Great CD!
04/13/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"To paraphrase Shakespeare...that is the question.That question is asked and answered in Joanne O'Brien's first solo cd "Isn't It Always Love."Ms. O'Brien has been called one of New York's ten most promising vocalists, and in listening to this cd it is easy to see why. Her vocals are clear and pure and convey a tremendous array of emotion and whimsy, as do the selections on this cd. With tracks ranging from standards like "Dream a Little Dream" and "That's All," to Donna Summer's "There Will Always Be A You," with a little bit of The Beatles and Natalie Merchant thrown in for good measure, each piece fitting together to ask the question of the title track.If you are unfamiliar with Ms. O'Brien, you won't be for long, because there are few people on this planet that have a voice like hers and I've never seen an artist with more range. She's a former opera singer-turned cabaret performer-turned pop singer. And this artist is no studio-made musician, for I have seen her in concert and her talent, not to mention her beauty are both jaw-dropping.The music has been arranged and accompanied by Award Winning composer/producer/arranger John Boswell, and his touch with composition is every bit as delicate and smooth as is his legendary piano playing ability.I would surely run out of superlatives if I tried to capture just how much I love this cd. It is, by far, my favorite cd of the year, and I am waiting with baited breath for her second solo cd.It's unfortunate that she's on a small cabaret label, because her cd is more subtle than that genre is usually capable of. It's truthful, melodic, and beautiful. Do yourself a favor and buy this cd.P>Review by Patrick Vest of "Independent Voice.""
LML does it again
Ricky Hunter | New York City, NY United States | 08/16/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Once again, I am impressed by an album from LML music. The selection of songs was varied and pulled from a wide range of sources, from Natalie Merchant (the gorgeous Verdi Cries) to a Donna Summer song (my least favourite song on the album, There Will Always Be A You) to a more typical cabaret number (David Friedman's We Live on Borrowed Time). Joanne O'Brien's perfomance of the material is wonderful. Her version of Southbound Train is touching, catching all the sadness of the song, without overplaying any of it. She also has fun with a song like I Only Want to Be With You. A very satifying album and I look forward to hearing more from Ms. O'Brien."