Crossing

Sophie B. Hawkins | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 28, 2012)
• Original Release Date: 2011
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rocket Science
• ASIN: B005K15S92
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Someday you'll find out who you really are. July 27, 2012

By Jason Stein VINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

Back in April 1992, Sophie B. Hawkins released her first single "Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover" and then promptly disappeared before a belated hit single from her ignored second album "Whaler" hit the top 10 in 1996 ("As I Lay Me Down") and then she promptly disappeared for good. An absolute crime. I couldn't tell you why the public turned their backs, but I know that the record company did little to promote Hawkins, and that surely played a part in sending her into obscurity.

I bought her debut "Tongues And Tails" and thought it was reasonably good, but for some reason I ignored "Whaler" until I heard "As I Lay Me Down". Her first two albums are my favorites. She really had something going vocally and musically and the lyrics were good too. "Timbre" and "Wilderness" not as much.

So, after eight years, Hawkins releases her fifth album "The Crossing". Right off the bat I noticed her raw and ragged vocals. At first I thought she had lost her voice, but with repeated listening I thought maybe she intended to sound this way. The lyrics here are some of her best, though the music isn't always up to par. There are many ballads on "The Crossing", more than on any other album of hers. I was hoping for more, but with repeated listening I learned to enjoy her latest release.

There are 13 tracks plus four bonus tracks. Of the initial 13, I felt "Betchya Got A Cure For Me" and "Heart & Soul Of A Woman" were likely the weakest offerings. I might add "I Don't Need You" to that list as well. Those three songs just were lacking for me.

The traditional gospel track "Sinnerman" was interesting, something Hawkins hadn't tried before and it worked very well. And then you have ballads, the best of which are likely "The Land The Sea And The Sky" about environmental pollution, but even more compelling is "Missing", "Life Is A River" and "Miles Away" and even "Red Bird"--all of which deal with relationships with family or friends and dealing with life. Those songs are some of Hawkins best in her career. Unfortunately, she does not sustain this for the entirety of the album.

The bonus tracks are an alternate version of "Betchya Got A Cure For Me"--which is superior to the first version in every way (and in my opinion you could toss away the first version and be no worse for it). Then you have an acoustic version of "Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover" which works surprisingly well as an acoustic ballad. I would not have thought about the arrangement that way, but Hawkins makes it work extremely well. Not so much for "As I Lay Me Down" which is also acoustic. However, since it was already a ballad to begin with, it's not much a stretch here and just ends up sounding much like the original--and I prefer the original with all its bells and whistles. Finally, there's the demo version of "Missing" which isn't that different from the album version and it's just as good.

So at first I wasn't sure I was going to like "The Crossing" as it felt under-produced and lacking in strong melodies, but with repeatedly listening the rewards grew substantially. However, the album is uneven and does not surpass her best works, 1992's "Tongues & Tails", 1994's "Whaler" or even 1999's "Timbre", but it is an improvement over the dreadful 2004 "Wilderness". So, if you are a long time fan like myself you will probably like "The Crossing" and should pick it up.

Here's how "The Crossing" compares to Hawkins' other works:

1992 Tongues & Tails: Four Stars
1994 Whaler: Four Stars
1999 Timbre: Three and a Half Stars
2004 Wilderness: Two and a Half Stars
2012 The Crossing: Three and a Half Stars

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Not feeling it. October 24, 2012

By Houstonian

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

I was looking forward to a new Sophie CD and when I stumbled across it on Amazon I so excited. Upon first listening to it I was kind of disappointed. As another person posted, I too felt it was under produced. Her voice sounds great and she is not lacking in that department. She is still the awesome artist she has always been. The thing I am a bit disappointed in, is the fact that all the songs are very similar and it sounds as just one long song. I know she was maybe going for a more raw stripped down sound and I have no problem with that, however all the material tends to almost overlap and if it wasn't for the stereo/mp3 player track number, I would think I was still listening to the first song after 20 minutes into the Album. Even the album cover has an almost lazy appearance and nothing to get excited about. I am a HUGE Sophie fan and always will, just had to share my thoughts on this work. I will sit back and listen to it some more hoping that maybe a few more spins will make it grow on me. I am really trying to like it more. Hopefully she can come up with some more material sooner than later. ALL her previous work have been fantastic!

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Mature, Sophisticated and Spiritual with the crown jewel, "Miles Away" June 21, 2012

By Director

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

Sophie has always been a freedom-fighter, a true artist. Here she infuses jazz (even a little 'Summertime') with sweet-rock and spirituals.
"Miles Away" is the crown jewel - a classic that will be loved if not now, later. It is amazing and soulfully organic. Great album, you can tell there was absolutely no pressure, it was built in the right time with the right mood. The way true art gets created!