Search - Abbey Lincoln :: Wholly Earth

A Keeper, Not a Classic

Miles P. Grier | New York, NY United States | 03/09/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Undoubtedly, Abbey Lincoln is one of the most intelligent, sophisticated singers out there. Everyone, it seems, has noted her way with lyrics -- a commitment to the defiance, wry humor, or lovelessness of the songs' emotional world that surely co-exists with her acting skills. Very few people read a lyric as well as Abbey. On a purely musical level, Abbey's voice is an eccentric and unusual instrument. When matched with the right material, the results are sublime. However, unspectacular accompaniment, arrangements, or lyrics draw the listener's attention to Abbey's vocal shortcomings. Although Abbey does not commit some of the egregious lapses in intonation that mar volume two of her Billie Holiday tribute, "Wholly Earth" does not have the consistent excellence of some of her other albums. Two of those better albums are: "Abbey is Blue" (a 50s collaboration with Max Roach) and "When there is Love" (good songs sung well with sympathetic pianist Hank Jones as only accompaniment). "Wholly Earth" is somewhere between one-half and two-thirds of a great album. Her original songs fare worst: "Conversation With a Baby" features her musings about the celestial origins of babies, but remains entirely earthbound because its descending melody, harmonic structure, and solos are uninventive. Yet, "And It's Supposed to Be Love" and the title track show that Abbey and the band can compensate for some unoriginality in lyric, melody, or harmony with a groove that highlights the musicians' unity of purpose. "Another Time, Another Place" and "If I Only Had a Brain" also deserve special mention as well-performed standards.I think that reviewers and listeners should stop forgiving Abbey's faults in intonation, songwriting, and melodic choices (e.g. a screechy ending that mars a well-performed title track) and push her to exhibit what the best of these tracks show. Five stars? A bit much. Save that for consistent and truly outstanding albums. Perhaps it's time that Verve released Abbey from (or encouraged her to exceed) the pattern of ballads and originals performed with a piano-led trio that most of her Verves follow."

Abbey Lincoln at her best

Bill Eckert (eckert@intellident.com | Plainfield, NH | 08/01/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Abbey Lincoln's A Turtle's Dream was my introduction to her art, and I highly recommend it. But Wholly Earth is more honest, less cute, and artistically whole. To call 'And It's Supposed to Be Love' a romantic tear jerker (see Amazon's review) is way off. Listen (read if you must) the words, and you'll know what this is about. But it's not melodramatic, just up-front honest. 'Midnight Sun' is a beautiful arrangement, 'Another World' has it's own space and tempo that fits Abbey (who wrote it) just right. It fits beautifully with 'Another Time, Another Place' two cuts later. 'If I Only Had a Brain' is a lot of fun, but holds something deeper than we knew back in Oz. Abbey's 'Learning How to Listen' sums it all up. Abbey - thanks for helping me learn how to listen."

Better With Time!

LaShonda K. Barnett | Williamsburg, Virginia | 08/14/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Abbey Lincoln has enjoyed a performative career which spans over four decades. It is both invigorating and inspiring to note that on "Wholly Earth," her seventh recording for the Verve label in nine years, Lincoln showcases some of her most philosophical songwriting and sublime phrasing. Listeners who are atuned to flowery, non-specific ditties about romance will be disappointed by this album. However, for a lyrical, visceral journey about life, audiences will be more than grateful for Lincoln's latest tour-de-force."