Puts to shame 90 percent of the major label releases
dynamism | Los Angeles | 02/26/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"On Songs of Love and Empire, former Mary's Danish vocalist Julie Ritter puts to shame 90 percent of the major label releases with the best album you haven't heard this year. Ritter's first solo album of songs (she did release a spoken-word recording of her poetry a few years ago) is confident, mature, diverse, and, oh, so enticing. Ritter returns to the hard-hitting alterna-pop of her Mary's Danish days on the opening track, "Bed," as well as on "Aeroplane," a song that with a major-label push would be on your favorite radio station constantly. Songs ... goes well beyond her Mary's work, though. "Cry Baby Cry" and, in particular, "Play My Favorite Song," feature slow, grinding blues vocals sultry enough to heat up a monk. Arguably the album's finest track is the piano-based story, "Jesus of New York." Ritter shows off her narrative skills, as well as her lovely, lilting vocals, on the seductive tale of a one-night stand. As a whole, 1999 was a fairly dismal year for music, with adult listeners being bombarded with teenage bubble-gum pop and the same one-note testosterone rock. However, Songs of Love and Empire offers a more than worthwhile alternative to the monotony of this year in music.Steve Baltin Sr. Editor CDNOW"
WONDERFUL MUSIC
Sir Grand Citizen | Earth | 06/27/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
".... This is a GREAT album, very seriously recommended. ...this wonderful CD will soothe and calm. To those who are looking for something new and VERY class-- CHECK THIS OUT. The songs on this CD are just wonderful, achingly beautiful, full of perfect little moments which just might put this release into your personal top-five listing."
Track Listings (12) - Disc #1