Charles M. from SAN DIEGO, CA Reviewed on 4/18/2007...
Excellent work by Joan. I have many of her earlier works, and it seems to me that the more instruments that she discovers, the more she tries to make her music more complex. In this album, you can tell that she loves to play with tone and tempo. She jumps about with almost reckless abandon. She is really quite talented. It is too bad that she dosen't get more play time on more stations. I guess that she has only herself to blame on that one. And also, judging by the subject matter of her music, it is obvious that she has been hurt deeply by love in her life. She invented the concept of "angry chick music." Enjoy kids.
CD Reviews
Excellent recording.
Paul & Mary Drake | West Barnstable, MA USA | 05/08/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a very classy, underappreciated outing by Joan Armatrading. It features fine musicianship with saxaphone, trumpet, clarinet, etc., and is very well recorded. Great late night music."
Simply the other side of Joan Armatrading
Beate und Markus Maiwald | Meitingen, Bayern | 03/20/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Is this a good album for a fan? For the normal Joan Armatrading fan it is a hard album, but You have to listen to it. Take it deep in Your heart and it will grow! Especially the bass of Pino Palladino and Manu Katche at the drums are a revealation. The spare sound of the album and the dominance of the Joan's voice make lovers dream. It is not overproduced - the less the better. The album is full of love songs - all You need for a fullfilled evening with Your partner or alone with an aching heart. Try it out!"
Sexy Edgy Intense
Matt Running | Watertown, CT USA | 06/10/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Yes, not what you would expect from Joan but wow it is good. What ever was happening in her life at the time comes right out in words and sound. Or, if nothing was happening then she gets the Best Actress Award for stepping right in the middle of Hurt and Pain. My first Joan experience so actually was disappointed in comparison with her other stuff, then realized over years of listening to The Shouting Stage that it is a GREAT album."
Never better than here
J. Moore | Grenada, MS United States | 05/13/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I remember sitting under the stars at Red Rocks listening to Joan Armatrading and her stellar band, during the Shouting Stage tour. Sure we all sang along to 'Love and Affection' and joined in with 'Willow', but it was this collection that has endured in my memory. Maybe it was the romantic themes of love and loss, of a making a memory with my wife - still married after 18 years. Thankfully we never lost it at the shouting stage and I'm glad we found a stronger love that has endured. The playing by mark knopler and pino palladino as well as Joan's essential funkiness buoys this album up and even all these years later I continue to float away listening to this one. Highly recommended along with "Lovers Speak"."