MARCELLA DETROIT - JEWEL

My first exposure to Marcella Detroit happened while living in Europe. Shakespear's Sister had a huge hit on the radio with 'Stay'. I was immediately taken with her voice. If you know me, you know I don't usually take interest in vocalists. I did really get caught up in that song. Enough to buy the album years later and when I discovered she was more than just a legitimate voice, but a songwriter and musician as well my interest grew. I bought 'Jewel' without hearing a single song from the disc.

My continued impression of the disc is favorable, though I do find it inconsistent. The cover tunes, although probably appropriate, are somewhat lackluster and really don't fit her. Marcella has a magnificent powerful voice. She's also got an off beat dark writing style. On this record she tries to blend that with Motown sounding R&B styles with varying degrees of success. In my opinion, she would have fared better focusing on developing her own original sound rather than integrating Motown. She covers Sly And The Family Stone's 'I Want To Take You Higher' using a bluesy 90's beat. However modern the music sounds, the vocals are mixed so far back in the track there's no power and the club layers only serve to slow the beat further. Ashford And Simpson's 'Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing' is performed with Elton John. Once again, the vocals are mixed back on the track and the music is so subdued there's no intensity. I suspect both of these tracks were recorded in the same session.

The rest of the disc is broken up between some really interesting and different songs with those Detroit arranges with the Motown feel. 'I'm No Angel' and 'You Don't Tell Me Everything' are both songs with that straightforward Motown drumming. 'I'm No Angel' also incorporates Detroit's interesting lyrics and some great vocals.

The title track, 'Jewel' is an amazing number with tense vocals and an urgency you can almost cut with a knife. The vocal distortions create a feeling of confinement and apprehension. It's because of this mood, the song is effective. As she changes keys and maneuvers through the song, Detroit evokes a feeling of Old English chamber music. It's an odd but completely satisfying number. 'I Believe' sounds like something from "The Crying Game", but it's a very pretty if unremarkable number. 'Perfect World' has an interesting drum motif and though the lyrics are somewhat cliche, it's still an enjoyable tune. 'Art Of Melancholy' is a masterpiece. Truly something original and exciting. The vocal delivery is powerful! 'James Brown' is lackluster and would have served better sung by someone in a lower register. A song she should have donated to someone else. 'Detroit' is a brilliant tune. Not only is it awesome for her, it could easily have been a major staple for other artists. It's got an amazing drive. It's one of those tunes with lasting potential.

'Cool People' is probably my favorite track on the disc. Both this song and 'Prima Donna' are songs that fit neatly into the Marcella Detroit sound. 'Prima Donna' features some Beatles sounding background vocals. 'Out Of Mind' has the feel of a 1950's ballad. I could picture this song being played at a high school formal with couples waltzing sweetly across a gym floor. I really enjoy this song. The chorus is beyond sweet and sentimental.

So my overall opinion remains inconsistent, but amazingly brilliant at times. An amazing talent showcasing some of the things that should have made her one of the biggest names in the business. If you can find it, you should certainly try it. My final word: INCONSISTENT.

MARCELLA DETROIT - JEWEL
01. Jewel
02. I Believe
03. Perfect World
04. Art Of Melancholy
05. James Brown
06. Detroit
07. Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing
08. I'm No Angel
09. I Want To Take You Higher
10. You Don't Tell Me Everything
11. Cool People
12. Out Of My Mind
13. Prima Donna

MARILYN MANSON - LEST WE FORGET THE BEST OF

The one thing I've always loved about Marilyn Manson is what I call the great "galloping" drum beats they sometimes use. Adam and the Ants championed the loping drum sound back in the 80's and Marilyn picked up the banner for the 90's and 2000's. But that's not the only reason. I've also been drawn to the theatricality of this group. So much outrage over something so simple minded.

Marilyn Manson is one of those people who woke up one morning, looked out the window on his suburban neighborhood and said, "I'm gonna write and perform music based on everything a mother would hate." The band and songs were conceptually created to upset parents. In that sense alone, Marilyn Manson is a social experiment in modern parent/child relationships.

As a "Best Of" compilation, 'Lest We Forget...' fails to achieve a true "Best Of" title. I've always thought if you really wanted to create a "Best Of" record you'd let the hardcore fan base choose the tracklist. These are the people who would really have a say in what the best songs by the group actually are. In the grand tradition of record company formula releases, the "Best Of" is actually a single disc collection of released singles and oddities. But hardly represents the band's best work.

For the most part, I genuinely like the majority of the songs on this release. Marilyn Manson falls into a category of music I like to call "Go-Go Metal". Bands who use industrial beats and sounds, combined with new wave synthesizers, power chord guitar work and a theatrical approach to live performance. I've enjoyed bands in this genre for a long time. They have so many elements of entertainment I find exciting.

Considering I have all of Manson's albums, going through this disc song by song will be kinda pointless. Better by far to focus attention on the tracks that are safely assigned strictly to this release. The cover tunes are the most obvious. Depeche Mode's 'Personal Jesus' makes an appearance and the arrangement is fairly faithful to the original version. Of course the very subject matter and lyrics make it perfect for Manson's character to perform. In fact, after listening to his version, Martin Gore would have done better donating the tune to Manson first time around. It easily fits his image more than it ever fit theirs. And that's from a die-hard Mode fan.

Although Soft Cell's version is also a cover of the 1964 Gloria Jones classic 'Tainted Love', it's the first version of the song to gain any notoriety. Based on it's success, other bands have recorded the track or sampled Soft Cell's arrangement. From my understanding, Manson recorded this song for a movie soundtrack that used popular artists of the time covering 80s classics. Another track worth drawing some attention to is the cover of the Eurythmics classic 'Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)'. Although it appears on a regular album, it's interesting to see it among a compilation containing to many cover tunes.

I think I'd be interested in seeing Manson release an all cover tune record. He's done some brilliant covers. Like the cover of Danny Elfman's 'This Is Halloween' from Tim Burton's "The Nightmare Before Christmas" or David Bowie's 'Golden Years'. He's also performed live cover versions by other artists such as Madonna's 'Like A Virgin'. That would be an interesting CD.
My final word: TWO THUMBS UP. I quite like what's happening here. Great disc with some awesome tunes. Would be better if was titled 'Lest We Forget The Singles Of', but that's being nit picky (even if it is accurate).

MARILYN MANSON - LEST WE FORGET THE BEST OF
01. The Love Song
02. Personal Jesus
03. Mobscene
04. The Fight Song
05. Tainted Love
06. The Dope Show
07. This Is The New Shit
08. Disposable Teens
09. Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)
10. Lunchbox
11. Tourniquet
12. Rock Is Dead
13. Get Your Gunn
14. The Nobodies
15. Long Hard Road Out Of Hell
16. The Beautiful People
17. The Reflecting God

CLANNAD - BANBA

Clannad is an interesting band. Most Americans will recognize them as family members and former band of New Age celebrity, Enya. 'Banba' is an interesting album for a number of reasons. It shows more variety than some of their previous albums. You get some standard folk sounding material, a few adult contemporary numbers and some film scoring. It's a lovely blend and shows just how versatile Clannad can be.

My favorite songs are 'The Other Side', which has a catchy infectious hook that just doesn't quite, 'Banba Oir' a delicate yet peaceful song and 'I Will Find You'. 'I Will Find You' is similar in style to Clannad's arguably most famous track, 'Theme From Harry's Game'. It contains all of the depth and sincerity of the film and expresses itself in an intensity one can literally feel. There's great power there.

The other songs are all strong material. Certain ones are pleasing, others not so much, but one can't deny the talent here. The band is in perfect form and the vocals are flawlessly delivered for a perfect disc.

My personal tastes aside, I think this is easily one of Clannad's most accessible albums and one of the most popular with fans. You can't go wrong giving this disc a chance. My final word: HAUNTING.

CLANNAD - BANBA
01. Na Laethe Bhi
02. Banba Oir
03. There For You
04. Mystery Game
05. Struggle
06. I Will Find You (Theme From 'The Last Of The Mohicans')
07. Soul Searcher
08. Caide Sin Do'n Te Sin
09. The Other Side
10. Sunset Dreams
11. A Gentle Place