k.d. lang may still go lowercase, but Invincible Summer is Love-struck with a capital L. Following in the footsteps of the multiplatinum Ingénue and the underappreciated All You Can Eat, the singer's first album of or... more »iginal material since 1995 displays her hyperromantic side. Inventive production by Damian Le Gassick places lang's rich vocals in settings that meld electric and acoustic guitar lines, harpsichords, string arpeggios, and various aural bachelorette-pad accoutrements. The record's overwhelmingly smitten tone sweeps the listener along, making even silly sentiments like "In this crazy world full of lemons / Baby, you're lemonade" sound just right. The vividness of emotion on display here, along with the smart retro-modern sound, make this one you'll listen to long past September. --Rickey Wright« less
k.d. lang may still go lowercase, but Invincible Summer is Love-struck with a capital L. Following in the footsteps of the multiplatinum Ingénue and the underappreciated All You Can Eat, the singer's first album of original material since 1995 displays her hyperromantic side. Inventive production by Damian Le Gassick places lang's rich vocals in settings that meld electric and acoustic guitar lines, harpsichords, string arpeggios, and various aural bachelorette-pad accoutrements. The record's overwhelmingly smitten tone sweeps the listener along, making even silly sentiments like "In this crazy world full of lemons / Baby, you're lemonade" sound just right. The vividness of emotion on display here, along with the smart retro-modern sound, make this one you'll listen to long past September. --Rickey Wright
"kd lang's new album, 'invincible summer', is a typical example of the lush, smooth, intelligent style that lang has made her own. the overall feel is one of sunshine and warmth, which is reflected in the rich hues of the cover and disc itself. the songs go through a range of styles, from 'Mamas and Papas' california to pulsating pop. it is clear from listening to the lyrics of this album that lang is happy with her life at the moment: the words are cleverly thought out, with abstract thoughts and ideas floating safely alongside the more traditional love theme that pervades the work. the song that stands out the most, on first listen, is 'summerfling', the first single. with it's witty lyrics, smooth melody and mellow harmonies it is the perfect accompaniment to sunshine. however, once you delve deeper into the body of the cd, more and more tracks demand further attention and interest. the melodies soar, the rhythms pulse, the harmonies twist and wind around the lyrics. this is perhaps lang's most highly produced album, and it shows. the smoothness that she was aiming for was achieved, yet it still retains the one thing that keeps us coming back for more - lang's voice. it is easy to forget, after such a long gap, what her voice can do. 'invincible summer' shows us that it is still as good as ever, and the songs provide an excellent opportunity for lang to remind us what she can do best. this album is definitely the best thing in the shops right now - the live shows should be an experience to savour."
"Invincible" Ignites
goldcoastreviews | 07/07/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Ms.Lang once again ignites our imaginations. "Invincible Summer"'s tracks truly evoke all that is grand with the season. Images of laying back, watching the waves, tasting the sun.I have taken this melodic treasure to the beach with me & have had many comments from passers by. They seem surprised when I tell them it is k.d. lang. I smile....and so do they. So will you.if you find my comments interesting, please click the "yes"--thanks--CDS"
Lang In Love Shows Divas How It's Done
Uncle Wong | New York, NY | 07/27/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"After 1997's spectacular "Drag", "Invincible Summer" sounds at first to be a bit cold but warms up considerably with repeated listening. This is the only problem with Ms. Lang's new summer- and love-themed album -- it never quite gets hot, due to the chilly, squeaky-clean production values.However, for classic, well-crafted pop music and beautiful vocals, it doesn't get any better than this. Ms. Lang remains one of the few living pop vocalists who truly understand the art of singing: her gorgeous, sublimely rich alto is perfectly controlled to convey the lyric, is effortless and natural with nary a hint of strain, and is never used to show off. While the Whitneys and Mariahs of the world dazzle with empty pyrotechnics that ultimately butcher any melody that crosses their paths, Ms. Lang gently caresses her tunes to deliver the melodies at their simplest, purest, and most beautiful.An aerobicized and sometimes trippy mixture of lounge music and Beach Boys style pop, the 11 songs on "Summer" are for the most part peppy and unabashedly happy. As with past releases, Ms. Lang is particularly effective with the songs that have a touch of sadness or yearning (such as the insanely addictive "Curiosity") where she still conveys more ache than anyone since Karen Carpenter."
Invincible Album
SSS | Manhattan | 06/20/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Stunning. Absolutely stunning. Mixing Beach Boys with William Orbit-esque computer bleeps with harmonies that are jaw-droppingly lovely, this album will (has to) bring kd lang the recognition that she deserves. There is no better summer driving song than Summerfling and Extraordinary Things. And the subtle background harmonies on "The Consequences of Falling"...perfect.I never say this about CD's except for a very few select artists, but I would have paid full price for this one, and still thought it was a bargain. My congratulations to the artist and her producer...."
Kd?s 60?s Beach Album: Oceans and Oceans of Love
M. Allen Greenbaum | California | 06/26/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Those of you who live near the beach know that music somehow sounds different there. The music is inextricable from the sound of softly lapping blue-green water, the smell of soft drinks and sandwiches; the warm sand between your toes, the clink-clanking of ice cubes, the wafting of music from a thousand small speakers mixing into the fresh light-wind, and the promise of mystery women and men strolling, running, frisbeeing, seemingly floating along the dry/wet sand.It's the feeling you'll get from kd lang's new CD, no matter what the season, or your proximity to a beach. kd's familiar brilliance envelops each song, her delivery is warm, strong, aching, and personal. Her voice is sometimes just a bit lighter here, and that fits the theme. But this is not lightweight fare: Her rich, nuanced voice conveys love-soaked emotion like no other.I enjoyed every song, some more than others, but each jeweled by kd's honey-warm voice. The highlights are "extraordinary," a sweet uptempo song with highly effective overdubbing of kd, and an arrangement that nods discretely to the great pre-Beatles groups of the 60's (and a bit of the Lovin' Spoonful). It's just one of many many delights here. "Love's Great Ocean" reveals the CD as a paean to water--not summer--flowing, crashing water; seductive and merging boundaries: "Love's great ocean came crashing down on me, overflowing with possibility..." The opening "Consequences" captures the rhythms of undulating seaweed, and "It's Happening With You" has a slightly psychedelic, Donavan feeling until it hits the bright bridge. The song moves and celebrates movement: Splashing, launching a frisbee, running with your dog, it leaves a stream of images like the best of summer days. "Every turn I take, becomes a piece of cake. No matter what I do, it's happening with you." "Summerfling" has a great early 60's sound (complete with "ba-ba ba-ba-bahs," a bit of surf guitar, and organ-like sounds complementing and pushing the beat): "Early morning, mid- July, anticipation is making me high." It's a faster song that recalls the Beach Boys and the great grrl groups, but it remains wholly kd. There are hints of surf guitar and organ-like sounds here (and elsewhere on the CD), I wish there were more! This and "When We Collide" (the later with a convincing, happily vanquished, take-me-now hook and joyous guitar-work) should get plenty of airplay. In contrast, "Simple" is just that: A monastery of sound, a troubadour's gentle, prayerful, reflection on love. "What Better Love" is a shimmering trip under the water, beneath the selves we hide.Above all, there is kd's magical voice. Beautiful as ever, it transports the listener simultaneously back and forth, up and down, both in time and in rhythm. We happily immerse ourselves in kd's ocean."