Search - Holly Cole :: Best of Holly Cole

A Nice Surprise!

Beth Johnston | 11/28/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I picked up this CD by chance, and still can't believe my luck. Cole is a smooth crooner with an unusual twist: she tries far more interesting material than the average vocalist. Her voice is a bit like her fellow Canadian, Diana Krall, but much richer, more versatile, and resonant. She also has a great sense of rhythm and a remarkable ability to express the meaning and message of a song, even something as seemingly forthright as the Beatle's "I've Just Seen a Face." Unlike Krall, Cole doesn't accompany herself on piano, but she has the perfect partner in Aaron Davis's sensitive playing.It takes a bold young woman to make a Beatle's song so completely hers, and the other choices on this Best Of album are equally quirky, which makes me want to seek out her other recordings. There's a trio of Tom Waits' songs, several standards, a Lyle Lovett cover--and yes, the "I Can See Clearly Now" is her take on the song Jimmy Cliff made famous, and it's dynamite. The most astonishing to me, though, is her rendition of Elvis Costello's passionate "Alison"--her varied, nuanced delivery makes Costello's sound like a nursery rhyme in comparison. I can't wait to learn and hear more about this terrific singer!"

Left of center & Right on target!

douglas barton | Arlington, Va. | 11/24/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'll preface this review with a simple warning....which is that whatever adjectives I may use in describing this amazing disc from this even more incredible artist it simply will not do it justice. I'm not someone who is generally good at expressing himself with the written (typed!) word but this is an artist that I believe in so much that I need to simply need to 'cast my fates to the winds'and jump in with both "hands" (so to speak)! That being said.... let the accolades begin! For starters I won't even attempt to catagorize this sensational singer (accolade # 1). How to pigeonhole a singer who tackles such a diffrent array of styles from such amazing songwriters such as Tom Waits (who I think is a genius), Elvis Costello and the Beatles. To say nothing of covering standards, such as "Blame It On My Youth". Ms. Cole's taste in selecting tunes is eclectic, imaginative and overall very creative. Even if she couldn't sing a note (which she can, like a DREAM, I might add) I would respect her as an artist equally as well. I find her selections to be quirky, left of center and coming from someone who isn't afraid to take her fans along with her when discovering new, exciting songwriters. I'm not sure what more you could ask for. But, fortunately for us, there's so much more! Ms. Cole has an astonishingly clear voice, a wonderful way of turning a phrase and an equally comfortable way of conveying, in each song, a sort of worldweariness that I simply adore in any artist. Plus, the arrangments are well conceived and economical. I did want to give special attention to her version of "Alison", an Elvis Costello song that she does especially well. And that part about "....leaving your fingers in the Wedding Cake." I love it! And (just one more) she does an exceptional cover of "Cry (If You Want To)....in which case I almost did! She truly is absolutely fearless when it comes to her craft and the way she inhabits the unusual characters who are portayed in these songs. As if you couldn't tell she, in my book, has few peers. I enjoy 'standards' as much as the next listener but Holly Cole is so much more than that....thank goodness! In the end what's not to like? Holly Cole appeals to me as an artist (there's that word..again!) who seems unafraid of being a true individual in a field where it's simply too easy to get lost in the crowd. Quirky, different, out in left field....say what you like. To my unusual way of thinking she's simply deliciously free-spirited! So what are you waiting for?"

Holly, Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count The Ways...

Peter Durward Harris | 09/05/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A brilliant woman, with a fabulous ensemble. Great songs that she totally makes her own, fresh, better than the original. She has the smokey, soulful voice you can just fall into. I've seen a lot of performers... but my one regret is that I've never seen Holly perform live. I, of course, have ALL of her CDs. Personal favs are: Don't Smoke In Bed and Blame It On My Youth... but you can take her for a test drive with this great collection of her best."