Amen

Paula Cole | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 28, 1999)
• Original Release Date: September 28, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Warner Bros / Wea
• ASIN: B00001P4OQ
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (110 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #184,952 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Paula Cole's third release is a lesson in sticking to what you know. A trained jazz vocalist, Cole uses this studied vocal styling with great affect. Never overusing her vibrato, she breathes a unique and emotional character into each song with a well-placed whisper, unexpectedly powerful crescendo, or a desperate, aching wail. One moment she portrays a freestyling beat-poet rapper ("Rhythm of Life"), the next a tragically downtrodden blues mamma ("La Tonya"). She also knows how to produce a song. On "Free," sitar uncoils behind a scrim of dark ethereal notions. The title track has bright acoustic-guitar melodies dancing on shimmering synths that resonate like the rim of a crystal water glass caressed by a wet fingertip. Throughout, she builds a foundation of sprawling, blooming musicality adapted from her preceptor Peter Gabriel. But lyrically, Cole slips into her bad habit of harping on the obvious. On "Amen" a DJ's scratch flips a switch in the middle of the song where Cole begins spouting a list of notorious characters in need of repentance, citing Saddam Hussein, Jack Kevorkian, O.J. Simpson, and all Reagan-era republicans. Exhibiting a Jewel-esque naiveté on "Be Somebody," she advises, "In the face of totality, show the other cheek." The lyrics are trite, but after a few listens, they're a minor distraction from the mighty-fine body of music contained in this release. Amen to that. --Beth Massa

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Surprising but inspiring shift in musical direction, October 27, 1999

By 

Rashida (Pittsburg, Ca United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Amen (Audio CD)

This album is a reflection of Paula Cole's true transformation. I think her second album "This Fire" is about a woman coming to terms with her own fears, anger, desperation, and lost of faith. "Amen" is about a woman deciding to take a more spiritual path. I think the album is beautiful in its own right. Her vocals are breathtaking and the best songs on the album are "Pearl, Be Somebody, I believe in Love, and Rythym of life.

I think she will recieve a lot of criticism for her move towards a more spiritual approach to life but I think that is part of being a true artist. I loved her rage and cynicism on "This Fire" but I must admit, I am really pleased to listen to songs filled with hope and vision. I could see her shifting into soulful music on tracks from "This Fire". One that comes to mind is "Feeling love". It shouldn't be such a surprise to everyone. Paula Cole has said in many interviews that her biggest influence is Aretha Franklin.

It will take an open heart to understand Paula's message. It doesn't take a genuis to be angry and filled with rage but it truly takes a humble person to find the courage to sing about faith and love in a time of faithlessness. Cheers to Paula Cole!!!!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A very pleasant ride, April 3, 2000

By 

M. J. Loux "Professional Geek" (Caribou, ME USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Amen (Audio CD)

I have listened to the album 3 times or so at the time of this review (track 3 is currently spinning in my PC), and so far have enjoyed it thoroughly.

I was a bit taken aback by the occasional DJ scratching and Bone Thugs style rapping on track 6, but then again this IS Paula Cole we're talking about, who isn't afraid to try anything. Thank God she decided to forego the screaming route she went with 2 tracks off of This Fire.

Musically, this album isn't quite as dynamic as This Fire; I would put it at about the same level as her first album, the extremely-underrated Harbringer.

All in all, this is a very good album. My personal high points are the title track, which is simply beautiful (though a tad preachy), and Free, with its lovely combination of strings and sitar. Add to that a very throaty contralto and you've got some good listening. Nuff said.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Just not as good as previous efforts, December 9, 2003

By 

Annaliese von Sieb (Midwestern U.S.A.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Amen (Audio CD)

Harbinger and This Fire are great- very original. The first time I listened to this CD, I realized that I had stopped listening after the 2nd or 3rd track. The songs were just not as distinct as those on her first two albums.