Critically acclaimed singer/songwriter Joan Osborne reunites with the same team that worked on her 1995 top 5 hit, 'One Of Us', for Little Wild One. Long considered one of the greatest voices of her generation, Osborne has... more » a passionate and wide fan base eagerly awaiting the true follow up to her three-time-platinum album, Relish.« less
Critically acclaimed singer/songwriter Joan Osborne reunites with the same team that worked on her 1995 top 5 hit, 'One Of Us', for Little Wild One. Long considered one of the greatest voices of her generation, Osborne has a passionate and wide fan base eagerly awaiting the true follow up to her three-time-platinum album, Relish.
Robert Haven | Eugene, Oregon United States | 09/12/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I pretty much like everything that Joan does, but probably like many other fans, I've been waiting for a release that returns to the sonic quality of Relish. Little Wild One might be that CD. I'm finding myself hooked on listening to it, and the more I do, the more I like it. The fresh new songs are all worthy of Joan's vocals, with basic instrumentation that sounds very good -- usually a couple guitars, bass, and a keyboard -- some electric and some acoustic. There are some wonderful lyrics, good melodies, nice sounds, and Joan's rich and perfect-pitch voice is beautiful from beginning to end.
I'm always hoping to re-experience the mind blowing impact that Joan's singing had on me when I first heard "Ladder" and "St. Theresa" and other songs on "Relish". Joan doesn't belt out the soul like that, but I feel a lot more life in these recordings than in some of her recent R&B albums. This is fine stuff -- more mature, I think. Thanks for the great listening, Joan! I also recommend checking out Joan doing some fine vocal performances with Phil Lesh and Friends on Phil Lesh & Friends - Live at the Warfield Theater"
What a great album
S. Elliott | Denver, CO USA | 09/12/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I am a huge John Hiatt fan. What's that got to do with this album you ask?
Joan opened for John Hiatt in Boulder a couple nights ago. All I knew from her was her first album with the song "One of Us." (You know, the theme to "Joan of Arcadia") Anyway, she blew me away, as well as everyone else in the audience. (One even shouted she should be president, but I digress) I went to the table and immediately bought this album, and wished I had the income to purchase the rest.
As far as this album goes, my favorite track is "Cathedrals" or "Rodeo".
She has a terrific voice, and, for the first time, I was sorry when the opener for John Hiatt had to leave the stage. (On a side note, JH's concert was pretty darn good.)"
SOULFUL EARTHY - VOCALLY SOARING
Joseph A. Kengor | Youngstown, OH USA | 09/25/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I read about Ms Osborne's newest record in the paper a couple weeks ago. I ran out on my lunch hour to buy it along with Lindsey Buckingham's newest also. Comparitively, I've been listening to Joan's alot more. It's warmer, more mature, and the instrumentation and production is much better. Mr. Buckingham's sounds claustrophobic. Ms. Osborne's voice is the star here - soaring and dipping like a hawk on the wing - her vocals are pure and clear but she can sing with an edge too. The songs are strong - she references New York City and its neighborhoods in many of the tunes. She wrote or co-wrote most of them. The instrumentation is perfectly compliments the tunes. Enough variation to make each tune sound different. I especially like the electric 12 string guitar on the second track "Sweeter Than The Rest". My overall favorite track is "Light of This World".
Joan is the best female vocalist in her age group. I am waiting for the postman to deliver the Phil Lesh & Friends recording with Joan singing Greatful Dead tunes - that's got to be wild.
Anyway, this disc gets a big thumbs up from this reviewer who's been listening to music for close to 50 years. I can't wait to buy a copy for my 31 year old daughter, she'll love it."
I can see us growing old together after the storms have pass
Jason Stein | San Diego, CA United States | 09/20/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Joan Osborne returns with "Little Wild One", her seventh cd, and her first cd of predominantly original material in eight years! It's about time!
Not only does Joan write, or co-write ten of the eleven tracks, but she decided to have the original production team from her smash 1995 cd "Relish" to the same for "Little Wild One". Rob Hyman and Eric Bazilian (of The Hooters, one of my favorite bands) and Rick Chertoff (who produced several Hooters cds and even Cyndi Lauper too) all lend a hand, making "Little Wild One" Joan's most satisfying cd in eight years since 2000's "Righteous Love".
There are several standout tracks here, but two of my favorites are Joan's self-penned "Meet You In The Middle" and her cover song of R. Cliff's "Cathedrals" (I wish I knew who he was so I could hear the original version). Other standouts are "Rodeo", "Daddy-O", "Light Of The World", "Sweeter Than The Rest" and "Can't Say No" and "To The One I Love".
This is the Joan Osborne I have been pining for through her last three (yes, THREE!) cover albums. I hope her urge to do cover songs is behind her now so that we may experience full, undiluted Joan.
If you've left the Joan Osborne herd, it's time to come back. "Little Wild One" is one of her best works. Four stars because it's not quite "Relish", but it comes close."
A for effort!
hbmusiclover | ny,ny | 11/26/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Have followed Joan Osborne since her salad--or should I say "Relish"--days, and have always loved the breadth and depth of her sound and the range of her musical choices. With this release she is coming into her own and has clearly mastered the art of the song and the science of songwriting. Her voice is rare--at once sweet, pure, and edgy--At a recent live show (a must do!)...a friend characterized it as the sound of "sugar cookie dough." Wow! Perfect."