I wish I had all the time in the world to obsess about love all day like Michael Bublé apparently does. Like many of us, I don't and this is why I resort to escapist means of getting my fix. The Vancouver native's fourth studio album Crazy Love from Warner Music oddly was released on a Friday (October 9, 2009) and like his previous albums, we know pretty much what to expect of him. That sultry baritone, silky smooth runs and licks, cover versions, luscious David Foster arrangements and as indicated earlier - love, love, love. This album treads absolutely no new territory, but then again you probably should've gotten that memo by now with three prior albums' worth (20 million sold worldwide) of forewarning.Crazy Love starts off on a dramatic note with Arthur Hamilton-penned classic Cry Me a River just like his 2005 album It's Time did with Feelin' Good. Bublé has a go at Georgia on My Mind made most popular by Ray Charles, but his version is very understated and doesn't necessarily take the song to a new level. The album's title track, originally by Van Morrison, is full of warmth and has a place on Adult Contemporary radio alongside previous hit Home; surely this will be a single off the album. Current single I Haven't Met You Met has already broken airplay records in the Canadian Adult Contemporary radio format, debuting in the Top Five; he co-wrote the track with Alan Chang and Amy Foster-Gilles (Foster's daughter). Not bad, but not great.
The second half of the album picks up after a few lulls earlier on. Its finest moment is saved mid-sequence with Hold On, a track showcasing Bublé not just as a crooner but also a great songwriter. Its climax is magical. A pleasant surprise on this collection was a big band interpretation of The Eagles' Heartache Tonight, dead-aimed at Bublé's primary fan base with alarming precision. Tear-inducing At This Moment by Billy Vera & The Beaters is one of my favourite ballads of all time and I was thrilled to hear its inclusion here also. Stardust showcases Bublé's wide emotional range and features beautiful vocal arrangement. The listener is sent-off with a bonus track, a Bossa duet version of Whatever It Takes with Canadian great Rox Sexsmith. Very satisfying.
Listen to the track Crazy Love (courtesy of Warner Music Canada) in full below:
Crazy Love is available in both Standard and Special Editions. The latter includes a second disc of remixes - a very wise marketing move and proof of Bublé's widespread popularity among various demographics. Grade: A-
No comments:
Post a Comment