|
| Shapes and Patterns | 
 enlarge | Artist: Swing Out Sister
Label: Island / Mercury
Category: Music
Buy Used: $18.00
New (3) Used (7) Collectible (3) from $18.00
Avg. Customer Rating:  43 reviews
Sales Rank: 123388
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
UPC: 731453474123
EAN: 0731453474123
ASIN: B000001EU5
Release Date: June 17, 1997
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Expedited shipping is not available for this item.
|
| Customer Reviews:
| Showing reviews 1-5 of 43 | | ... 9 NEXT » |
 Want to feel good? Then this is well worth listening to December 4, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Aside from "Breakout", Swing Out Sister's popular MTV tune back in the late 80's, I never heard any more of Swing Out Sister - for some reason, they don't seem to be very popular in the United States. As I've grown older, my musical tastes have branched out into other genres that I wouldn't have normally listened to before. When I saw this CD, it reminded me of "Breakout" and what an enjoyable song it was, so I figured I'd give this CD a shot at a listen.
Hence my writing of this review, because if someone just happens to stumble upon my review of this from looking at another review of a CD I've written to check out my other musical interests and takes a chance and buys this CD, then the review process of Amazon works.
It's hard to pick a favorite song here - just about all the tracks are so good and are about positive messages; you are a special person ("Somewhere in the World"), that life is good ("Here and Now"), life should be celebrated ("Stoned Soul Picnic"), anything is possible ("We Can Make it Happen") and when true love hits you, there's no other feeling like it ("You Already Know").
It's hard to put this CD into one particular genre. The best way to describe this CD is "a pleasant pop/jazzy/R&B hybrid, with peace, love and bliss elements to it" as quite a handful of songs have a bit of late 60's vibe with 90's playing and technology on it. I'm not a child of Woodstock, and other than the late 60's songs I've heard, don't know much about it, but this is really fabulous.
With lyrics like "Close your eyes and see your dreams running wild, colors brighter than the sun all around", or "We'll never learn to live and grow, if we don't let our feelings show" and "Here and now, reaching an all time high, head over heals, in love with life", how can one not feel such a positive vibe and good about themselves and life?
The same can be said for the music as well. In some moments (the finale of "Here and Now" comes to mind with it's lovely strings) the music gets so positively exhilarating with it's keyboards, horns and the like, the subtle 60's ingredients (for example the "waka waka/bow chicka" from "We Can Make it Happen" and the whole entire "Picnic" song ) and Corinne Drewery and Andy Connell singing quite a few "La-La-La's" and "Ba-ba-ba-baaaaaa"s throughout. A more modern sounding "Icy Cold Winter", starts out a bit somber and eventually goes upbeat, but the keyboard work in it is truly entrancing and interesting.
And finally, Drewery's voice is amazing. I've heard others describe it as fragile, and I can see what they mean as it sounds soft, but she possesses quite a strong set of pipes - some of those high notes she hits throughout the CD are up there. And it's always a pleasure to listen to.
If I can offer any criticism of the CD at all (and I'm really stretching here), it's that it sometimes may sound a little *overproduced* - at some points, it may be hard to discern the lyrics Drewery is singing, but it doesn't happen often. For the most part, it's loud and clear.
This CD is hip and fun, and has effortlessly climbed to one of my top CD's ever to listen to. One of the most pleasant pieces of music you will ever hear. Get it.
You Already Know November 9, 2007
If you're a fan of SOS, "You Already Know" what I'm talking about. Intelligent, sophisticated, AND very cool sounds are what catch your ears at first. Then you start to understand the lyrics and appreciate Corrine's uncanny knack for evoking the perfect mood for each tune.
I consider Shapes and Patterns to be SOS's masterpiece - the pinnacle of their performance, arrangements, and production.
Call it whatever style you like: Pop, Soft Rock, Smooth Jazz, Light R&B...
you get a little bit of everything with SOS. I simply call it "great music".
As for my favorite tune on this album... Well, You Already Know.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND November 10, 2006
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This is the best album Swing Out Sister has put out. I love every track on this album. The opener "Somewhere in the World" is a fun uplifting song that will put a smile on your face. "Here and Now" is my favorite on the album, it has a great vocal by lead singer Corinne Drewery with many different and pleasant chord changes. The song reminds me of something Dusty Springfield or Billy Davis Jr would of recorded in 1968. "Better Make it Better" is better than the original from The Living Return. It has more of a full orchestra sound, than the original and is more traditional to SOS. The cover tune "Stoned Soul Picnic" is very well done and is close to the original by the 5th Dimension.
After listening to this album, I am reminded of how great the music was back in the late 60's. It would be wonderful to see Swing Out Sister collaborate with The Original 5th Dimension. They've already worked with Jimmy Webb on their Kalidescope World album. I think a Swing Out Sister/Paul Staveley O'Duffy produced album by The Original 5th Dimension would be awesome.
Lush pop. September 8, 2006
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Swing Out Sister have always occupied various, if consistently beautiful, spaces in their soulful pop sound. On the previous two outing, 1992's "Get In Touch With Yourself" & 1994's "The Living Return" they went a little 1970's "Philadelphia soul", echoing The Stylistics & The Delfonics with modern flairs & jazz touches.
Here, they return to the 1960's halycon pop they were known for. "Shapes & Patterns" see's the return of their mainstay producer Paul Stavely O'Duffy who helps give Corinne & Andy the focus they needed for their fifth long-player.
The record opens on a reassuring pop note of "Somewhere In the World" before spilling into the patient "Here & Now", & swings toward the deliciously urgent "We Can Make It Happen". Each of these cuts are all "ba-da-ba's" & violins a plenty. Soul pop at it's best?
The record only gets better, & slightly moodier, as you get further in. Corinne's voice manages to echo Marilyn McCoo of A Fifth Dimension; only more British. (S.O.S. gives the A.F.D. staple "Stoned Soul Picnic" a safe but pretty reading here.) Andy, ever the arranger, with a guidng hand from O'Duffy manages to immerse Corinne in jazzy, pop sounds. All at once are they retro & at the same time could fit into contemporary A/C radio format.
Highlights include, the beautifully haunting "Something Out of this World" where the star is Corinne's enuciation of the lyrics. Also, the heart-breaking ballad "Now You're Not Here" hint at a deeper sense of romantic longing. Corinne vamps (vocally) a little here, but never too much.
Overall, "Shapes & Patterns" finds Swing Out Sister returning to their pop roots of Bacharach & David, but at the same time moving the texture & feel of their sound forward. Highly recommend.
Must have with Kaledoiscope world June 15, 2006
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Please refer to the review of J. Collins "stoned-soul" -
This is a wonderful album, more lyric centered and exploratory than kaledoiscope world. It their finest work.
|
|
|
Powered By KZTech.com
| |
