...pam-alot...
rocky-o | 06/30/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"First of all, what many reviewer don't seem to be taking into account, and many just don't seem to know at all, is the fact that this was Pam's first album out of the chute, way before all the mega-country hits she had...(and her true 'fans' should know that already...)
With that having been said, I remember buying this album when it was, indeed, an album...(that's vinyl folks)...and yes, she was, back then, trying to come out as a 'pop' singer, not a country act, and she pulls it off admirably...
I thought it was great back then, and I am actually surprised how long it took to become available on cd, considering here 'prime time' has now passed a bit...nevertheless, it's here now, and, to reiterate, any true 'fan' needs to have this in their collection..."
False Start
Mark D. Prouse | Riverdale (Bronx), NY | 06/19/2009
(3 out of 5 stars)
"If you are a fan of Pam Tillis, as I am, you may find this CD very interesting. I mildly disagree with the other reviewer (the only one, so far), but I would advise country fans to proceed with caution. This is NOT a country album by any stretch of the imagination. Tillis has always demonstrated a willingness to experiment, and her eclectic tastes show from time to time. This debut album clearly showcases an artist with promise and talent, but it also reveals someone who has not yet found her calling.
My guess is that she wanted to make it on her own, free from the shadow of her famous father, so she opted out of the obvious. In retrospect, this was a mistake. Call it a false start. Mel Tillis was a huge talent, but modern audiences have largely forgotten him, while his daughter's career seems to have eclipsed his. If she had followed the course she began with this album, it's doubtful this would have happened. Pat Benatar and Madonna do come to mind, but I also thought of Cyndi Lauper, particularly on the song, "(You Just Wanna Be) Weird," one of the more successful numbers. This is a so-so collection of very '80's-sounding pop songs, although there are a couple of standouts. "Let's Get Crazy" could easily have been done by Benatar, and approaches the quality of some of Pat's better efforts. I also enjoy "Love Is Sneakin' Up On You," although it isn't especially distinguished. This is the problem with most of this album: Pam's singing is fine, and the production values are fairly high, but the songs are nothing special. It should come as no surprise that the best track on this oddly titled record is the only one that hints at a country music sensibility: "Never Be The Same," a gently rocking ballad with a nice hook. Here, her voice is out front and center, where it belongs. Speaking of which, on a side note, one of the voices buried in the mix on ABOVE AND BEYOND... is that of Wendy Waldman, whose own career was transitioning from performing to mostly just songwriting -- for country artists (!) It should also be noted that Tillis had a hand in writing almost all of the songs on this CD.
Thankfully, when Tillis returned, she had found her natural voice, and the rest is history. Ordinarily, I would recommend a historical release like this for the artist's die-hard fans, but not this time. Although I'm not sorry I made this purchase, those whose tastes are confined to country and/ or folk and roots music will have a hard time appreciating this early effort. Sample it first, if you can! For those Pam Tillis fans who may have lost touch with her, I highly recommend her recent Rhinestoned CD. It's superb!"
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1
