Search - Melissa Etheridge :: The Awakening

The Awakening
Melissa Etheridge
The Awakening
Genres: Folk, Pop, Rock
 
  •  Track Listings (16) - Disc #1

On September 25th, 2007, Melissa will release her 9th studio album, THE AWAKENING. It has been described as a collection of powerful and playful yet confessional and engaging songs that are personal as well as universal. T...  more »

     
   
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CD Details

All Artists: Melissa Etheridge
Title: The Awakening
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 1
Label: Island
Original Release Date: 1/1/2007
Re-Release Date: 9/25/2007
Genres: Folk, Pop, Rock
Styles: Contemporary Folk, Adult Contemporary, Singer-Songwriters, Adult Alternative, Folk Rock, Country Rock
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPCs: 602517394148, 0602517516304, 602517516304

Synopsis

Album Description
On September 25th, 2007, Melissa will release her 9th studio album, THE AWAKENING. It has been described as a collection of powerful and playful yet confessional and engaging songs that are personal as well as universal. THE AWAKENING was co-produced with David Cole and recorded with her band: bassist Mark Browne, drummer Mauricio ?Fritz? Lewak, and guitarist Philip Sayce. Etheridge acknowledges that her 2004 breast cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatment brought new perspective to her life and achievements and freed her to be so open on this album.

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CD Reviews

Biography in song
R. Kyle | USA | 11/03/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)

"These past few months have created a glut of gorgeous music much to the dismay of my credit card. I've vowed--due to space and ecological considerations--to start buying singles instead of whole CDs, but "Awakening" is very much worth having in its entirety. Besides, in this case, the samples are way not enough to get the feel of the entire song.



This isn't easy music to listen to. Melissa Etheridge has learned some hard lessons in her life and



"The Kingdom of Heaven" is probably the hardest to listen to. It's Etheridge's cut-to-the-bone take on the war. So, is "What Happens Tomorrow." There's no 'us' in them.



But what Melissa Etheridge is doing best on "Awakening" is sharing much of the deepest parts of herself--both good advice and hard-fought lessons learned. It takes a lot of guts to do this, but the lady's one of the bravest and strongest in the business.



"An Unexpected Rain" apologizes for her regrets--the lover who tried suicide because of their breakup, the meaningless encounters. It takes a strong person to make those kinds of admissions public in the hopes to make others stronger.



"Heroes and Friends" is the message that you need to continue to dream and try despite pain and failure:



You can't take a trip if you don't first say goodbye

You can't find a star if you don't look in the sky

You can't find the light if you don't know where the dark is



"The Universe Listened" is probably the strongest song (we don't start living til we've almost died). This haunting story song will stay with you for a while.



I could go on writing about this CD for pages, but what it all comes down to is what you feel when you hear the music. Listen, but be prepared to be swept into the songs and possibly shed tears.









"
Melissa's "career" album
C. A. Mennie | 09/27/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Simply the finest work ever from this multi-talented singer/songwriter/musician. There is an ease and depth to the lyrics that is stunning. No didactic preaching, simply one woman telling her story and urging us all to wake up. Ably supported by her band, in particular guitarist Phillip Sayce, Etheridge croons, wails and soothes through an amazing song cycle. Intensely personal yet universal at the same time, this could only have been created by someone who's taken the best and worst life has to offer and come out the other side even stronger."
Best album since "SKIN" --- great improvement over "LUCKY"
Derek Jager | NYC | 10/08/2007
(3 out of 5 stars)

"Melissa has always thrived on the pain and pains of life, and THE AWAKENING gives her much to deal with.





After the disappointing sales and songs on LUCKY, she's made a real effort to step up the pace and we're rewarded with a few gems:



CALIFORNIA with the great/honest refrain "I am ALMOST free..."



AN UNEXPECTED RAIN which deals on the regrets of her early,"sleep around" life



MAP OF THE STARS which is sort of her version of the Eagle's NEW KID IN TOWN



THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN and IMAGINE THAT are her responses to the war in Iraq and the current political climate



The most "pop friendly/memorable" songs are MESSAGE TO MYSELF and THREESOME, sure to be concert favorites.



She still struggles with writing hooks and/or memorable melodies so WHAT HAPPENS TOMORROW, THE UNIVERSE LISTENED, OPEN YOUR MIND, HEROES AND FRIENDS, and I'VE LOVED YOU BEFORE all sound about the same.



She has four short tracks GOD IS IN THE PEOPLE, ALL THERE IS, ALL WE CAN REALLY DO and A SIMPLE LOVE which are only a couple minutes each. Nice, but not really "songs."



So you're left with a CD of 16 tracks. Cut the four short songs and you have 12, cut the five "sound alike" songs and you're down to seven tracks and of those seven, you have a couple pop gems and five more low-key songs that hearken back to her early albums.



SKIN remains her "best" and most accessible album with most of the songs having strong hooks and memorable melodies.



Special mention must be made to the guitar playing of Philip Sayce--he really contributes some "stinging" guitar tabs and I wish he was heard more on the album.



Finally, Melissa continues to seek out a spiritual reality in her life, one that began with SKIN. So this CD contains much about her regret over previous "bad behavior" and it's nice to see an artist address where she was and where she wants to be.



She's "not free yet" but at least she's looking."