Defying Gravity

Cheryl Wheeler

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 8, 2005)
• Original Release Date: February 8, 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Philo / Umgd
• ASIN: B000784WQ8
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #90,005 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Few folk albums indulge in mood swings more severe than the ones on Defying Gravity. "A woman my age, sittin' here cryin'" are the first words Cheryl Wheeler sings on her first album of new material in six years. During the next four older-but-sadder songs, bittersweet is as chipper as it gets. Even the comparatively sunny "Summer's Almost Over" finds the veteran troubadour confiding "I'm crying but I don't know why." But then comes the Caribbean lilt of the title track--written by Jesse Winchester--and the mood lightens, as the instrumental "Clearwater, Florida," and the jazzy syncopation of "Here Come Floyd" continue to chase the clouds away. By the time the album shifts into a couple of live tracks of Wheeler regaling the audience with the cell-phone absurdities of "It's the Phone" and the travails of air travel in "On the Plane," she has her crowd on the verge of tears of laughter. As the reflective "Alice" and redemptive "Blessed" attest, Wheeler is a folksinger for all emotional seasons. --Don McLeese

Product Description
With six years having past since Wheeler's last full-length studio collection (1999's Sylvia Hotel), the much-anticipated Defying Gravity overflows with a wealth of exquisitely crafted, powerfully resonant original songs. While her compositions have been recorded by artists as diverse as Suzy Bogguss, Garth Brooks, Bette Midler, and Linda Thompson, Wheeler's burnished alto, nimble guitar playing, and sly sense of humor insure that she will always be her own best interpreter. Standout tracks on Defying Gravity, like the bittersweet "Summer's Almost Over," the aching opener "Since You've Been Gone," and the careful character study "Alice," are defined equally by Wheeler's gifts as a writer and performer. "On the Plane" and "It's the Phone," both recorded live in concert at the now-defunct Bottom Line in New York City, are priceless examples of Wheeler the satirist. Taken as a whole, Defying Gravity paints a portrait of a performer and composer continuing to discover rewarding new avenues in her finely-developed craft.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A celebration of life in a terrific melodic series of songs , February 9, 2005

By	S. Dressel "contemporary folk lover" (Littleton, CO) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Ms Wheeler's newest CD, Defying Gravity, contains many songs of heart aching loveliness,being more family centered than previous albums. Her first song, Since you've been Gone, about her father's death and the feelings remaining,is so moving in its homage to him and the raw pain that one feels at the loss of a loved one,the listener may find themselves mesmerized. But there are more wonderful ones to come.
These songs are all about connections whether longterm or brief, which the exception of a few humorous songs about the tribulations of life that we all encounter.
There are many more standout songs on this album, but the haunting song, This is Me, captures the quality of this wonderful singer/songwriter's character, as she comforts a lover after they have broken up with "There are no bridges burning between us".
Duke Levine on electric guitar, and Kenny White on piano provide much of the wonderful background accompaniment for this production. Lucy Kaplansky and Jonatha Brooke are two of the singers that add harmonic highlights.
In the works for a number of years, Defying Gravity is an extremely satisfying musical experience, and well worth the wait by her numerous fans.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Motivating, inspiring and entertaining, March 1, 2005

By	J. Ross "a-music_fan" (Roseburg, OR USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Playing Time - 44:04 -- Dreamy electric guitar tones open "Defying Gravity," singer/songwriter Cheryl Wheeler's first studio album since 1999. With the exception of Jesse Winchester's title cut, all songs were written by Wheeler, and the six-year wait is well worth it. While a singer/songwriter could fall into the trap of rushing out mediocre material to meet self-imposed deadlines, Cheryl's new masterfully crafted songs are clearly ready for release. Her lyrics color some intriguing auralscapes. Some of her songs are somber meditations about life, and the CD's jacket gives us all the lyrics to read and reflect upon.

Sung from the heart, Cheryl's themes revolve around loneliness brought on by the death of her father ("Since You've Been Gone"), heartache ("Must Be Sinking Now"), and inner turmoil ("Beyond the Lights"). "Summer's Almost Over" is a sad nostalgic tale of a season changing and time passing. "On the Plane" and "It's the Phone" are both funny and cynical pieces that were recorded live at The Bottom Line in New York. With wry wit, she's full of humorous lines like "The air that you're breathing's been re-circulating since Orville and Wilbur were boys..." And the song is nice respite even though it was dropped from her setlist for quite some time following 9/11.

"Alice" describes a hardworking Minnesota campground host and hotel desk clerk who is full of wanderlust. An instrumental, "Clearwater, Florida," allows Cheryl to showcase her fine and delicate fingerpicking. Somewhat of a concept album, "Defying Gravity" has a more laid-back and somber tone than some previous releases. She seems more serene, thoughtful and introspective with this project. Tasteful use of guitar, percussion, bass, vibes and keyboards permeates the instrumentation.

"Defying Gravity" is a very strong album with plenty of good lyrics and music to ponder. After listening to a nostalgic closing piece like "Blessed," one will want to reflect upon their own childhood memories and of Jesus and his love. Thus, Cheryl Wheeler succeeds in motivating, inspiring and entertaining us with her music. (Joe Ross, Roseburg, OR.)

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tears And Laughter, October 2, 2005

By	Mark D. Prouse "Dustyart" (Riverdale (Bronx), NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Cheryl Wheeler possesses one of the most beautiful and distinctive voices in the music business, and has (especially for these times) that rarest of talents: she writes memorable, TUNEFUL songs. Compelling lyrics are fairly common among the many accomplished "contemporary folk" artists working today. I would even venture to say that "poetry," as opposed to mere jingle-writing, is pretty much expected of anyone looking to rise above the crowd (and it is an ever-expanding crowd). But few have the ability to compose melodies that match or exceed lyrical content. A handful of artists are distinguishing themselves these days in this respect (Dar Williams, John Gorka, Lucinda Williams and Eliza Gilkyson come most immediately to mind), and many of them, like Cheryl Wheeler, have been toiling at the fringes of commercial success for quite a few years. Thankfully, Wheeler and Co. do not seem to care much about the mainstream, and those of us who value music that rises above the usual type of dopey love song that tends to make it into the Top 40, are all the richer for it. Not that Ms. Wheeler does not write about love. It is one of her main subjects, and among her loveliest songs are compositions about every kind of love; they are thoughtful and personal and deep, and have the ability to draw tears from a grown man. This grown man, anyway. On DEFYING GRAVITY, which contains a collection of the most gorgeous melodies she has ever written, Cheryl Wheeler is found at the top of her game. "Little Road," in which Wheeler wonders "how can there be trouble in this world," while marveling at the blissful flow of nature, is heartbreaking, and more potent than any political rant could ever be. "Alice" is equally moving, about a middle-aged woman who becomes nomadic after the death of her husband. "Summer's Almost Over" is of a type of song that Cheryl Wheeler has made her own particular specialty: careful yet emotional observation of the changing seasons, and of nature in general. This one is among her most quietly powerful, and I can't imagine anyone with a heart in their chest not being moved by it.

No losers here, but there is an awkward juxtaposition, as in most of Cheryl's albums, of gorgeous songs with very funny ones. She has a bit of a split personality, and her humor is by turns hilarious and scathing. This "other" Cheryl is best seen and heard live, and, indeed, the satyrical songs on her albums are often from concert performances, as are "It's The Phone" and "On The Plane," included on DEFYING GRAVITY. Thank you, Cheryl, for so perfectly articulating the outrage so many of us feel at the many rude, loud cell phone users that we all encounter on the train, on the bus, in crowds.

There is no such thing as a bad Cheryl Wheeler album, but if you've never explored the worlds of Cheryl Wheeler, this is as good a place as any to start. Simply brilliant.