Great Performer, Great Album
581917
I love this album. I actually discovered this guy years ago when he opened for another artist that I kind of liked. His music and performance ended up being better than the artist I went to see. Almost every song on this CD is great. I can put it in when I'm driving, and I don't have to worry about distracting myself skipping around trying to find the three songs that I actually like. Buy it...it's AWESOME.
4328578
This album is good. Steve's James Taylor-like voice is smooth and warm. The melodies are catchy and hum-able. The lyrics run the gambit from thoughtful to humorous. The instrumentation is full, but not over-produced. I've seen Steve play live and this album captures his energy and his craftsmanship.
529914
absolutely loved it. It was a great album and excellent performance I just hope she does more music like this. She's a truly professional artist with an amazing voice. I recommend this album to anybody who loves Broadway music or just listening to a fantastic performer.
4885075
i've seen him play live several times and i also own his first two albums. both previous albums were amazing, especially "acousticism". this new album definitely didn't dissappoint. he's a very talented musician and a brooding, introspective songwriter. check him out and i guarantee you won't be sorry you did.
3993449
Have seen Bob perform twice in person, and his ability to translate his energy to the audience is at least as good as his virtuosity on the keyboard.  It's infectious.  This album captures that energy well, but don't miss a chance to see a show.
1903925
Of the three Maxwell albums that I bought, I always keep coming back to this one. As a matter of fact, I was playing THIS particular album so much that I ended up tossing out the other two. Don't get me wrong here. Urban Hang Suite and Embrya are good in their own right, but there was something positively soul-stirring about Maxwell's Unplugged performance that I found especially intriging. Maybe it was the smooth live playing of the band meshed with Maxwell's geniunely soulful voice, as they were on the showstopping covers of Kate Bush's This Woman's Work and Trent Reznor's Gotta Get: Closer, the latter containing a gospel-influenced chord change that's nothing less than electrifying. Or maybe it was the interaction between performer and audience that eventually got to my senses. Whatever the reason, I found this album to be a revelation of Maxwell's abilities as a true professional to his craft. For those of you unfamiliar with this artist, I would definitely recommend picking up this album first before moving on to his more studio-conceived work. Certainly one of the best live albums released this past decade.
578746
She's so good! A unique voice. I loved the album - every song on it.
And she's great live too.
2783841
This is truly a great album. He's made several good albums in the last 15 years or so. I enjoy them more than some of the mid to late 80's albums. He makes some modern sounds on this one that don't sound pretentious or forced.
3375596
I love the uniqueness of this great artist. Every album has been excellent and this one is no exception.
3148111
For lack of a better term, I'd call this an art album. Meaning, the creativity behind it is not driven to make an entertainer's product marketable, but with the intent to put on display an artist's view of the world around them. What makes an artist great is their ability to connect to an audience with their art. Lucinda is a great artist and this is a great album.
What makes the album great are the melodies that stick with you, Lucinda's vocals that echo in your mind and the lyrics you think about long after you quit listening. I believe it's the kind of album that transcends styles and will endure the test of time. The first listen wasn't consistently easy, due to the variety of textures she's used, but by the 3rd listen there isn't a marginal song on the album. It works its way into the bloodstream and you don't want it to bleed out.
3617862
This album is so good I resist classifying it as one of the "opera does broadway" albums.  Its really just a great singer singing great songs.  Part of the albums appeal is that there are very few "war horses".  It appears that most opera stars pick up a copy of "Soprano Audition Songs Vol. I" and think it will be interesting to everyone to hear them done for the thousandth time.  Upshaw and Stern pick some ripe ones, but also some tunes by Blitzstein, Sondheim and Bernstein which if not exactly unknown, at least they are at least a little dusty.  The diction can be a bit overdone which if fine with me (listen to Dame Kiri - are those words she's singing or just a vocalese?).  Upshaw is very at ease with the music, wonderful phrasing, perfect diction, a beautiful voice (obviously).  The only real complaint is that it can get a little bright in there.  I would love to hear Upshaw darken her tone a bit when the song calls for it.  But, overall, the best of the bunch bar none.  Listen to "My new friends" - absolutely beautiful - the phrase "people who can give each other quiet" with the solo string following.  Stern's a genius and Upshaw is fantastic!
1968785
Little Miss Dynamite's latest album is wonderful.  She sings some great gospel songs with some really great artists.  Some of the participants are Martina McBride, Allison Kraus, Kix Brooks, Ronnie Dunn, and Emmylou Harris.  All the tracks are great, but a couple stand above the rest.  They are the first and last on the album too.  The duet with Dolly Parton "This Ole House" is wonderful, and it gets the album off to a great start.  Then Huey Lewis helps Brenda close it with the excellent "Oh Happy Day."  This album is definitely a must for fans of great music.
4564232
Great music from a greatly skilled musical artist.
705654
Great album.  Wonderful arrangements.  Just a fun album.
2051819
I absolutely love this album.  I do not often listen to the mainstream radio stations or music television, but I happened to catch a clip of "Hometown Glory" and it was beautiful so I did some searching and found this album. I'm glad I did.

I do not understand why everyone has to compare her to other people. I think she creates amazing music in her own right.  Yes, she has a bit of the raspy retro sound as a few others who have recently hit the charts, but is that really a bad thing?  How many rock bands have similarities?  Country? Rap?  I think it's great to have a broad variety of music that is actually worth listening to.

Let Adele be Adele.
434771
I discovered this artist on "Live at Daryl's House," and was so stoked to see him live recently. The albums haven't disappointed, though I was worried because his live performance is so strong. I have had them on replay ever since I loaded them. I love it that he is a singer with soul--vocally and consciously.
1991268
The record came on time and in great shape. It is an amazing album that all should give a chance. I think she is one of the best artists of our time.