Ruby's Torch - Nanci Griffith

Advantages: Beautiful songs, lot of variety
Disadvantages: A couple of songs don't meet the standard of the rest

...As a longtime fan of Nanci I rushed out and bought this CD on the day of release. Although I was a bit unsure of it at first, it's now one of my favourites. The mood is varied from the opening title track, a sad lyric about life drifting by through to the closing cover of a "In the wee small hours" a song made famous by Frank Sinatra. Between these two there are songs about the Vietnam war, photographer Dickie Chapelle, Nanci's mother and my personal favourie, "Shaking Out the Snow". This slightly bizarre number sees Nanci employing an unusual vocal technique as she sings about her frozen heart. No-one listening to the rest of the album will really believe she's the cold character she portrays but it's still a great song. All in all, Nanci Griffith fans will have this CD already - if you haven't had the pleasure of hearing her... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Best British soul diva. Ever
Disadvantages: None

...Ruby Turner, Brummie soul diva. What? One of the best British soul singers of the past 30 years is a Brummie? Well, yes… SORT of. In truth, Ruby was born in Jamaica, but grew up in Birmingham from the age of nine. The Very Best of Ruby Turner is exactly that, the very best of one of the finest soul singers of her generation. She's also very pretty, but hey, let's try to keep my natural male bias for very beautiful women out of this review! Whether Ruby is singing new soul songs, or delivering some of the great soul standard classics, her pure, soaring voice really is a cut above the rest. Ruby's ability to hold and deliver a tune is so impressive that she is able to attract soul stars such as Jimmy Ruffin, The Temptations and Jonathon Butler to perform with her as some very special guests. She was joined on What Becomes... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: perfect voice, well supported, great songs
Disadvantages:

...before kd Lang hit the big time she was producing excellant albums such as this where her long time love of Nashville was mixed with the torch song stylings she perfected on Ingenuine. It's been said that kd is the reincarnation of Elvis, and here you can see why - the voice ranges from swooning on "trail of broken hearts to the country rock on "big boned girls" If you think you don't like country music - listen to this album, all the stylings are there, including the required lap steel, but kd Lang and the Reclines have removed the scmaltz and made this accessable to everyone... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful