Search - Grace Jones :: Hurricane

MY FAVORITE ALBUM OF 2008-2009

Steven R. Thornton | Phoenix AZ by the way of Philadelphia, PA United S | 10/30/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Hurricane" is the album that almost never happened. There were two other albums full of material in the 1990's that never saw the light of day due to lack of a recording contracts and producers who were not committed to the projects. Trying to secure a recording contract today is not the same as before. Today, many large recording companies are scared to take a risk on a project or an artist, no matter if the artist has an established track record, such as Grace Jones.



In the end, it was an independent U.K. label named Wall of Sound Records, which offered Jones a deal. The album is as forward thinking as her original Compass Point Sessions. It is Grace Jones in top form once again. This album show that she is like a fine wine that only gets better with age. Always at the forefront of music, Grace Jones' "Hurricane" does not disappoint from beginning to end.





With a powerful introduction "This is my voice, my weapon of choice", the listener is instantly taken under her submission with the opening track "This Is Life". Produced by Jones and her on and off beau Ivor Guest, the production quality on "Hurricane", her 10th studio album is excellent. From the strength of song selection and lyric weight, this is an album that shows us where the icon is at presently. Yes, if an artist has established a sound, it is easy for them to recreate that sound. However, Grace's intuition has always been about the future yet she does acknowledge her past in the same right with longtime collaborators, Sly and Robbie and Barry Reynolds. British electronica innovator, Brian Eno, also assist with the sonic landscape, providing little sounds of nature from birds chirping, insects sounds and of course a storm. Tricky, who wrote the title track also gets production credit. This album also shows Jones in a softer yet vulnerable position unlike any record before. She opens up about her family, the trails and influences of her strict religion she was raised on and her mother, in which she declares that "I'm stronger now, I'm tougher now" in the touching and poignant "I'm Crying (Mother's Tears") . The family theme is also carried through "William's Blood" which is a fantastic track complete with authoritative command of "Let me go, I got the William's Blood in me", backed with a gospel choir tinged closure with Jones' mother accompany the artist in a rendition of "Amazing Grace". May seem a little egotistic but it works extremely well and only Grace Jones could have pulled that off. This proves that she really OWNS her craft. The reggae-flavored "Well, Well, Well" is a definite ode to early work reminiscent of 1980's "Private Life". The album also shines the light on Jones' son, Paulo Goude (fathered by French artist-Jean Paul Goude). Paulo contributed to "Hurricane" and co-wrote "Sunset, Sunrise". Other notable tracks, "Love You to Life" and the James Bond music influenced "The Devil in My Life" display that Jones has not lost her sense of drama in song. "Hurricane" succeeds because Jones never follows trends in popular music. The track "Corporate Cannibal" is relevant in regards to today's economic woes as it depict major corporations and companies as man eating machines.



Unlike another icon, Madonna who seems to be looking for that never-ending fountain of youth at 50 years old in her choice of musical output and grueling body workouts, Grace celebrates her moment. Jones makes the powerful analysis of looking back at her past for inspiration yet she is comfortable in her skin now. We all are going to get old one day, so just embrace that you survived all of the good times and craziness and thank God that you have arrived at this point. If you read between the lines of "Hurricane", this is the album's primary message."

Hurricane Grace Strikes Again!

Hopeton Stewart | Los Angeles, CA USA | 11/17/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"She's baaaaaaack!!!!!!!!!



After a too-long absence from recording as a headliner, Grace Jones takes you on the journey of her life in her best and most personal album yet. "This Is" is the pulsating introduction to her life story. The rock/gospel-anthem "Williams' Blood" speaks to her origins and family relationships. "Corporate Cannibal" is a haunting, but playful look at the "Grace Jones Persona". The video is a must-see! "I'm Crying(Mother's Tears)" is probably the most personal song on the CD, and shows a rarely-seen vulnerable side of Grace Jones. Turn up the bass and groove to the reggae beat of "Well, Well, Well. The reunion with Sly, Robbie, and Sticky bring her back to her roots and gives us some of her best music! "Hurricane" is a declaration of the power and strength that this woman possesses. "Love You To Life" has that rhythmic speak-sing reminiscent of "Walking In The Rain". The chanteuse is back in "Sunset Sunrise", a catchy euro/reggae tune that ends with her singing in French! Grace talks about her demons in "Devil In My Life", a song that gains energy as it goes. Definitely worth the money!"