Customer Reviews

A Better Man

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I FIRST HEARD BRIAN KENNEDY SING WHILE I WAS AT "RIVERDANCE" ON BROADWAY. BRIAN HAS THE MOST ANGELIC VOICE I HAVE EVER HEARD AND A STAGE PRESENCE THAT IS ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE. I IMMEDIATELY SEARCHED AMAZON.COM WHEN I REALIZED THAT BRIAN IS A SONGWRITER AS WELL AND PLATINUM OVER IN IRELAND. I CAN NOT STOP LISTENING TO THE MUSIC AS IT IS SO PEACEFUL AND MOVING AND THE LYRICS ARE SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL. I'M TRYING TO LOCATE BRIAN'S 2 OTHER RELEASES.

Well, what can I say?!!!! This album was thoroughly enjoyable. I have realised whilst listening to this album and the previous album, The Great War Of Words, that Brian's voice is very relaxing ; like some kind of meditation source. There are "no other words" to describe such an angelic voice which Brian is blessed with.

This man just can't do enough CD's. There's not enough of him out there. His voice would stop traffic. His looks would stun a population. His lyrics are food for thought (check out Get On With Your Short Life - listen up). I bought A Better Man about 3 years ago and it is still one of my favorites. I saw him in concert in Ireland last week and picked up his new one "Get On With Your Short Life" (title of CD and song # 2). The guy was fab. I was used to being blown away by his voice on CD but live was just incredible. The guy is a performer and loves what he does. He stuck around afterwards so the fans could chat with him and take photos. I told him that "Captured" was my favourite song for the past 10 years and he genuinely responded that if he'd known that, he would have sung it during the concert (it was the only one they missed). He's got class, style, great looks, a voice that would raise the roof of the world, gifted writer... the list is truly endless.

I just wish more people knew of this wonder.

I first discovered Brian Kennedy when I purchased the Riverdance on Broadway CD and was totally smitten with his voice(thank goodness Riverdance introduced many of us in the States to this awesome performer and, oh, what I would have given to see him perform live in that show--Tsidii Le Loka who performed with him was great also and their duet at the end was awesome. I've yet to find anything by her.). I purchased 'A Better Man' recently and have been playing it non-stop since I received it (I'm playing it right now). I also searched his very nice website for other albums he has out and there are several. Wish Amazon would carry more of them since they're out there--hint, hint. From the 'Great War of Words' that came out in 1990 to 'A Better Man' which came out in 1996 (before he did Riverdance if I'm not mistaken), this man with the angelic, emotive voice has evolved in a wonderful way. It doesn't mean his earlier works aren't worth having. They are. I agree with another reviewer that at first the techno-pop sound of some of the instrumentation on 'A Better Man' was a little disappointing but it grows on you when you listen carefully. But this man doesn't need any instrumentation.....just his wonderful voice is all you need. A clear high tenor with the caliber of style that Brian has is a rare thing, a thing to be cherished. And it needs to be said that he was a performer in his own right before he ever did Riverdance. His voice just gets better as he gains experience. (His latest recording 'Get On With Your Short Life' promises to be a continuation of this man's love affair with music--another hint to Amazon.) I still can't say enough about his voice. It's amazing and I have been singing choral music all of my life so I know that any tenor is a rare thing but one with Brian's capability is a truly wonderful thing. And he writes pretty good lyrics too (actually they're great....lyrics are important) and I can't wait to see what direction he takes next. If you haven't already done so, buy this album now..after listening to it a couple of weeks straight I had to buy another one and send it to my mom.....mine never comes out of the CD player. Buy this album now. It is amazing.

I first heard Brian Kennedy by accident. My friend left his tape at my place, it was lying around for weeks before I even decided to play it. I was in the middle of painting my walls and when I first heard his voice I stopped and just stood there. I have never heard a voice filled with such emotion; such longing. Not only that, but the music itself is fantastic - the entire album! At every record store this album is significantly more expensive - so you're saving some dough through Amazon. Don't wait...indulge now.

After first hearing Brian Kennedy's outstanding soaring vocals backing up Van Morrison on "The Healing Game", I decided to buy this cd. I was not disappointed. This Irish tenor has a magnificent voice and style, rather unique and easily identifiable. It was a joy to see what he can do with his pure voice, especially on "Won't you Take me Home" and "Life, Love and Happiness"
My complaint about this cd is that on some songs the arrangement, some of it too techno, simply gets in the way of his marvelous voice. I wish there has been more simple arrangements, with a guitar, some simple instrument, so that it would be easier to hear him interpret lyrics...
and soar with his voice

Brian Kennedy's voice is ethereal, a thing of wonder. I first heard him in 1989 on his debut album "The Great War of Words" (presently out of print), and have been in love with his vocal instrument ever since. "A better man" shows him to be, in fact a better SONGWRITER than many of his contemporaries. The production on the album seldom interferes with the project's strengths -- the aforementioned talents of Mr. Kennedy -- although at times the synths get a bit heavy ("Life, Love and Happiness"), simultaneously upstaging the Belfast native's soaring tenor and grounding the sound clearly to its 1996 origin. This does not prevent me, however, from awarding the album a five-star rating.

I bought this cd in Dublin 3 years ago on a whim without having heard a single song and just loved it. I have been searching for more of his cds! Even after all this time, I still love to listen to this cd - he has an amazing voice and his songs are well written. It is a really relaxing cd to listen to.

brian, keep the arrangements simple. haven't you heard your own recording of 'Queen of the Slipsteam' what a masterpiece! it's you VOICE we want to hear.

A concert in Toronto where a bedazzling young Irishman was the opening act for Suzanne vega -- listening to Brian's crystalline, clear, octave leaping voice was mesmerizing to say the very least -- and this was for his first release, " The War of Words." Sadly, we on this side of the Atlantic lost touch with Mr. Kennedy until I read where one of his songs was on a soundtrack. After weeks of anxious waiting for yet another import order, I was reconnected with this angel who walks and more importantly sings among men. " A Better Man," while it is slightly over produced on some tracks, was instantaneously placed in my heart as yet another bewitching example of the sheer power that this more-than-easy-on-the-eyes Irishman is capable of. And indeed, there is yet a third release available entitled, " Goodbye To Songtown." I can only hope that the title is a mere play on words as a goodbye now would seem... sacrilege! If you haven't witnessed this man... do so now! Time is a wasting!