Customer Reviews

Believe (II)

5 star:		(37)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I've read through some of these reviews - both good and bad. It's my belief that if reviews are strictly based on high personal expectations, or comparisons to unlike genres from where the product actually fits, they are not helpful (at least to me). This is not a blues cd, nor does it try to be. It's not Clapton, Santana or the like. It is a pop album.

I cannot review Orianthi's pontential talent or previous exhibitions of her talent. I can, however, say that this pop music album is good. Her vocals are really good. How often do you encounter a truly gifted instrumentalist with a really pleasing voice? Sometimes, at best.

The song selections are "catchy." I am a middle-aged adult who really likes a broad spectrum of music. I can't say that there is any innovation in the lyrics or melodies, but I can either listen to or have this music "playing the background" and enjoy it equally.

Of course, her guitar playing abilities are amazing. Knowing that it is the vocalist who is actually the guitarist as well is what, I feel, sets this pop album apart from the rest that have been mentioned in other reviews, i.e. Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood.

For what this is - a popular music album, with the intent probably being more profitability rather than critical acclaim - it's really good.

Ok, yes this is basically a pop album, albeit one that rocks. A few reviewers seem to have a problem with that. The thing about Orianthi's pop is that just underneath is some real scorching guitar work. It's been noted that she should have released a guitar instrumental or a harder album. For right now I think she did exactly the right thing for her career. She wants to be heard and also be known as a guitarist. I think if she would have realeased just an instrumental album, she wouldn't have been able to reach a very wide audience. She's got the chops to do anything she wants, but first she's got to get the audience, and I think this root will do that. Everyone forgets that Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana, even Eddie Van Halen have put out a lot of "pop" songs. It gets you heard.

The thing I like is that an Album like this one can bring good guitar back into the mainstream. So what if it's being done by a 24 year old Aussie girl, who likes a great pop hook. To me it's her playing that matters. and man, can she play. Yeah the songs are a bit reminiscent of other current girl pop rock, but the huge difference is her guitar work is front and center, even with the pop veneer. Give it a listen, and think about where a talent like Orianthi's is going to go. This album will get her noticed and who knows what's next.

Every once in a while a truly clever and skilled album comes along. "BELIEVE" is such that album, with it's monster lyrics, and strategically placed guitar riffs. It has an '80's feel to it but yet when I listen to it many songs are Rock 'N' Roll even though Orianthi says it's a Pop/Rock album. For me I listen to the album almost every day. This album in a way reminds me of Taylor Swift's "Fearless" album as EVERY song is a Winner!!! If you like guitar in every song then this is the album for you. I really can't think of an album that is as good as "BELIEVE" on the racks right now. A little modern Rock 'N' Roll if you will.

This CD is a re-release of Believe. The main goal was to add more radio friendly songs and to make a more cohesive pop/rock CD.

Four new tracks. Shut Up and Kiss me, Courage, Missing you(John Waite Cover), and Addicted to love. Bad News and Think Like a Man got new treatments.

Three tracks were removed. Untogether, Drive away and God only knows. These are actually some of the best tracks on believe but were removed because they made shift in direction of the CD. Do check them out.

To review this CD as a whole you can't really judge this CD based on Orianth's potential or based on other genres. This was meant to be a commercial pop/rock CD and as such you won't find a pop/rock CD of this quality and force unless you go back to the 80s. What sets it apart from today's pack the is Orianthi's smoking guitar work and strong vocals. It's not often a vocalist is also a guitarist of the highest order.

Highlights include: According to you - a great pop/rock anthem, Suffocated - blistering guitar driven rock song, Courage - a sweet mid tempo ballad showcasing Orianthi's vocals, Highly Strung - epic guitar instrumental with Steve Vai, Addicted to love - fierce hard rock/pop/dance fusion.

The main reason to pick this up if you already bought believe is for the 4 new tracks. Well at first it would seem that this a deluxe version of her second album but if you look at the track list you notice that there are 3 tracks from the original release missing. If didn't buy the original when it came out and you dig the new single then by all means pick this up. I believe the reason it doesn't have the all tracks is because of universal's new policy of keeping there new standard release under ten dollars. I mean which is fair. So do recommend this album because it is a great mix of radio friendly songs and guitar driven tunes. The price isn't too expensive so that is why I have given this re-release a 4 star review.

This is a fantastic CD. I had not heard any of Orianthi's music prior to her being part of Michael Jackson's movie and on a local radio station promoting this new CD. I really enjoyed her interview on the radio and listening to her play a few of the songs from this album. I immediately went to Amazon and purchased this. I am so glad I did. I have listened to it over and over several times. There are so many great songs and her guitar playing is phenomenal. You will not be sorry buying this CD.

To really appreciate how great Orianthi is, you have to check out a wide array of videos perhaps on YouTube (where I watched a bunch). Witnessing what she is capable of and the sounds out of her guitar...and she's a decent vocalist too for that matter, put me at ease that she is the real deal.

This CD to me can be perceived in a variety of ways, some may say she is just another cookie cutter artist doing commercial pop rock that is oversaturated as it is, that she is being molded into something she is way above. If you judge it by the title track and the According To You single maybe it is, but it does have a edgy rock sound to it for the most part also in places...maybe she was swayed astray a bit for a majority of the CD and it's sounds, but you have to admire her versatility as an artist to create yet another dimension to her catalog. On the surface it seems a bit more polished in places than the "Violet Journey" CD, to me she has already given us plenty of signs that she is in no way one dimensional.

That all being said, there is alot to like here, "According To You" is the catchy single with a bit more guitar than the average pop rocker, not really into female artists who do songs like these overall, so I can't tell you what other songs are on those types of albums, but I would assume none of them can handle the guitar like Orianthi, and don't have a bunch of hard rockers mixed into syruppy ballads.

What I like about the Cd is the up tempo rockers for the most part...you've got "What's It Gonna Be" which reminds me of a young Lita Ford; and there's the intrumental "Highly Strung" which if you know Steve Vai's work, you can imagine how good this is.
Other favs include "Think Like A Man", "Bad News", "Suffocated", and can't leave out what I believe she said was the first song she wrote after arriving in the States from Australia in "Feels Like Home" which is a beautiful song that starts slow, and developes nicely, has a nice solo...pretty sure this falls under the "not many other of her contemps are gonna do this....this good.
The song "God Only Knows" is a very good vocal effort I think and a nice song also.


To me there is a difference here that as said you get the real deal doing what many female artists can do only. When many female artists doing similar type music can only stand out front and sing only, how many can handle the guitar, play lead, crank out a quick fill, then launch effortlessly into a paint on the wall melting solo if necessary too?...not (m)any I bet. Orianthi does this as well as anybody, and switch gears to blues rock, or just shred (see her song for Steve Vai)...you name it the sky is the limit to what she may be able to do and accomplish.

Perhaps we need to embrace this talented young woman, and not overlook what is perceived as generic commercial pop rock, and realize just who is doing this in this case.

This is a great cd from a great musician
A bit "pop rock" in places but the guitar playing is fantastic especially on "Highly Strung" with Steve Vai
Orianthi can sing as well which makes a pleasant change.
This is a re-release of her debut album, and in my opinion slightly better as it contains the last single ("shut up and kiss me") as well as "according to you" and "highly strung" as well as a good cover of 1984 hit "missing you" by John Waite. "Think like a man" is a bit more rocked up as is "addicted to love", but there isnt really a poor track on the disc
Think Avril Lavigne / Kelly clarkson with a bit more edge on the guitar and your close to Orianthi.
Highly recommended, but be warned, its far cheaper (almost £15 cheaper in fact) to order from Amazon.com direct rather than get the import version via Amazon.co.uk

Although I am not a guitar player, I can appreciate the amazing skills of this young shredder! Orianthi rocks, and the CD was not a disappointment. The music was rock and roll to the bone! She plays alongside Steve Vai and is every bit as good. She can also sing, and provides hard hitting vocals to her guitar wizardry! And, she is easy on the eyes to boot!! Anyone wishing to be inspired by such a talented woman should get this CD, and be wowed!!

Yeah, so...seriously, what's not to like? The girl can sing, play the guitar, play the bass. Most of all, she can put it all together well.

Yeah, look, some if not most of the songs may seem too 'pop' for some ppl, but we just have to put the musician's intent in mind when reviewing. pop may be her focus in this album, but as she has said, there is something for everyone. namely, an instrumental track, a bluesy track, some ballad tracks, etc. she wanted to appeal to a wider audience in her sophomore album, is that so bad? that doesn't means she won't go in a narrower direction next time. if she does, then great, that shows her versatility. if she doesn't, then maybe she found a way to improve on her 'pop' songs. but in any event, this album is very well done and is very much in keeping with what she was trying to accomplish. so yes, thumbs up for me!