Customer Reviews

Defying Gravity

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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.

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.)

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.

Cheryl Wheeler has a knack for infusing her songs with intense emotion using her voice alone. I was first attracted to her music through humorous songs like "Potato," but I've come to love the heart-breakers as well. Defying Gravity kicks off with one of those heart-breakers ("Since You've Been Gone"), and the pain in her voice is so evident that one can almost touch it. The CD then shifts into a contemplative picture with the song "Little Road," and the voice that was just wrought with pain is now full of hushed reverence.

Meandering on through the recordings of reflective moments and regret, as well as contented happiness, Defying Gravity lays out the depth and breadth of Wheeler's songwriting. Thrown in here and there are a couple of songs that comment on recent events ("Here Come Floyd") and some of the trials of modern life in America ("On the Plane"). Wheeler even delights those of use who enjoy her wit with a tribute to the classics in her commentary on cell phone ring tones ("It's the Phone").

All the way from heartache to whimsy, Wheeler takes us along the paths of life's journey.

Obviously, the several years since SYLVIA HOTEL haven't been wasted. This is one magnificent collection of songs...likely her best in a distinguished catalog of releases. The uber-romantic Cheryl is there in spades, wearing her heart on her sleeve as ever. The funny Cheryl is there, as well, especially in the live performances. But, the incredible writer is there, too, and even better than before. What she does with words--lots of words!--is amazing and that she can do all that and write gorgeous melodies at the same time. Almost miraculous. The first five songs--all hers--are of such a high standard that I expected the rest of the album had to fall off, somehow. Nope. She follows them with a beautiful cover of a beautiful Jesse Winchester song, the title tune, and has Lucy Kaplansky as her harmonizer. When you get a chance, go back and relisten to "Little Road," and "Alice." Poetic songwriting and non-navel-gazing storytelling don't get much better than this. "Little Road" may be her 9/11 and/or "anti-war" song but it's gorgeous and works on many levels. In "Must be Sinking Now," my favorite lines from a song (in a long time) appear: ""There's so much water under that bridge, it must be sinking now." The guitar and string work (Cheryl's and Duke Levine's) is amazing. She uses harmony singers beautifully (Lucy, Rachael Davis, Jonatha Brooke, and others) Even if you don't like her funny songs--and I do (how can one resist the brilliant "It's the Phone?")--there is so much else to admire and to generate goosebumps. Spectacular. Cheryl has always had and especially has on this album the ability to write sad songs which leave you feeling better. A wonderful talent.

After months of being unable to remove Cheryl Wheeler's Driving Home CD from my CD player years ago, I never really expected any of her newer albums, while excellent, to be able to hit the mark set by that album's sheer lyricism and poignancy. I was wrong. Defying Gravity pretty much matches it stride for stride. There are at least five "genius level" songs on it, in my view ("Alice", "Summer's Almost Over", "Here Come Floyd", "Little Road", and "Blessed"). I noticed how much I'd fallen in love with this album when my children asked me why I kept playing the same song over and over (in that case, it was "Summer's Almost Over", but "Alice" has evoked the same behavior in me). You honestly can't go wrong buying this album. Highly recommended.

Having been known to go without groceries to attend one of her concerts, and owning most everything she's ever recorded on CD, on tape or on VHS, I would describe myself as a Cheryl Wheeler fan. And I have never failed to find on each of her productions three or four "stop what you are doing and listen to this" songs--until now. Listening to "Defying Gravity" over and over again, I find the accompaniement over-produced, at times amateurish, and often irritating. While the songs are "nice", there are none that grab you by the collar and swing your attention around to them. But, it's still Cheryl--the images are as clear and sharp as ever, her playing is clean and pleasing, and her voice is still as smooth and as sweet as honey-wine--and for this alone could I recommend this CD to another of her fans. Yet there's a big something missing that I cannot quite find the words to describe--I'm listening to her CD, "and I'm crying but I don't know why..."

My name is Teresa.I really can sit and listen to this one over & over again. I have all her cd's & Cheryl continues to beat the best.......Try it. You will like it.

Critics try so hard to pigeonhole artists, and Cheryl Wheeler cannot be pigeonholed. Consequently, the reviews all sound the same, excellent songwriter but always broken hearts and funny performance tracks. They never get how the one relates to the other, nor, for that matter the incredible range of her subjects and how well she leaves them open to listener interpretation, the best signifier of an accomplished artist and poet. For example, on *Defying Gravity*, the same father we met for his birthday on "75 Septembers" back in 1993 on the *Driving Home* album, has passed on, and Wheeler sets the stage for *Defying Gravity* by laying her grief bare in "Since You've Been Gone." Having lost both parents myself in the years since her last album (*Sylvia Hotel*), I realized that this was the song I had been waiting to hear to help me with my grief. Then she reflects on the loss of another loved one in "Beyond the Lights," which uses the best sailing imagery since the Romantic poets. Not only is she taking us with her on a reflective journey that is similar to the reflections in which we find ourselves as we grieve, but long-time fans know this is an early treasure from her first release, no longer in print, and aptly titled "Newport Songs." It was actually "Beyond the Lights" that introduced me to Wheeler a number of years ago; A friend shared it on a mix tape because it described beautifully the confrontation with grief, guilt and mortality suicide survivors have, a struggle I was having myself upon the suicide of another dear friend. And having her share this lost treasure with her listeners was like the gift you receive at the wake that is the one perfect item that allows you to get through it all.

As she proceeds through *Defying Gravity* she provides more familiar touchstones, including the live tracks which are indeed usually very funny, but also very cogent and timely social commentary. And my experience of this album is that there is a deliberate message here, that we can defy the gravity of aging (literally and figuratively) if we stay engaged in the world around us, something she says she's not ready to do at the beginning of the album but demonstrates throughout that she was doing all along anyway. A sentiment to emulate by a wise woman and artist. Who is indeed one of the best singer-songwriters of her generation. The critics are definitely right about that.

I met her in the Medford, Oregon airport-what a delight. I looked her up on Amazon and fell in love with her music. She is absolutely wonderful...what a talent.