Customer Reviews

Lying to the Moon & Other Stories

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I can't believe all of MBs albums are not in print! Her songwriting is exquisite, and her voice, while not that of a diva, is lovely and expressive--and so real, it grabs you in the gut. It's not really a performance; you almost feel that she's sitting next to you. In fact, my roommmate walked in to "If I Were an Angel" (from SMTSN) and immediately commented on what a beautiful voice she had. "Back When We Were Beautiful" still makes me tear up. Her lyrics are as much about what she doesn't say--she has a masterful turn of phrase, but also a sense of restraint, so that you end up always wanting more.

This is a review of the original "Lying to the Moon" CD. I first discovered this CD when it came out in 1990. After listening to snippets of the first three songs and enjoying it at the record store I had to purchase it. Over time the songs just get better and better. Matraca's voice lends a particularly heart rending account to both Calico Plains and Applachian Rain along with extreme enjoyment of the other tracks. "Alice in the Looking Glass" will send chills down your back. This is one of those rare CD's where EVERY track is good. The musical backgrounds also add to the story telling of each selection. Never have I listened to an album where the music hit home from the very beginning. Every person I have turned onto this CD has fallen in love with it. I am glad to see it back in print along with the additional songs. I WILL run out and get this latest version and I suggest you do too. You will not be sorry.

Matraca Berg has proven herself as a writer but has been overlooked as a performer. She is truly an undiscovered treasure. Her voice has a dynamic all its own and can breathe life into a song. She can make you laugh along with her or leave you with a lump in your throat.

While most of these cuts are remastered versions of her MUCH underappreciated debut CD with two cuts from her last CD, it is Matraca at her finest. With the sorrowful "Lying To The Moon" to the tear filled "Back When We Were Beautiful" (from the movie Hope Floats but not on the soundtrack) to the way frisky "Back In The Saddle" that proves Shania Twain comes in second to this lady in the va-va-va-voom category!

Beyond the looks, this singer/songwriter's songs put much of the music on the radio to shame. Her songwriting contemporaries are few but notewhile - Gretchen Peters, Beth Nielsen Chapman, and Annie Roboff. Nobody else outside of these 4 ladies can reach out and grab you and even change you like they can.

Although I do not own this particular cd, I do have the two previous releases from which every song but "Eat at Joe's" was drawn. If you are thinking about buying this cd, PLEASE do yourself a favor and buy it. The songs are absolutely beautiful, ranging from the raucous "Back in the Saddle" to the tender, tear-wrenching "Lying to the Moon" and "Back When We Were Beautiful". If you are a listener who prefers thoughtful, descriptive lyrics which can grab your heart to the somewhat shallower songs which Nashville and the Top 40 scene are marketing right now, I guarantee you will love Matraca's work. Please give her a try! You won't regret it.

Matraca Berg has come a long way since she penned her first big hit, "Faking Love," which T.G. Sheppard and Karen Brooks scored number one with in January of '83. Now she is one of the most sought after writers in the business, penning tunes for the likes of Trisha Yearwood, Patty Loveless, Suzy Bogguss, Deana Carter, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Michelle Wright, John Berry, Randy Travis,...well you get the picture! This collection contains eight songs from "Lying To The Moon" (1990) and three songs from "Sunday Morning To Saturday Night"(1997), and includes the never before released "Eat At Joe's."

My favorites:
I GOT IT BAD is a bluesy reflection of a woman's longing to score the affections of a certain man. Berg cleverly tells us "the one who ain't beatin' down my door is the only one who's got me walking the floor."
LYING TO THE MOON starts out with a beautiful string arrangement that sets the mood for experiencing the heartbreak of being stood-up as the song suggests.
BABY, WALK ON: Goodbye has never sounded sweeter in this tale of a man who has a habit of walking out after losing an arguement. The heroine revels in her smugness as she sings "I don't mind shining your walking shoes." No wonder this was a top 40 hit.
APPALACHIAN RAIN features the angelic harmonies of Emmylou Harris in this haunting tale of death in the mountains. Whether it was murder or suicide remains a mystery to me, what do you think?
BACK WHEN WE WERE BEAUTIFUL is the lament of an old woman reflecting on her past when her husband was still alive, and her coping with the physical and psychological toll that age has had on her. This is probably the most beautiful song on the CD.
I MUST HAVE BEEN CRAZY is an uptempo tune about a woman who goes as far as shock therapy to get over her true love. Her state of mind is evident as she sings, "and when they ask me how I feel, I don't internalize. I put down my paper dolls, look them in the eye and say I must have been crazy..." I would have loved to hear Patty Loveless record this one.
EAT AT JOE'S is a jazzy piece that begins with the sounds of a busy diner. Suzy Bogguss did a splendid job with this song, but only Berg can do it justice. This song would've been great for a video.

This collection is lacking one thing, it didn't include the single, "It's Easy To Tell," which was released at the end of '91 as the first single off the "Bittersweet Surrender" album, which never saw the light of day. Nevertheless, It was worth every penny!

I never heard the first version of this recording, but I can't imagine anything better than "Lying To The Moon and Other Stories." On the title cut and "Back When We Were Beautiful," Matraca plays heartstrings as equally well as she does the guitar. Her stories search out the soul of the listener and find a permanent place there. Her voice is moving, energized with conviction and life experiences that are real and shared by many. Any collection, for those whose music must possess substance, is incomplete without Matraca Berg's "Lying To The Moon and Other Stories."

It doesn't get any better than this! Matraca is a true treasure in the music business and I'm glad fans of country music have something more than radio to turn to. Matraca writes short stories in motion, taking you through every twist and turn with a voice that caters to each emotion she's encountered with. One of the best written songs of all time is "Back When We Were Beautiful," which she wrote after a conversation with her grandmother. I had tears in my eyes the first time I heard that song, which was when I saw her live show in 1997. If you're a fan of the craft of songwriting, you must have this album in your collection!

Thankfully the record label released this compilation cd of one of the most influential songwriters of the Baby Boom generation. Her music speaks straight to the soul.

I owned "Sunday Morning to Saturday Night," her previous release, when I got this one. I got just what I expected, soulful ballads and swingin' fun tunes. "I Got It Bad" is perfect for anyone who's been head over heels in love. "Lying To The Moon" is one of the most beautiful, sad, pieces of music I've heard in a long time, and "Calico Plains" has always been something I could relate to. This is breathtaking.

Excellent CD - I was very impressed with her Saturday Night CD - although this CD is not quite as good - it is still excellent.