Customer Reviews

Love is the Answer

5 star:		(158)
4 star:		(43)
3 star:		(27)
2 star:		(30)
1 star:		(14)

 

 

Taken as a whole, this album is stunning. But the revelation is DISC 2! I have been loving Barbra Streisand for ages. I remember when my mother first introduced me to the sound of her voice as a little girl. I was enthralled with the sheer beauty of it. There is such an unnerving assuredness to her vocals that you just can't be denied. She will always be one of the most superlative stylists when it comes to lyrical interpretation. She is just so marvelous at it that you just forget about how gifted she is with phrasing and just fall and wrap yourself in the lushness of her voice.

Disc 2 allows that pure lushness in her tone to shine. It doesn't have the swell of the orchestra, it is more paired down and her voice as we all know has aged marvelously. As she has aged, and we have as well, you're not only startled by its clarity but also by its richness of tone. When she sings the opening lines of "Here's to Life: No complaints and no regrets/I Still Believe in Chasing dreams and placing bets," you just know its experience she's drawing from.

The album works so well because as a loyal fan, or a newcomer, there is a pacing that builds up a relationship with the listener. A natural intimacy is achieved with DISC 2. Songs such as "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes," "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning," and "Make Someone Happy," have an immediacy that can't go unacknowledged. Especially with "Make Someone Happy," the woman can still belt that is well known, but here she reigns it in, giving just enough to draw you in closer and closer but not fudging you on the context of the lyric; a lovely rendition.

A beautiful album from a beautiful, gifted legend.

What has Barbra delivered this time around? Since 1993, we've been "Back To Broadway", to the church and synagogue ("Higher Ground"), to her wedding ("A Love Like Ours"), to the movies ("The Movie Album"), and to a reunion from the disco era ("Guilty Pleasures"). All of these were successful to a good degree, my least favorite being "A Love Like Ours". With "Love Is The Answer", Barbra returns to her performing roots to do mellow jazz, with Diana Krall as collaborator - not so different from the standards Barbra has always excelled at.

This is no earth-shaking release, but rather a collection of restrained, relaxed, very musical songs, like her "Third Album". The Voice has deepened, and weakened a bit, but it still has that round, smooth quality. The person behind The Voice still sounds warm and wise, but a shade darker, intriguing simply because she is revealing yet another facet of herself. The arrangements are pretty basic, appropriate for this music. The sound is well-engineered, with the piano in particular coming alive. I don't find that there is one standout track, but rather that the tracks are pretty evenly realized. But I do have my favorites. On "Gentle Rain" and "Love Dance", the soft Latin rhythm and tinkling piano complement Barbra's artistry very well. "A Time For Love" is filled with bright images, and in places the song reminds me of "All The Things You Are" from "Simply Streisand". In "Here's That Rainy Day" I like the expression of strength while recognizing and accepting the end of a romance. And then there's "If You Go Away", about which I will speak again.

I must say that some of the negative comments about this album puzzle me. First, there are those who expected it to sound like one of her 60's albums. Hello? Then, many expected the album to be more "jazzy". I wonder, are they confusing "jazz" with "swing"? I've always thought of the "jazz" genre as being very understated, subtle. You know, like Peggy Lee. In a similar vein, one commenter said there is "...not even one song with a beat." Buying Barbra for "beats"? I recommend Madonna's wonderful "Celebration" collection. Further, about Barbra's French in "If You Go Away (Ne Me Quitte Pas)", one said that it sounds absurd, while another said, "...her transition into French is so sudden it's unintentionally funny." Well, French was my college major, and it sounds OK to me, so, I don't know, you be the judge. Frankly, I think her French adds to the poignancy of the sad song. Even her album cover was criticized, for being air-brushed! I think these expectations are a little demanding, even nit-picking, especially for a singer in her mid-60's. Judging the album for what it is, just the next in a long string of beautiful presentations, not comparing it to past glories - on that basis, I think it works out fine.

Just one more thing. I listened to the entire CD for the first time tonight. "Funny Girl" happened to be on TCM. So, I was watching Barbra Past while listening to Barbra Present. Talk about a surrealistic experience!

The Deluxe Edition is simply superb. No question, this is unequivocally, one of Streisand's best albums in years!

Barbra Streisand, the entertainment grande dame, returns with one of her most beautiful albums in a long time! With an exquisite cover and marvelous artists at the controls.. Love is the Answer is a truly a marvelous recording. The shimmering strings and harp glissando outro on "Gentle Rain", makes those rainy nights seem irresistible. "Make Someone Happy" can make even the hardest music critic misty eyed. It is any wonder that this album was co-produced by Tommy LiPuma? (he worked with Natalie Cole on her Grammy sweeping tour-de-force "Unforgettable" in 1991.) Not at all, the album is a perfect collaboration between Diana Krall, LiPuma, Streisand and Johnny Mandel. At 67, Streisand's voice is at once both mature and still stunningly beautiful.

What makes this album so fantastic is the conviction in Barbra's voice. She knows better any other vocalist the art of delivery. The emotional clarity, lyric phrasing, depth and how to get across her message through the orchestration and her own innate musical abilities. Not only with the deluxe album is a listen given a chance to hear Streisand with the beautiful orchestral touches of Mandel, but on Disc 2, Diana Krall's genius skills are a beautiful compliment to the "One Voice." The emotion is palpable in and throughout "Love is the Answer".

Streisand doesn't need to gyrate, or hide behind flashy production. She is the master at giving many a listener what they don't know they really want: clarity, emotional, lyrical depth and a vocal ability unmatched.

Why should we rush? Light some candles, put a few logs on the fire for that nippy evening. "Love is the Answer" is an album tailored made for an evening of solitude or that special moment with a lover.

Favourite Tracks: In the Wee Small Hours, Gentle Rain, Spring Can Really Hang You up the Most, Make Someone Happy, A Time For Love, Here's That Rainy Day, Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, and Some Other Time are just MARVELOUS with both orchestra and the quartet!

Save yourself the aggravation of reading the Billboard or Entertainment Weekly reviews of the album. Find out how much of a gem our Streisand still is and ALWAYS will be for yourself!!!

Ask Barbra, she knows not only a thing or two about Love and how to "Make Someone Happy" but that indeed, Love is the Answer!

She hits notes on this album that I didn't thinks he could hit anymore. I am blown away, I tell you. From the first note of "Here's to Life" to the last line of "Some Other Time"...perfection. Barbra has not made an album of this particular quality, intimacy, and consistency since the sixties. No question. There are so many ultimate moments for the Streisand Hall of Fame here.

The inclusion of the second disc of quartet versions is a very special treat. In a perfect world, disc 2 of this deluxe edition would have been the album proper, but as it stands the orchestral arrangements are very subtle and not overpowering at all. Disc 2, however, sounds as though she's singing directly into your ear...her jazz quartet playing right there with her in your living room.

This album is easily her best whole package since "The Broadway Album." Easily. This woman's gift is ageless. Boundless.

Skip this version and go straight for the deluxe edition that offers these songs performed with just Diana Krall's quartet. Exquisite. I'm a die-hard Streisand fan but discerning enough to know that every album she's issued isn't golden. I approached this album with a great deal of cynicism (particularly since I've never seen her hype an album as much as this one) but concur that this one ranks among her best. Streisand herself at her Village Vanguard performance referred to coming full-circle with this album. Maybe, maybe not, but make a playlist of her very first album and this one, hit shuffle, and prepare to be blown away by the experience.

I have never even heard a complete Streisand song before. I have always been strictly an instrumental jazz fan. I don't care for vocals, period. All I can say now is ... WOW! I heard one cut of the new release and was floored. Now I have the whole deluxe edition and it is sublime. Now I know what people have been talking about all these years. She stays true to these timeless standards and has an amazing emotional impact with her voice. Pure perfection!

Barbra Streisand releases her best CD in years. The song selection is impeccable and her delivery is OUTSTANDING. You better prepare yourself for goose bumps and a few tears as well. She is without a doubt one of the best interpreters of romantic standards of all time(Where Do You Start is heartbreaking). I cannot believe how she takes familiar songs and imbues them with such feeling that it is like you are hearing them for the first time(Make Someone Happy and If You Go Away are prime examples). I guess that is why we are still fascinated by her 40 some years later. Bravo!!!

On this Diana Krall produced/assisted set, Barbra Streisand once again shines. Even sweeter may be the fact that the set surprisingly tops the Billboard 200 Albums Chart, beating out stiff competition from continually rising rock band Paramore (Brand New Eyes) as well as Pop-R&B diva Mariah Carey (Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel), albeit numbers were within 12,000 copies of each other. Conservative in scope, spacey, and achieving a certain jazzy ambiance, Love is the Answer, may not be revolutionary by any means, but it is one incredibly solid album. Most noteworthy is the fact that at a 'young' 67 years in age, Barbra Streisand sounds as if she's barely aged, vocally. Her voice is still pure, and subdued as a jazzy-club singer. Through the fifty-nine minute effort (in the standard edition), Barbra sounds astounding. The grand orchestration further makes 'Love is the Answer' as a worthy Grammy contender when it is eligible (2011; it misses the cut-off for the 2010 awards).

The album opens with the beautiful, spacey "Here's To Life", which finds Ms. Streisand accompanied by an extremely well mixed grand piano and lush string orchestrations. The track proves to be a perfect opener. Followed by another sensitive, though beautiful "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning", Mrs. Streisand once again maintains a certain purity, almost ethereal quality about her vocals; there is a natural innocence one can hear and feel as they imagine Streisand hearkening back to music's 'glory' days. As the tempo picks up, one can imagine they are in a jazz club sitting with their lover and feeling the 'romance' in which Streisand so magnificently extracts from these classic pop and jazz songs.

"Gentle Rain" doesn't deviate from the laid-back, pure style of "Here's to Life" or "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning", providing yet another lovely and restrained performance in which space contributes to the overall potency. "If You Go Away (Ne Me Quitte Pas)" begins with a simple acoustic guitar, giving the track a different flavor, sans acoustic grand piano. Slightly over a minute into the performance, upright bass, grand piano, and strings join in and provide a fine background to support Streisand's sensitive, yet passionate vocals.

"Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most" finds Streisand evoking the vocal affections of jazz with 'speech-like vocals', jazz phrasing, and impeccable nuance. While "Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most" should sound incredibly dated, a new beauty is born; something is special about this performance. Jazzed-up, modest piano work opens up the sweet, endearing standout "Make Someone Happy". "Where Do You Start?", "Time for Love" are as lush and solid as everything else. "Here's the Rainy Day" begins with a lovely flute solo with accompaniment before Streisand places her signature vocal stamp on the track; additionally a fine piano solo appears performed by Diana Krall.

"Love Dance" begins with sparse guitar, accentuating the timbre of Streisand's vocal, again shaping the track into an 'atmospheric' feel, not unlike Krall's solo album work. Streisand does great justice to one of my favorite songs of all, "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes", a timeless classic. "Some Other Time" and bonus track "You Must Believe in String" don't break the consistency established by Streisand from the get-go.

Well produced by all means (kudos to Diana Krall), exceptional song choice, and great, spot-on vocals by Streisand make Love Is the Answer a fantastic traditional pop album. Don't be surprised if 'Love' is a top Grammy contender in the 2011 ceremony. 4+ stars.

She hits notes on this album that I didn't thinks he could hit anymore. I am blown away, I tell you. From the first note of "Here's to Life" to the last line of "Some Other Time"...perfection. Barbra has not made an album of this particular quality, intimacy, and consistency since the sixties. No question. There are so many ultimate moments for the Streisand Hall of Fame here.

This album is easily her best whole package since "The Broadway Album." Easily. This woman's gift is ageless. Boundless.

Before I ran out this morning to buy this, I admit I was a little curious how Barbra would sound on this two CD deluxe set. I haven't followed Barbra's recent performances and releases as closely as I should have and, after all, as we all age our vocal chords change. Indeed, it is rare that people sound the same at age 67 as they sounded when they were so much younger. Well, I obviously needn't have worried: Barbra sounds BETTER THAN EVER on these two CDs!!! She never once lets go of a single superfluous note. The two CD version of this release is clearly the way to go for true blue Streisand fans. The quality of the sound is excellent throughout and I love that artwork, too.

The first CD has Barbra singing with lush orchestral arrangements that perfectly compliment her vocals. Wisely, the musicians never even try to steal the show from Barbra; she remains squarely front and center which is right where she belongs! Every number on the first CD is a winner that will strike you with its natural beauty and Barbra's voice is as clear as a bell every single time. What a thrill! "In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning" is an absolutely stunning torch song; Barbra handles this with incredible style and so much genuine emotion, heart and soul. The arrangement makes particularly good use of the piano, too. "If You Go Away (Ne Me Quitte Pas)" features Barbra handling complex tempo and key changes that enhance her performance all the more; this has a type of singing poetry that is memorable, to say the least and it's a great highlight of this CD. "Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most" is another gem that Barbra aces seemingly effortlessly--but of course we know that a performance this good isn't just by chance; Barbra's talent carries her through very well. "Make Someone Happy" is flawless--this music is all THAT good. Barbra sure does make this shine and I love it!

"A Time For Love" is also very pretty; those strings are terrific as Barbra sings this to perfection--and beyond! "Here's That Rainy Day" and "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" never sounded better than when Barbra handles them with panache; and "You Must Believe In Spring" is a fine ending for the first CD.

The second CD has nothing but splendid, quartet musical arrangements that result in an even brighter light cast upon Barbra's singularly beautiful voice. I am so impressed by how well she sings! "Here's To Life" gets the royal treatment from Barbra and the piano is just great. "In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning" gets an especially romantic flavor to it that is simply irresistible; and listen for yet another gem when Barbra Streisand performs "Gentle Rain" with that terrific quartet treatment! Now THIS is romantic, timeless music! "Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most" is yet again absolutely perfect in Barbra's capable hands; this is one heck of a torch song!

"Where Do You Start?" gets a quartet arrangement with Barbra singing her heart out; and I love every minute of it! "A Time For Love" impresses me; and I really like "Here's That Rainy Day" and "Love Dance." "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" is yet another ageless ballad that glows so very bright when Barbra sings it; and "Some Other Time" couldn't have been done any better in the quartet version.

Barbra Streisand has blessed us by sharing with us her remarkably unique talents for quite some while now; and I hope that she continues to do so! I highly recommend this for any Barbra Streisand fan; and people just discovering her magical artistry will not be disappointed.

Bravo, Barbra!