(09-29-2017, 07:59 PM)john Wrote: Okay, here's a review of the album that is negative. 4/10 Writer seems to have a chip on her shoulder. I guess she likes Oh! Darling.
https://www.theyoungfolks.com/music/1102...hat-sound/
I responded to the article but the stuff I wrote was not posted -- it was labeled as spam. Here's what I posted in the comment section:
Quote:Too hard on the album? I'd say so. You seem to go out of your way gratuitously throw shade Haley's way. For example, you conclude "It wouldn’t surprise me if Reinhart chose these songs simply because they’re popular, not because they fit her neo-soul, pop/jazz aesthetic." Fact is that Haley has been singing these songs, among others from the 60s all of her life. She loves them and knows more about the music of this era than virtually anyone her age. Her parents have played together for 40 years in bands covering this music -- the record is homage to them as well as the 60s. Her father plays guitar on all of the songs and her mother sings backup vocals.
You say "a cover album that’s simply a karaoke rendition of the originals is becoming one of my biggest pet peeves." Just what do you mean, she didn't change things enough? She stayed close to the original arrangements and sounds of the songs by choice, by design. You note that the backing music and arrangements are often top notch -- what you miss is that Haley's voice is also top notch. While staying true to the original sound of the songs she makes each her own.
You mention that on PMJ songs the singer is sometimes overshadowed by the overall sound, but I would say this is not the case with Haley and PMJ. She is a prime reason that PMJs popular quickly grew. She the featured singer on 3 of the top 4 PMJ videos and her 8 videos are all among the most popular on channel.
This is a carefully crafted album not a slapped together Karaoke record. Haley co-produced with grammy winner John Burke. It was mixed and mastered by veteran grammy winners and recorded directly to analog tape using only vintage type instruments. By design.
Your review was a lazy effort by someone who seems negatively predisposed to Haley Reinhart. After trashing her performances on the covers, you say "the original compositions are where the album falters." Oh. The three original songs have to varying degrees a definite 60s feel. Let's Start is most clearly in that genre. Somewhere in Between incorporates a Ennio Morricone sound. I agree the third one is a bit of a mess, but sometimes you miss. As a whole the album is a very solid effort that features some different aspects of Haley's unique and exceptional voice, and fine musicianship and arrangements. The audio engineering is exceptional.
