Madeline Peyroux - Dreamland (12 tracks) +Album Reviews +Used CD available for Swap

Viva Madeleine...a Voice from Another Time

M. Swinney | Flower Mound, TX | 10/01/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Long before there was Norah Jones, Madeleine Peyroux stumbled off the streets of Paris into the hearts, minds, and souls of music afficianados worldwide with "Dreamland."

I owe it to a surprisingly "musically taste-inclined" office mate of mine for turning me on to Peyroux. "Walkin after Midnight," is one of the CD's few missteps. With the rest of Peyroux's boozy Billie Holliday-esque its lightness just doesn't fit. It gives you "one of these things is not like the other," moments. But the rest is simply golden.

You will find yourself doing a double take on Peyroux's album pictures since her voice is way beyond her age. It is the sound of aged hard earned wisdom and smokey resonance. Peyroux was a 22-year old when she made this album. "La Vie en Rose," is a wonderful take on Edith Piaf and all that is lacking is the scratchy sound of a needle passing over ridges of vinyl. Peyroux is infinitely listenable. Her music is of the mood sweeping timeless. You wonder if she has her own voice or if the whole act isn't a send-up of Holliday imitation, but as you explore the liner notes there are some beautiful Peyroux penned acoustic blues numbers that will turn you into a believer. Even if it does sound too much like Billie Holliday...that's not a bad thing. You will find yourself not caring and just caught up in the music.

Enjoy audiophiles.

--MMW"

Getting Some Fun Out of Life

Lee Armstrong | Winterville, NC United States | 04/10/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"With the release of Madeline Peyroux's 2004 CD on Rounder, it may be time for a glance back at her first release from 1996 on Atlantic. Critically acclaimed, taking 8 years for a follow-up has allowed this disc to sink from view. The arrangements are sparse but serve to highlight Peyroux's unique voice. On "La Vie en Rosa," the lyric is sung in French, and Peyroux sounds like a yearning Edith Piaf. Born in Athens, Georgia, she spent time living in Paris and seems quite at home in this musical setting. "Always A Use" is one of her originals that shows her as an expressive vocalist, "Maybe ain't no use in singing my blues, but there's always a use in you & me." "Muddy Water" has a shuffle beat with Peyroux's lazy vocal singing about life on the delta. "Was I?" is a delightful track Kenny Wollison's lively percussion giving bounce and Peyroux's vocals lifting from there, "Was I drunk? Was he handsome? And did mama give me hell!" One of Madeleine's idols Bessie Smith penned 2 tracks that conclude the set with the teasing "Reckless Blues" that sports lively Cyrus Chestnut piano & "Lovesick Blues," "My sweetie went away, but he didn't say where, didn't say when & didn't say why." The set opens with Patsy Cline's big hit "Walkin' After Midnight" with Madeleine's loping arrangement. Peyroux's voice is often compared to Billie Holiday & nowhere can it be more easily seen that on Holiday's "(Getting Some) Fun Out of Life." "Dreamland" is an excellent set that shows great promise from this fine singer. Enjoy!"

Gettin Some Fun Out of Life

Lee Armstrong | 06/11/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The first time I heard this chantuse was on National Public Radio singing "Some Fun Out of Life" being a true Billie Holliday aficando my first thought was they had discovered some unreleased early Holliday tracks. I was shocked to find out that it was Ms. Peyroux. I had to have that song, so thus I bought the CD. It is a love affair from start to end. Johnny Mercer once remarked that Billie Holliday was the Jazz man's singer. Ms. Peyroux is the reincarnation of Lady Day voice, much like K D Land is Patsy Cline's. Dreamland is a great CD but the one I would like to hear is Ms. Peyroux singing a tribute to Lady Day. La Vie En Rose is great listening to her guttral french adds more magic to this evergreen Piaf hit. Muddy Water makes you want to experience it, Bessie Smith's Reckless Blues is great. Was I is another Holliday like song. To those who long to hear the voice of Lady Day today Ms. Peyroux is a breath of fresh air. It is a singer's nightmare to be compared to another singer but in this case it is a wonderful gift. The early recordings of Peggy Lee (Why Don't You Do Right)are heavily influenced by Billie Holliday. I look forward to future release's by this very talented Lady."

I Found Madeleine Peyroux!

t-mac from SF | san francisco, CA United States | 07/29/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"At first listen I thought she was just ripping off Billie, but she is still very fun to listen to on this CD. Her varying styles keep it interesting. I just got back from Paris and saw Madeleine singing on the sidewalk for change! She fronts a great little 3-piece jazz band called The Lost Wandering Blues Jazz Band from New York. She is introduced by the band every few numbers as the woman who sang the Jaguar commercial, and they plug this CD, while she passes the hat. They said that she is on a new label now and working on a new CD. She sounds great and draws a big crowd of Parisiennes and tourists in front of the chapel St. Germain de Pres."

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