Look

Beth Nielsen Chapman | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 7, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Compass Records
• ASIN: B0007Y0914
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #105,197 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

From Amazon.co.uk

When it comes to pure and simple songwriting, few can rival Beth Nielsen Chapman, and Lookis another powerful addition to her cannon. So far, her work has been covered successfully by Faith Hill, Elton John, Bonnie Raitt and myriad others and her artist peers will surely find much to feed upon here. In a sense, it's a concept album, the concept being "love" in all its forms. Having recently recovered from breast cancer, Chapman is clearly ready to embrace humanity in all its flawed beauty. Thus we have tales of enduring love, love passed by, romantic love, destructive love, redemptive love and love for the dearly departed, all of them delivered with impressive warmth and charm. Importantly, they're all also performed deadly straight--thankfully, there are no vocal pyrotechnics to divert one's attention from the songs. And what songs they are, Chapman creating a smooth blend of country, pop, jazz and soft soul that's varied in style, tone and mood yet consistent in its excellence. Arguably, she's at her best when indulging her love for show tunes, as she does with the title track and the quiet, exotic "The Reason". --Dominic Wills

Product Description

Another superb album from the wonderfully talented BNC. As with "Sand & Water' (1997) & 'Deeper Still' (2002) the poignancy & feeling that can only truly come through personal experience is there for all those brave enough to let down their guards to feel. Encouragingly BNC is currently one of several superb singer-songwriters who are capable of consistent high-class output. One of several, but BNC is the best & this album is further proof. Sanctuary. 2004. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Day In Paradise, June 8, 2005

By 

Lee Armstrong (Winterville, NC United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Look (Audio CD)

Beth Nielsen Chapman's "Look" is another brilliant outing from this breathtaking singer. The British release on the Sanctuary label has been out for a few months. Finally the American release on the Compass label is here. For the U.S. release, they've added some sunrise colors on the horizon of the artwork. Three of the uptempo tracks frame the set for me. Beth who co-wrote the Faith Hill classic "This Kiss" shows she's still master of the addictive pop song hook on "Right Back Into the Feeling," a delightful sonic confection. (This is currently perched at #1 in my own personal top ten.) Joined by Michael McDonald on vocals, Beth belts out that addictive chorus that any sane radio programmer would die for, "Sends me right back into the feeling when the world melts under your touch, And you toss my heart into the ceiling, no reason not to fall in love." Like "Right Back Into the Feeling," "Free" was also written with Annie Roboff. Crystal Taliefero's percussion & Jerry Marotta's drums rock the driving beat while the joyful chorus that alludes to the Beatles' famous "Let It Be" anthem sends the track into the stratosphere, "And I've passed my graduation, I hold my Ph.D. in crash test blues, I've paid my dues." Co-written with Al Anderson & David Baerwald, "Will & Liz" has a pulsing beat, a searing electric lead by Tom Bukovac, and Beth's vocals oozing irony, "Sex, drugs, lies, Another day in Paradise, So wonderful, they don't think twice, calling it love." Beth also nails the slow lovely ballads. "Touch My Heart" is a eulogy with a lovely melody and Beth's vocals bubbling with emotion, "Sail on my love, life is only a blink in time, go on & show all those stars what it means to shine." "The Reason" written with David Wilcox is another lovely melody, "True love knows the song the wind has yet to play." There are no weak tracks on the CD. "Look" is another gem, a great follow-up to "Deeper Still," her previous set of original songs. Bravo!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Still moving souls..., November 1, 2005

By 

H. F. Zwick "Hudzon" (Wisconsin, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Look (Audio CD)

Again BNC ushers us into her world of melodious, heart-felt music and haunting lyrics. The first (Trying to Love You) and the last (I Found Your Love) are very typical BNC through and through. "Look" is a piece of remeniscence although too bluesy for my taste as "Right Back Into The Feeling" smacks of too much R&B and seems a bit unsuitable for BNC style. The longing for lost love is again relived in "Touch My Heart" and "Time Won't Tell" but BNC has that unmeasurable ability to put those undescribable feelings into music and words. This is another must for you BNC collection.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I love her belief in love beyond this physical world, November 14, 2004

By 

Valerie J. Grimes "Music, film, and book fanatic" (Phoenix, AZ United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Look (Audio CD)

This album is not yet readily available in the U.S. but it can be ordered through Amazon ... aren't we lucky! If you already know Beth's music you know it comes from her own experiences that she is open enough to share with us. This album finds Beth back "on her feet" after some tough times--sudden widowhood, then her own fight against breast cancer. These songs are full of her new life which includes good health, a new love and the continued pleasure of her son and friends. This album brings us sweet and bittersweet and those Beth songs that bring tears with her pure honesty and belief in love beyond this physical world. On this album you'll find some harmonies with Michael McDonald and a lovely composition that she co-wrote with Eric Kaz on which she shares the vocals with her now-grown son! (Your Love Stays) I always appreciate her lyric sheets for each song although she's very easy to understand. I highly recommend this CD as well as her entire catalogue!