Lucky

Melissa Etheridge | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 10, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Island
• ASIN: B0000V19LS
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (125 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #54,660 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

MELISSA ETHERIDGE Lucky (2004 Taiwanese edition 13-track CD album picture sleeve + obi-strip)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Melissa shines on this one!, February 12, 2004

By 

Eileen Finn (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lucky (Audio CD)

After the heartbreaking "Skin" a couple years ago, Melissa Etheridge has come back with an infectious, addicting, highly emotional, fun cd. Clearly, the tone of the album is polar opposite of "Skin".

"Secret Agent", "Giant", "If You Want To" and "Kiss Me" are great rock songs in every sense - lots of guitar, a driving beat, and sexy (as well as amusing) lyrics on "Secret Agent" and "Kiss Me".

The title track "Lucky" is the emotional setting of this album, and you will feel the happiness of it in each song that follows.

"Tuesday Morning" is a power packed, emotional tribute to Mark Bingham, the gay man who was on Flight 93 with Todd Beamer (of "Let's roll" fame). The song is pointed, political, amazingly well-written, and if it doesn't cover your body in gooesbumps and fill your eyes with tears, you're not breathing.

"Breathe" is the first single off the album, and I really like Melissa's version of it. It tends to stick in your head, and you'll find yourself humming it absently all the time.

"Mercy" has a nice blues feel to it, and I think it will be an amazing live piece. "This Moment", "The One", and "Will You Still Love Me" are tender ballads and classic Etheridge writing from her heart.

I could go on and on about "Lucky", but instead, I'll just say that if you're a Melissa Etheridge fan or a rock and roll fan or even a fan of great music in general, this is a must have in your collection.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In case you did not hear, Melissa's in love and happy again, April 30, 2004

By 

Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Lucky (Audio CD)

The difference between Melissa Etheridge's album "Lucky" and her previous effort "Skin" is like the difference between night and day, which is just a way of saying that the last time around she was writing and singing about the emotional upheaval of her breakup with longtime partner Julie Cypher and now she is celebrating her new relationship with Tammy Lynn Michaels. Knowing what is happening with Etheridge's love life is useful for decoding the meaning of her lyrics, but as always the fact that she is a lesbian is beside the point because when she writes about being in love the gender is almost always irrelevant. Besides, Bob Dylan did the greatest breakup album of all time with "Blood on the Tracks" so there is more to be said for Etheridge writing songs celebrating love.

This clear from the opening title track of the album, which announces the theme of being "Lucky" and works in some nice Rolling Stones like riffs throughout while updating us on the biography of her love life. "I was dried up I was starving I was mangled / I looked like hell, twisted up and tangled", she sings, but then makes it clear the ghosts are gone. "This Moment" is a mid-tempo ballad that best represents her celebration of her new relationship. It is almost become hyperbolic at points ("Tell the angels they'll just have to wait"), but Etheridge's vocal performance keeps everything together and the net effect is too heartfelt to dismiss. "If You Want To" and "Breathe" are more commercially oriented, by which I simply mean these are going to be the ones that get the airplay even if they are not the best tracks on the album (but I was surprised to note that Etheridge did not write "Breathe"; it never occurred to me that any of these songs would not be here own compositions).

"Mercy" is a strange sounding song because of its hip-hop backbeat, but has some of the most interesting lyrics with its religious metaphors and the idea: "Oh the peace you say is promised me / Seems too much to comprehend." The song also does something unique but appropriate with the bridge coming at the end of the song, which makes sense, given that it allows the song to build throughout the verses to the climax. "Secret Agent" is the blues oriented track that will remind you why comparisons are often made between Etheridge and Janis Joplin in terms of vocals; this is the one where she lets loose on the wails. She also forces you to think about what she is really up to with the line: "All the boys want to know if she's got something to hide / All the girls are relieved she's working for the other side". There are a lot of songs on this album that I would dearly like to see her do in concert.

"Will You Still Love" is a small note of self-doubt in this particular mix of songs. It starts off as a simple acoustic guitar piece and I would like to have heard the entire song done that way (it reminds me of Etheridge doing Joan Armatrading's "The Weakness in Me" with just a piano and I think a similar simple approach would really enhance the track). "Meet Me in the Dark" is Etheridge in full Springsteen mode, which makes it seems a bit out of place in this collection.

The most powerful song on the album, for totally different reasons, is "Tuesday Morning." This song is about Mark Bingham, a gay male who was one of those who fought back against the terrorists on Flight 93 on 9/11. Etheridge's point is that Bingham was a hero in a country that denied him the same civil rights as other citizens. Along with "Scarecrow," her tribute to Matthew Shepherd, a gay student savagely murdered, "Tuesday Morning" shows Etheridge's power as a protest singer, using simple narratives to drive home her point.

"Giant" is another hard rock song that begs for live performance to really come alive. After that one "Come on Out Tonight" just seems to cute, although it harkens back to her first album musically, which is certainly nostalgic, but it is the other weak song on the album. For that matter "Kiss Me" has an opening riff that reminds me of the early days as well, but it is a much stronger song that urges you to "kiss everything away." Finally, in case you missed the point, "When You Find the One" makes it one more time. This is another song that would be quite effective done just with an acoustic guitar (and perhaps even slowed down a bit). Maybe it is because of her "Live...and Alone" DVD that I keep thinking about what songs on "Lucky" would benefit from that type of performance.

All things considered this is one of Melissa Etheridge's better albums, and we all know how good those can be. Just put it in the CD and hit continuous play because you are going to want to hear this one a bunch of times in a row before you are willing to move on to something else.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible!, February 11, 2004

By 

Chris Letempt (Marietta, GA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Lucky (Audio CD)

I am so happy to have a new album from Melissa! She is back and completely on her game. This album is much more upbeat and hopeful, compared to the darker "Skin".

My favorite track on this album is "Secret Agent". What an incredible song! My wife and I were lucky enough to hear a preview of this song at her concert in Charlotte 2 years ago and wow! It absolutely rocks and is definitely full of "hidden meaning" while making you just have to dance.

The rest of the album is just as good and so listenable. As for her band, they have to be one of the most underrated in the world. Take a listen to the smoothest bass and driving drums in music today. And of course, Melissa with her signature guitar playing.

I can tell that "Breakdown" will have some new competition for the cd player in the car. All I can say is, Thank you Melissa. You absolutely rock! Keep 'em coming. We are listening!