Amazon.co.uk Review: When Madeleine Peyroux's debut, Dreamland, was released in 1996, its success threw her for a loop. She's taken eight years to create this follow-up, and, at age 30, she brings a confidence and resilience to this dozen-song set. She's able to move seamlessly between songs by writers as diverse as Elliott Smith and W.C. Handy, whose title track was popularized by Bessie Smith. Though American-born, Peyroux absorbed the language and culture of France growing up in Paris with her French-teacher mother. On her debut, she covered Edith Piaf, and this time out she wraps herself around "J'ai Deux Amours," which Josephine Baker sang to the Allied troops during World War II. --David Greenberger
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - Overengineered recording.
Beware of audio engineer's contribution to this album. I had an impression that I was put inside the double bass that was standing next to piano and the singer actually was ten meters away singing with the plastic bag on her head. Not exactly the way old Billie's recordings sound tough.
Rating: - Enchanting
If you like the voices of Billie Holliday and Ella Fitzgerald at their melancholy best then you'll like this CD.
Madeleine Peyroux has the reputation for being an offbeat and thoughtful character. Maybe because she takes her art so seriously. Strange fruit that is essentially beautiful.
Rating: - Original artist, new definition of "easy listening"
When I heard Peyroux' delicious tempo on her re-interpretation of "J'ai deux amours" and those delightful piano sounds on it, I was lost.
And who would dare to cover Leonard Cohen's "Dance Me to the End of Love"? But she succeeds and makes it her own.
Madeleine Peyroux has a marvellous "timeless" voice that brings you in another world or time. She creates a wonderful, warm and smooth jazzy atmosphere, with a country touch, indeed like Norah Jones, despite many differences too. ... Read More
Rating: - Beautiful music
This album is a delight. All the tracks are slightly different although they all live loosely in the jazz/blues arena. Madeleine plays the guitar with a sure touch and her gorgeous singing voice is like Billie Holliday, only more so if that's possible. I defy anyone to listen to this and not end up smiling.
Rating: - Beautiful and enchanting album by Madeleine Peyroux.
I purchased this album because I wanted to find out for myself what she was like. I heard her being played on the Michael Parkinson show on Radio 2 and thought I just had to buy it.
I'm so glad I did. This is an astonishing and superb album full of outstanding arrangements and incredible singing by Miss Peyroux. I think that the songs that stand out for me are 'Dance Me To The End Of Love', 'You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go', 'Don't Wait Too Long' and the end track, 'This Is ... Read More
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