Believe

Orianthi, Orianthi | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 26, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Geffen Records
• ASIN: B002NPUCP8
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (82 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #75,909 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. According to you

2. Suffocated

3. Bad news

4. Believe

5. Feels like home

6. Think like a man

7. What's it gonna be

8. Untogether

9. Drive away

10. Highly strung

11. God only knows

Editorial Reviews

2009 release from the Australian guitarist of Greek ancestry. She learned to play the acoustic guitar at six, started electric when she was 11 and left school at 15 to focus on writing songs and performing. Orianthi has toured with Steve Vai, had a song in a Bratz movie and played at the Eric Clapton Crossroads Guitar Festival. She also performed at the 2009 Grammy Awards with Carrie Underwood. After that performance, Underwood invited her to become a member of her band. She was Michael Jackson's lead guitarist and was present for all rehearsals for the This Is It tour before his death. She replaced Jennifer Batten who had performed with Jackson for almost a decade.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

62 of 68 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Let's compare apples to apples... February 23, 2010

By A. Pappas

Format:Audio CD

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.

32 of 38 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Pop with an edge November 24, 2009

By Michael Kusmierz

Format:Audio CD

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.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Unknown Surprize! February 11, 2010

By Kies

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

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.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Orianthi "Believe II" August 6, 2010

By Stidger

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

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 Ł15 cheaper in fact) to order from Amazon.com direct rather than get the import version via Amazon.co.uk

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Ori December 16, 2009

By Steven Swan

Format:Audio 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. Read more ›