Search - Rosanne Cash :: Rhythm & Romance

Strong and Vulnerable

Batmanbrb | Seymour, IN United States | 03/20/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"One thing I have always loved about Rosanne Cash is the fact that she was not afraid to bare her soul in her songs, and yet we could all relate to them on some level. I love Rosanne because she is a strong, powerful woman, yet sensitive at the same time. The first thing out of her mouth on this CD is "If you want to keep a woman like me, you gotta hold on!" Wow!! The first 4 songs were the singles and they are not only very catchy, but have so much to say. Even though these songs were released in the mid 80's, I still listen to this CD here in 2003 and love it just the same. Aside from the singles, I really enjoy the heart-felt tune dedicated to her father, Johnny Cash, "My Old Man". I love the totally rockin' "Never Gonna Hurt" - a song many of us who have had bad relationships could relate to. I even love the acoustical closing song, "Closing Time". I remember this release being very controversial at the time; partly because of the album cover, because her music was 'too loud' for country radio, and also by the song "Second to No One" because of a certain word she used in it - some radio stations banned the song. But, this disc went on to garner 4 Top Ten Hits (2 went to #1) and she earned a Grammy for the song "I Don't Know Why You Don't Want Me". I always knew who Rosanne Cash was before this release, but this was the disc that sold me as a huge fan of hers and she has yet to disappoint me. When I think back to the best of the 80's, this CD is definitely one that comes to mind."

I Don't Know Why They Don't Re-Release This

J. H. Minde | Boca Raton, Florida and Brooklyn, New York | 04/05/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"RHYTHM AND ROMANCE still ranks as Roseanne Cash's masterwork fully twenty years after its original 1985 release.



Although widely ignored by traditional country enthusiasts Cash's electric guitar-based country presaged such monster acts as Shania Twain and Faith Hill in the 1990s. The overtly sexual, Barbie-pink album jacket was a feminine gauntlet thrown down amidst a male-dominated musical form that was fossilized in its own tracks. Roseanne, the daughter of the original "Man In Black" came to us in full female color.



"I Don't Know Why You Don't Want Me" was the chartbreaker, but RHYTHM AND ROMANCE had four hit singles and a Grammy. And unlike Twain and Hill (and their many imitators), Roseanne is truly wistful, painfully honest, and aggressive by turns, able to wring real tears out of most of the songs on this album. In short, it works as both traditional country and crossover material.



Still the piece de resistance amongst female country music albums, RHYTHM AND ROMANCE is as fresh today as it was when the needle first met the platter.



Never mind the compilation version. If you can find the original, get it."