Search - Wynonna Judd :: What the World Needs Now Is Love

Compelling and Refreshing

New England Nick | 08/09/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Wynonna's new disc is loaded with a vast assortment of compelling and refreshing music, both in melody and lyric. Each track on this CD offers intelligent lyrics and ideas, underscored with catchy yet meaningful music that never compromises the artist's integrity (ie, doesn't fall into the cookie-cutter, pop-crossover phenomenon that seems to strong-arm many music formats these days). This collection of music admirably stands alone, and deservedly so. Many of the songs are upbeat: What the World Needs, It All Comes Down to Love, Burnin' Love, No One's Gonna Break Me Down. But that doesn't mean that Wynonna doesn't overwhelm us with the occasional powerhouse ballad-Heaven Help Me. Her softer side also comes across on the tracks: Flies on the Butter, You Are (a track which Wynonna co-wrote!), and Rescue Me. Fortunately, none of these mellow diddies can be branded sappy or considered to be filler. They are fine examples of intelligent music, which helps highlight Wynonna's tremendous vocal capabilities. Perhaps she is at her absolute finest as she belts out her countrified version of "I Want to Know What Love Is" and catapults her heart and soul into the chorus of "Sometimes I Feel Like Elvis." The album will not disappoint. It is quite possibly her strongest recording effort to date. Actually, let's go ahead and scratch that--this IS the definitive Wynonna CD!"

What the World Needs Now is this 'Breath of Fresh Air' CD!!

Batmanbrb | Seymour, IN United States | 08/05/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I think I have to agree with Billboard magazine: This is, so far this year, hands-down the best CD released in 2003!! Nashville's power-house vocalist, Wynonna, returns with a huge bang with some of the best material of her career. These songs highlight this mega-star's magnificent pipes better than anything she has recorded before. The strength of the songwriting here is incredible and absolutely touching at the same time. With Faith Hill's producer behind the wheel, Wynonna is given a release that brilliantly showcases her talent; and hopefully many new soon-to-be-fans will realize what a great artist she is and always has been. There is no voice in Nashville that can compare to her vocal talent, in range or in intensity. The instrumentation here is probably the best of her career.This CD is like a little gift from heaven to all of us - the lyrics bring us happiness, joy, acceptance, love, self-esteem, and inner strength - which is exactly what Wy wanted in this release.Oh my gosh, how can you pick the best songs on this CD? They are all incredibly awesome, and that's a phrase I don't throw around lightly when critiquing CDs!! I never in my wildest dreams thought Wynonna could outdo all her previous efforts with this CD!!I was really blown away by her live performance of "What the World Needs Now" on the Academy of Country Music Awards back in May. It is such an uplifting song and yet has a very refreshing sound. The CD version of the song is good and retains that refreshing sound, but I have to say those of you who missed the live performance missed a phenomenal acoustical interpretation!! She got one of the loudest shouts of praise and claps of the whole night of performances.If Wy has ever recorded a gem of a ballad - it is this one, "Heaven Help Me". You just have to hear it. I sincerely hope this song becomes a huge hit for her!"It All Comes Down to Love" is a great, fun song about how media moguls seem to `have the answer to all our problems', but really love and acceptance are the answers. The song says, `Talking heads talking to us on the television, silver screen preachers and politicians, say they got the answer - first they gotta squeeze us, send a little money - there's tax on Jesus'... and.... `It's just a cheap thrill when you're looking for the answer'. It was a pleasant surprise to hear mama Naomi helping out Wy on the old-time song "Flies on the Butter"...."Sometimes I Feel Like Elvis" is about a woman who loses her husband... `What am I supposed to do with this house and these cars, All this so called success the good Lord's given me, I'd gladly give it all away right now, Just to see you walk through that gate, Up the drive and back to the simple we used to be, Before the money and the lawyers and the lies and the chains, and all this fame'. This is a very good song!!"I Will Be" is an assertive, self-esteem booster as the chorus says, "I will be here, I will be strong, I'll face my fears, when the night is long, and still go on, I will be brave, I will be bold, follow my faith, to a higher road, and I'm not there yet, but I will be!""Rescue Me" is a touching song by Katie Darnell, who lost her battle with brain cancer recently and wrote this song herself, `What do you do when the path leads nowhere, when you need someone to be there, now you're afraid of what's gonna come, and now there's nowhere to run, I love Thee, Rescue me, shine your light lead me home, Lord all I need is your love." Another incredible song.You have to look pretty hard to find any song on this release that is sub-standard - everything here is such a breath of fresh air to country radio and even pop radio for that matter. I never dreamed this CD would be her best-to-date, but it is. You gotta own this CD... it is everything we have come to expect from Wynonna and so much more!!"