Search - Annie Lennox :: Songs of Mass Destruction (Deluxe Edition)

Still Top Notch

John Gentile | Hoboken, NJ | 10/03/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've been a fan of Annie Lennox since her first Eurythmics album. She's still at the top of her game. Her voice is strong, and each track is a pleasure to listen to (remarkable since she wrote every song). She is a major talent, sorely needed in today's sorry music industry.



This special edition contains an extra disc, which repeats the entire album, and has Lennox comment on each and every song (similar to a director providing commentary to a movie). I believe this is the first time an artist had done this. There is also a music video for Dark Road, but it can ONLY be accessed with a computer."

Powerhouse Lennox

Anthony Morelli | Montreal, Canada | 10/08/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ok, so I have both the standard and Deluxe editions. Below are my negative and positive thoughts on the item:



Positive:

- Booklet has 19 pages compared to the 12-page booklet in the standard edition

- There are more photographs in this one, than the standard edition

- The booklet is connected to the package itself, meaning less damage

- You get 2 discs for only a few dollars more than the standard edition

- The deluxe edition is very slimine and fits into a protective plastic mini-lp CD sleeve



Negative:

- The CDs are subject to scratches while removing or inserting them into the cardboard package due to lack of protective plastic inner sleeves



My feelings on the album itself:

As I said in the review of the standard edition...SOMD is very powerful music. Annie has weaved for us, a spectrum, an array of colors, mood and emotion. As with DIVA and BARE, SOMD tells an emotional rollercoaster of a story of its own, although it's far less grumpy or sad as BARE. Whether Annie croons, drops to a soft whisper or just plain belts it out in her clear alto style, I love every song, now that I've heard the album enough. I still think "Coloured Bedspread" is my favorite, because it's mysterious, sensual and upbeat with an Eurythmics edge. The song in particular caught my attention and I added it to my ipod playlist instantly. "Dark Road" is the perfect opener for SOMD because of the marriage between "stepping on eggshells" feel, as well as the rock-chick edge Annie gives it when the organ & guitar come in about 3/3 of the way through the song. Couldn't have a better Glen Ballard edge to it, if you ask me.



Am not sure whether the album would've sounded any different with Stephen Lipson as producer, cos Annie's quite the powerhouse no matter whom she's working with. Annie's a genius when it comes to writing music/singing and dressing up as well. I simply adore the photos in the booklet and appreciate having more to look at when I open the booklet of the deluxe edition, regardless if it's glued to the packaging or not. After 3 solo albums, this is how I rate Annie's albums:

DIVA

SOMD

BARE

MEDUSA



BARE was raw, gloomy and vengeful. DIVA was exquisite, romantic and lovely. MEDUSA was a mishmash of everything while SOMD frees Annie of her saddened thoughts and showcases her powerful range and stellar songwriting talents. Annie always speaks her mind and sings it too. SOMD is such a strong CD and it sucked me in deep, though BARE and DIVA controlled my emotions many, many times. Upon listening to "Sing" for the 1st time, I was bored and wanted to skip it. But I listened to the entire album twice over and quite enjoy this song with its catchy chorus line. So much time & love went into the making of the song, and you can hear Madonna's voice in verse 2. "Fingernail Moon" inspired me to want to go look out my window at the moon and think in wonder. "Smithereens" is my 2nd favorite track on the album because of the heavy piano arrangement, paired together with Annie's clear, no-nonsense alto pipes. All the songs i haven't mentioned are fine just the way they are. There's no filler here. You should buy the Deluxe Edition because it's wonderful, and in time, it'll grow on you if you're not loving it already.



Bonus Features include an interactive menu with the choice of Audio or Video commentary + the video of Dark Road. There is a photogallery with 3 photos and links as well. I personally enjoyed listening to Annie's commentary on my discman because I'm better at listening to her speak than watching her."

This is what music's all about

Dogville | Sunny Island | 10/12/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It is certainly heartening to know that any day Annie Lennox decides to step into the recording studio, she'll be able to delight her fans and the world with her words and melody.



Dark Road opens with its sunken melancholic before breaking into a rapturous bridge then closing with the quiet calm it began with. Such is a display of the multitudes of emotion Lennox is capable of packing in. On songs like Womankind and the archetypical anti-HIV/AIDS tribute, Lennox attempts to sing about female empowerment and knowledge, resulting in two gorgeous anthems. The latter, ambitiously includes the backing vocals of 23 female artists and a resounding sign-off that features a short African interlude. On other tracks (Big Sky, Lost), Lennox touches on love, loss, and hurt like no one else ever knew.



At her most experimental, Lennox shows her mastery. Through the Glass Darkly (probably inspired by Jostein Gaarder) begins like a piece of Zero 7 while Coloured Bedspread is a damn fine electronic synth track destined for the clubs.



Of course, Lennox's deep haunting voice is never compromised throughout the album.



If there's one album (along with Feist's The Reminder and Radiohead's In Rainbow) you have to listen to in 2007, Songs of Mass Destruction is the one that serves to add some soul into music.



The Deluxe edition includes extensive commentary of each song by Lennox herself as well as the video for Dark Road. If you get the Barnes and Noble exclusive edition, there's two bonus tracks - the acoustic version of Dark Road which features an entirely different arrangement to the original and Don't Take Me Down. Worth the money for fans.(A)"