The single and album were produced by John Shanks, whose first album production was Etheridge's 1999 Breakdown. Since that collaboration he has risen to the top ranks of rock and pop producers with credits including Sheryl... more » Crow, Alanis Morissette and Bon Jovi, winning the 2005 Producer of the Year Grammy Award. "Fearless Love" spotlights the album's solid rock foundation with the core band of Etheridge on acoustic guitar, Shanks providing imaginative lead guitar, color-filled keyboards from Jamie Muhoberac and the dynamic anchor of bassist Sean Hurley and drummer Victor Indrizzo. Fearless Love, her triumphant tenth album, expands on the multiple strengths that have made Etheridge one of the most beloved figures in modern rock. It follows her revealing 2007 set The Awakening with a rousing tone at once tough and tender, as only Etheridge can be. It's that force of presence that has earned her, among other accolades, the 2007 Academy Award for best original song ("I Need to Wake Up" from the documentary An Inconvenient Truth) and two Grammy Awards.« less
The single and album were produced by John Shanks, whose first album production was Etheridge's 1999 Breakdown. Since that collaboration he has risen to the top ranks of rock and pop producers with credits including Sheryl Crow, Alanis Morissette and Bon Jovi, winning the 2005 Producer of the Year Grammy Award. "Fearless Love" spotlights the album's solid rock foundation with the core band of Etheridge on acoustic guitar, Shanks providing imaginative lead guitar, color-filled keyboards from Jamie Muhoberac and the dynamic anchor of bassist Sean Hurley and drummer Victor Indrizzo. Fearless Love, her triumphant tenth album, expands on the multiple strengths that have made Etheridge one of the most beloved figures in modern rock. It follows her revealing 2007 set The Awakening with a rousing tone at once tough and tender, as only Etheridge can be. It's that force of presence that has earned her, among other accolades, the 2007 Academy Award for best original song ("I Need to Wake Up" from the documentary An Inconvenient Truth) and two Grammy Awards.
"While I was downloading this album from iTunes, I noticed a rating given to each song--and those ratings weren't all that great. "Fearless" was up there, as were the bonus tracks, but the others were in the 2-3 star category. I wondered what I had gotten myself into, until I started playing the album. This is Melissa at her best, as good as any CD of hers that I have, and better than some! Melissa is about my age, so the comment here about her sounding old is--of course (lol)--preposterous! If you love Melissa Etheridge's style, lyrics, power, and sound as much as I do, you will love this album."
Amazing album
M. Reiff | USA | 04/27/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Absolutely amazing album. She is truely one of the best artist of our time. Highly underrated her lyrics stand with Springsteen and other artists. If you don't buy the album I'm thinking maybe you shouldn't review it but hey to each their own. This album has so much emotion behind it and so much power if you LIKE Melissa and you have BOUGHT her other albums you will def like this one"
Crippingly passionate; this women can rock
D. Pace | Hull, Quebec Canada | 04/28/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Melissa is, by far, one of the most underrated stars of all time.
This woman can rock.
This woman can tell a story.
This woman pierces your soul like no other.
Passion + Rock n'Roll = Perfection
Buy it.
Sing loud.
Dance.
"
Melissa is Back!
Désirée Greverud | Stockholm, Sweden | 04/29/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Truth in advertising: I have been an unabashed Melissa fan since day 1. I know all the lyrics and I have seen her live 8 times. She is easily my favorite artist of all time. However... her output since Yes I Am has been... inconsistant. Your Little Secret sounded like the batch of songs that were left off Yes I Am. After a break she roared back with the amazing Breakdown, the most mature album of her career. But that was followed by Skin, a record that, while emotionally pure (as nearly all her work is) was simply lacking in good melodies or riffs and ultimately was rather forgettable. Lucky was an attempt at another big fun rock record and while the riffs were there, this time it was the lack of strong lyrics that let her down. The Awakening was a very somber record, understandably so, but not what fans of "Bring Me Some Water" may be looking for. Her seasonal album A New Thought for Christmas had some moments of a return to form, but seems trapped in its own concept.
Which brings us to her new album Fearless Love. For the first time since Breakdown, I am truly excited about a new Melissa album. Her lyrical focus has expanded beyond her usual repertoire of love, longing & loss to encompass more political concerns and her sharp turns of phrase that seem to have abandon her on Lucky and Awakening have returned. Best of all, this album ROCKS. Fearless Love may not be the sing a long that Like the Way I Do or If I Wanted to are, but it still will stick in your head and have you bopping your head along and pounding your fists. Miss California is a great indictment of the Prop 8 fiasco in California and has the added bonus of being read as a slap at former Miss California/bigot Carrie Prejean.
The band she has assembled is tight and straightforward. The return of guitarist John Shanks is welcomed and he will hopefully stick around for some time. The rest of the band may not be as musically adroit as Kevin McCormick and Fritz were on those first few albums but that's ok. These songs sit well along side the likes of Ain't it Heavy and Angels Would Fall and I am certain they will go over quite well in concert."