think some of the graphic
designers and photographers in the music industry today are
having a difficult time blending their art with the music. We
need to learn from the days when artists would create
genuine art for album covers and actually have a meaningful
relationship with the musicians and their music.
I like this album, but I have to say it needs some work.
Track after track we are treated to an onslaught of dreamy
songs, and the dreamy thing gets old. I know how hard it is
to be a singer, depending on other musicians to feel the soul
of the music that comes from within you. I always favor
singers that play their own instruments and write their own
songs, because their music is more genuine. Lizz needs to
take a more commanding role with her music and stop
depending on studio musicians and prewritten songs to
express her if she wants her music to stay out of the bargain
bin.
Her version of Neil Young's song "Old Man" starts by luring
the listener in with her gentle vocals, all combined with the
familiar tune of this timeless classic. I love the powerful way
the other musicians merge with this song. She sings this
tune with the respect it deserves, and you start to get a feel
for how really good this artist can be.
The best song on the album however is "Get Together,"
originally recorded by the Youngbloods. Lizz sings the most
beautiful version of this song I have ever heard. It is an
eternal song that needs to be sung by people who are
connected to its message. Lizz captures the essence of the
song's significance and delivers the message with clarity and
grace.
In general I think Dreaming Wide Awake is too
dreamy. With the quality of Lizz's voice and her old soul
sound, she should pick up the pace and deliver a record that
has more punch to it. This album should be spread out
between 10 records with one dreamy song per album. |
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