The Greatest Album To Date from Lady Lisa Stansfield
welek | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | 08/12/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I will never forget my teen days plugging up my walkman earphone and turned on the radio loud when ALL AROUND THE WORLD came into the air of the local stations...Even I was 15 I knew and I could tell Stansfield was going to be the new Best Brit Pop Diva, she will only get better and classier than her peers Dina Carroll, Cathy Dennis and Kylie Minogue. (Check out the scene in her latest video LET'S JUST CALL IT LOVE as she steps out of the dark limo in a scarlet evening lace dress and sashays down the street to meet her "Lover in Crime"!)FACE UP is the 5th full-length studio record and effort in 4 years from Stansfield and her long musical companion/love in life/husband/buddy Ian Devaney, with a few tracks co-written and produced by their musical partner Richard Darbyshire.The Love Duo proves once again at best with their typical upbeat tempo, outrospectively soulful live jazz dance music in the great opener I'VE GOT SOMETHING BETTER. "Open up show me love turn up the music..." Stansfield pronounces in her deep Rochdale accent with a veteran diva vocal that exudes that kind of energy which makes you jump up straight and tap your feet along every beat as she sings...YOU CAN DO THAT is a pretty funky number in contrast right after the contemporary upbeat exciting sound of the first 2 tracks.And yes, the most probably biggest smash hit from this album, EIGHT-THREE-ONE, is the indeniably best classic Stansfield trademark disco rhythm (check out the David Morales mix in the new single) after her self-titled 4th album's single NEVER NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP. Sound as if we haven't got enough of great stuff from Stansfield, the follow-up title track FACE UP continues to encho her much Barry-White-defined disco sound.The European Union edition of this album I owe is a deleted copy which only features up to track 13, WHEN THE LAST SUN GOES DOWN. Ironically, this track is the ultimately sentimental ballad that is rather appropriate to round up the album at last and best for a romantic evening you have shared with your love partner.You know we lovers or fans love this album and only expect you to do even better, thank you Lady Lisa Stansfield."
Oh my gosh! If this isn't one of her best!
LadyBelle | PA, USA | 04/07/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Come on get with it! This is definitely one of "Mrs." Stansfield's best albums to date. This is one of my absolute favorites from Lisa, there are so many of her best, most recent, songs on this album. Lisa's albums only get better with age, and thank goodness for that! Lisa has said that she thought to be one of her best albums, and I agree. Get this CD and be thrilled with the superb vocals(from the one and only Lisa Stanfield) and wonderful songs, you will not be disappointed!"
Excellent
barry | Boston, MA United States | 10/12/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Lisa Stansfield has an amazing voice - articulate and expressive with great range and power. FACE UP was an excellent release and this 2003 reissued edition with bonus tracks is amazing. The packaging is beautiful and the remastered sound quality is crystal clear.
Lisa Stansfield is very eclectic in her style of music. She starts from the r@b genre but ventures into exploratory pop, dance and jazz. The hit here is LET'S JUST CALL IT LOVE. This song as well as the opener I'VE GOT SOMETHING BETTER are both sensual, rythmic r@b jams. There is very little filler here on the 14 tracks (plus 2 bonus). Standout ballads are HOW COULD YOU, WISH ON ME and WHEN THE LAST SUN GOES DOWN. Her voice soars and carresses each note. But the standout ballad, indeed the standout of the whole set, is DIDN'T I a ballad that is heartwerenching and beautifully interpreted here.
When Lisa does pop it is very mature adult oriented pop with a tinge of r@b. Standouts are I'M COMING TO GET YOU, 8-3-1, DON'T LEAVE NOW I'M IN LOVE and ALL OVER ME. The only tracks that are filler for me are the dance tracks CANDY and BOYFRIEND. Bottom line, Lisa Stansfield is a very underrated singer and this cd fully demonstrates her amazing vocal talent and prowess. Enjoy."
Track Listings (13) - Disc #1