Hoodoo [Import, Original recording remastered]

Alison Moyet | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 29, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import, Original recording remastered
• Label: Castle
• ASIN: B0000AM78A
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #389,662 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Footsteps

2. It Won't Be Long

3. This House

4. Rise

5. Wishing You Were Here

6. Hoodoo

7. (Meeting With My) Main Man

8. Back Where I Belong

9. My Right Arm

10. Never Too Late

11. Find Me

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A voice found at last, July 7, 2004

By 

T. Kavanagh "tony" (Ireland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hoodoo (Audio CD)

Four years after her smash hit cover of Ketty Lester's "Love Letters", Alison Moyet heralded the release of her "Hoodoo" album with the searing "It Won't Be Long." It might have earned a Grammy nomination and critical kudos but it scared the bejaysus out of inane pop-pickers on playlist panels. So much so, in fact, that the two subsequent (and more commercial) A-sides from this set would be utterly sidelined.

Alison Moyet had clearly found her voice and a clear artistic vision. "Hoodoo" at once embraced her soulful roots, her pop sensibilities, a taste for shouty blues/rock and her unrivalled talent for smoky chanson. "Footsteps," with its soulful horn section and superglue hooks, slinkily opens proceedings before "It Won't Be Long" comes along to strip emotional paint. Next is the jewel in this album's crown, the hauntingly beautiful "This House." Imbued with longing and loss, it never once falters into saccharine balladry and its failure to become a global smash remains a mystery. It remains one of the very finest songs of Moyet's career. Elsewhere, the lilting "Wishing You Were Here," the skittering electro-reggae of the gorgeous "Back Where I Belong" and the strident pizzazz of the funky title track keep the standard at a very satisfying high.

Overall, "Hoodoo" is a very dark album. The feminist call-to-arms of "Rise" is bedded in a swampy arrangement and "My Right A.R.M." is a dense mood-piece. Closing the album is the gospel tinged "Find Me," which has `modern standard' written all over it.

It is a mark of this album's strength that, all these years later, it still packs a punch. True, some of the arrangements and production are `of their time' (`Never Too Late,' for instance) but the quality of the performances and the writing remains awe-inspiring. It is fair to say that the real Alison Moyet emerged with the release of this album. She found her voice and started to use it in fine style.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thank heavens, November 29, 2003

By 

"glamrwchry" (carrollton, tx United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hoodoo (Audio CD)

This cd is my first pick of must haves. "Alf" can pack more of an emotional whallop in one lyric than any of the "divas" of today could put in to an entire album. If you enjoy a deep voiced, powerful female vocalist, you are going to LOVE Alison Moyet and this, of all her albums, is the BEST. She belts out this emotional roller coster with such passion she will haunt your cd player for years. Unlike her following solo releases, this one is soulfully earthy and mostly accoustic sounding. Very different from her electronica albums. ( not that they're bad, just different) Try it, you're gonna fall in love.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I can't believe so many people missed out on this!!!!!!, February 16, 2005

By 

Jennifer J. Bailey (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hoodoo (Audio CD)

This is one of the best albums of all time. It's masterfully produced and it goes to show how someone can turn their struggle into beautiful art. She was going through a divorce while creating the album. You can see sorrow, cynicism, hope, joy, and revelation in her lyrics, which are then offered on the platter of her AMAZING vocals. Few artists have the weighty presence she does, which can't be ignored. These are the songs that joyfully stick in your head, making you wish you had the cd nearby. It's everything it should be--cathartic, inspirational, and energizing. For God's sake! Buy the album!!!!