Customer Reviews

Big

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is Macy's first album since 2003's "The Trouble With Being Myself", the release of a greatest hits compilation, and the supposed demise of her career. The collaborations with producer will.i.am may not be that different from her previous releases, but for Macy fans, more of the same is a good thing.

BIG consists of 12 new songs. Disc packaged in clear jewel case; total running time: 43:54. Booklet includes song lyrics, song credits, and several "Technicolor" photos of Macy (her Thanks includes a statement of support for Barack Obama).

Her "collaborations" are similar to those on "The id" - Natalie Cole and Fergie do little more than sing backing vocals; wil.i.am performs a short rap. I must admit the songs Justin Timberlake co-wrote and co-produced (4, 10) are some of the stronger tracks. The reported/rumored rap by Nas is not on "Ghetto Love".

Interestingly, the songwriting credits are given to Natalie Hinds - the civilian name of singer Macy Gray. The album packaging does not indicate "explicit lyrics" and listening to the album reveals no presence of anything truly explicit. Oddly, the printed lyrics include so-called profanity not heard on the disc.

This is a must-have for those of us who appreciate Macy's voice, enjoy Macy's music, and just dig Macy.

I'm excited about this CD! Macy has outdone herself!! I am happy to say that it is FILLED with great music. The songs are beautifully done...creative, unique, relatable, and thought provoking . Macy is Macy at her best. There are a few songs that made me laugh out loud, like "Treat Me Like Your Money" (I wish I had thought of that)...and "Strange Behavior", which is in classic Macy Gray style. I have 8 strong favorites on this CD; you can just put this CD on 'repeat' and let it go...There are a few songs that will be placed on the Female Anthem List, like "Finally Made Me Happy", "Shoo Be Doo", and "Okay"...I've been a Macy Gray fan for a while, and I feel this CD will have me saying "See, I told you, she's great" to a lot of people who didn't get her music before now ...Please, pick this one up...you won't be disappointed.

I have to say that one thing that bothers me about the user reviews I'm seeing online is a complete lack of understanding of the history of Macy's music. I read one review where the user complained about The Id and The Trouble with Being Myself as being copies of each other, while inferior to On How Life Is.

There is one string of common truth throughout these reviews in that there are similarities between albums - but those conclusions are based on superficial observations.

If you deconstruct all of the albums, there are several long-running parallels - one of the major reasons that I'm so pleased with all of the albums. This is not a process of carbon copying - this is a process of creating and sustaining artistic motifs that are very unique and creative. These motifs comprise the qualities that distinguish Macy Gray from ALL of her contemporaries.

We have appearances of song types that become her motifs... for example, we have I've Committed Murder, Gimme all Your Lovin or I Will Kill You, My Fondest Childhood Memories, and Strange Behavior appearing on the four albums respectively. People - this is a motif - this is a consistent delivery from Macy to her listeners. This motif of killing folks as extreme acts of love and/or desperation is a comedic element - it's funny. It's not supposed to be taken literally (as was a critique from one reader on Strange Behavior).

We also have other such motifs as I Can't Wait to Meetchu, My Nutmeg Fantasy, Every Now and Then, and Everybody - across the four albums respectively. Listen to the songs... they all appeal to that same universal "I can jam to this" feeling. They generally have upbeat themes that are inspiring and make you feel good when you listen to them. Plus, the lyrics are all positive and about having a good time - and here's an important message from Macy - be yourself '

Other motifs include baladesque songs such as Still, Please Don't Come Around, She Ain't Right For You, and Glad You're Here. Not of the exact same message, but invoking sentimental emotions from the listener.

Now - in light of just these brief analogies, I want to emphasize the factors about what has happened to Macy Gray that really makes me sad as a devoted fan. I firmly believe that sales screeched to a halt because The Id was released one week after 9/11. If the first album had 3.5 million sales (no reference, I saw that on the web), and the Id had only .5 million sales, the 9/11 argument seems reasonable. After all, it's not like there weren't any hits off of The Id - it's just that the country was preoccupied. Time passed by, and the The Trouble with Being Myself, which was a perfectly brilliant album, chocked full of new material (very catchy, yet original - no good reason for insufficient marketing, airplay, etc.) was overshadowed by the hiatus between albums, and the declined sales from the The Id.

Flash forward to Big - another awesome album, somewhat subverted with all the collaborations which did nothing to help promote the album (evidently), and again, we have the problem of lousy marketing, NO airplay, no nothing. Why? I honestly don't get it... I can't help but track these recurring, unfounded gripes about The Id and The Trouble With Being Myself - almost as if to say that Big is a day late and a dollar short, albeit Macy's "best work to date."

I would agree that Big has many awesome qualities and is a terrific album, especially if you compare it to other modern releases... but I don't think it's the best work to date, and I think all of her "fans" and collaborating artists have abandoned her. I think it's mostly a lack of effort more than anything - effort to look out for concert dates (and buy tickets to them), effort to peek in for new releases, effort to look for her in the box office (she's a great actor and should be in more movies), and so on. I don't think that some of the Big collaborations necessarily hurt the quality of each song, but I do think that those appearances were made in order for her record label to better market the material, emphasizing will.i.am, Timberlake, Nas, Fergie, etc.... But I have not seen those individuals in the maintstream talking about the album, promoting sales, or even doing inclusive tours - why? I don't know... maybe they don't want to get too original, floating off into music "Oblivion." Maybe those cuts are too far away from cookie cutter... It's just really strange.

So rather than post garbage about comparisons to previous albums (really just showing a lack of artistic/creative understanding), why not make more effort to support an artist who we all love? I saw the Big concert when it toured through Baltimore - it was awesome, as were the Brand New Heavies, the opening act (another underrated talent). My only complaint about the show was that more people should have been there. And they would have been if even one local station played just one of the singles released - Finally Made Me Happy on the airwaves for a couple weeks would have been sufficient to pack the house.

I never really listened to Macy, she seemed so far away from reality no maybe sanity. Giving the CD a chance was a wise decision. I even went back and borrowed some of her past albums, not bad-to say the least. What ever you may have thought about Macy this CD will either confirm what you have always known or make a liar out of your doubt for her talent. Good music, wonderful lyrics. There is something here for everyone and I believe that you will not be disappointed.

In my humble opinion, the first five songs and the ninth song on this CD have the potential to become classics. ! (That is, if radio weren't in the dire--recycled, bubble gum music--state that it is in...). These tracks are absolutely fabulous! The only reason that I didn't give the CD the full five stars is that the remaining songs are a bit bizarre to me. Perhaps they'll grow on me. But the tracks that are good put this CD on top and make it well worth your buy. And the duet with Natalie Cole is a pure treat. Trust me, this CD will NOT disappoint. Macy IS back!

This album is one of those albums you can pop in your cd and dont even have to hit Skip. I love how her personality comes out in this album. All the songs are completely different but they all seem to have one comon thread which is they all fit righ in with the album. No songs felt out of place. No adays it very very hard to fine a great produced album. Its rare. Its as rare as finding a white lion. I loved that some of the songs was witty. I loved that they all was artistic but they still had a theme not like some songs that dont have any themes that just ramble about things like putting a paraphrase about chicking soup with your dead dog dying. It doesn't make sense but all the songs had a theme and developed those themes quite well. I didn't really expect this album to be this great. Some albums take a long time to grow on you but for me this album grew on my right away i didn't have to listen to it like a 1000 times for it to grow on me. This is what great music is all about.

I heard of Macy Gray by accident. Jimmy Kimmel had her as a guest on his show and she sang, Sho be do from this album, Big. I said who is that? Bought the CD and loved it. Macy Gray is ecclectic and the music and words are so different; sort of blusy and jazzy. I don't understand why more of her music isnt played on the radio.

I give this 5 stars....1-5 definite good singles...

This being my first Macy Gray album, I cannot compare to previous albums. Nonetheless, I am thoroughly pleased with the entire CD! I cannot believe this album didn't blow up. It's excellent. I don't know if it was marketing because seems like I saw Macy on EVERY iPod billboard/commercial/ad during that time.

I am so glad I picked this up. I look forward to hearing more form Macy. I'm waiting to receive her other 3 CDs. Whether they're similar or different at least she has her own sound.

Fave tracks:
* Finally Made Me Happy
* Shoo Be Doo
* One For Me
* Okay
* What I Gotta Do
* Honorable Mention - Strange Behavior (funny and I like it)

Happy listening!

I heard Finally Made Me Happy and I was hooked. I grabbed a copy of her CD and found this to be one of those few CDs I can play straight through and enjoy. The music does have a little bit of an old school feel which I like. The lyrics are great. My favorites are Slowly, Okay, Treat Me Like Your Money and What I Gotta Do. You have to hear Strange Behavior. Too often I buy CDs which end up having only one or two songs I like but Macy Gray's Big has plenty of great tracks and is well worth the money.

I bought Macy's first two albums and haven't bought a cd by her since. But after hearing her perform on TV this week I had to buy the new cd "BIG". What a treat! It is 10 times better that her first two cds. And they were good too....But BIG is full of unique rhythmn, neat fresh lyrics, unique ideas and just plain fun.Justin Timberlake even helped on one of the songs as did Natalie Cole and others. Its a good cd. If you liked her first cd...I think you'll love this one.