Search - Idina Menzel :: Here

She can do so much better.

Christopher Van Houten | Chicago | 08/12/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Don't get me wrong- I'm a HUGE Idina fan. She's been one of my faves ever since she first released Still I Can't Be Still in 1998. This album has been a long time coming, and I've loved hearing her perform her new material live at small venues in New York. But I have to say, this CD was disappointing. I felt the six she chose were far too similar in quality- quiet, heartfelt, mellow selections from her WIDE repertoire of songs written since her debut album. The songs are all very nice, but she is capable of so much more- steamy blues, dangerously emotional pieces, humorous lyrics, upbeat songs- and none of that is really showcased here. If the mellow songs on this CD had been interspersed with songs like "Jealous", "It Only Hurts When I Breathe", and "Winter," it would be a wonderful collection that really showcased her talents. Either she's capitalizing on her success in Wicked by trying to appeal to that same audience with these adult contemporary ballads, or she's simply matured beyond youthful, energetic outbursts of love, anger, frustration, self-doubt, and hope that this fan misses on this album.



If you're already an Idina fan, Here is worth the $12. If you're unfamiliar with her, I recommend first tracking down a copy of Still I Can't Be Still or, better yet, her live performances at Joe's Pub and other locales."

Another masterpiece

bwayd | Long Island, NY USA | 05/21/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Idina Menzel's new release proves to have a new, more uplifting tone than her debut, "Still I can't be Still." However fans of her original work will find this piece pleasing. Idina has a new, brighter sound and a more simple band behind her, that basically consists of acoustic basses and guitars along with the piano, and ocassinally some simple percussion. Once again, uses beautiful lyrics, drawn from life experience and real situations in her songs. The melodies are soothing, and show a soft side of Idina's voice. Her voice complements the music beautifully, and we see that she is capable of more than just belting. One thing that makes this cd so touching is Idina's ability to portray emotion in her voice. While listening to songs like "Here" and "If I told You" one couldn't help but feel a bit lifted. Fans of the self-deprecating lyrics showcased her debut album will be able to find the same attitude in "Penny." And while Idina has a new unique sound on this album, it seems more accessible to the mainstream, and one is guarunteed to find something on the album that will make it worth buying."

At Long Last... More Idina!

Aaron Mullins | Middletown, DE United States | 05/14/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I have been eagerly awaiting Idina Menzel's next CD since Still I Can't Be Still came out. Her clear, soulful voice makes me laugh and also has tugs at the heartstrings -- clearly this girl is a Broadway girl.The six songs featured on this EP offer just a taste of what Idina is capable of. I'm familiar with a couple of songs from live performances that Idina has done and am pleased to see they made the cut.There are only two factors that prevent me from rating this CD a full five stars. First and foremost, after all this time, I was hoping for a full-length album. So I'm a bit disappointed. Secondly, the songs don't have the same professional sheen that SICBS did. It's also clear that this is a happier, more settled Idina. There are no dark, scary songs like Larissa's Lagoon here. All in all, I'm thrilled to see another Idina CD for sale... but it makes me want more. Here's hoping she doesn't wait another five years to release an album!Aaron Mullins"