Medusa

Annie Lennox

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 14, 1995)
• Original Release Date: March 14, 1995
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Arista
• ASIN: B000002VUC
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (76 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #7,726 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording
Post-Beatles, the virtues of deft song interpretation have been consistently devalued in favor of self-contained composer-performers, seldom more so than in the initial response to this sequel to Annie Lennox's triumphant solo debut, Diva. That album's gripping originals deserve acclaim, but the lush Scottish alto remains one of the most riveting pop singers of the past two decades, and this smartly chosen, meticulously arranged collection of cover versions boasts its own abundant charms in her selection of obscure gems and bona fide classics from Al Green, Procol Harum, Neil Young, the Clash, the Temptations, Paul Simon, Bob Marley, and the Blue Nile. The songs are the rightful stars here, and Lennox brings passion and nuance to a set that plays beautifully. From the cinematic heartbreak of "No More I Love Yous" to the faithful recreation of the Blue Nile's "Downtown Lights," this is ravishing pop. --Sam Sutherland

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Annie get your gold, February 28, 2000

By	William (Australia) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

I originally bought this album in 1995. After enjoying her previous solo album "Diva", I decided this could be a winner as well. It's actually more than a winner, a masterpiece is what this album is. A voice like Annie's is hard to beat, and this album features re-workings of classics such as 'Don't let it bring you down' (Neil Young) and Paul Simon's 'Something so Right'. Guess what? They are actually better than the originals which is a personal opinion but I am sure many would agree. Look out also for a brilliant cover of 'A Thin Line Between Love and Hate", and 'Take Me to the River'. Back in 1995 when it was released, it didn't do very well on the charts and that surprised me - it richly deserved a number one album placement. The song 'Don't let it bring you down' is featured in the 'American Beauty' film and hopefully it will lead more people to discover this masterpiece album. I only gave it 4 stars rather than 5 due to 2 tracks which seem out of place. I'll leave it up to you to work them out.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars " Will You Stand By Me?"... You Betcha, Annie!!, December 10, 2004

By	Kenneth M. Gelwasser (Hollywood, Fl USA) - See all my reviews

I've been a fan of the music of Annie Lennox (and her partner Dave Stewart) since the early days of the '80s band, Eurythmics. Once she said everything she could say with that musical pairing, Lennox went on to a solo career, that continued to prove she was a talented & original, consummate artist. I think, that is why so many people were rather surprised, when she came out with the 1995 CD, "Medusa", which was basically an album of 'cover' tunes. The funny thing about 'cover' albums is that it is a niche in the music industry, where artists can so easily fail and make a fools of themselves. Many cover albums have appeared in the past that are flat, uninspired and have come off as just bad 'kareoke'. This is not the case with Annie Lennox's "Medusa". She takes songs, that I'm assuming she enjoys or has in some way ment something to her and completely gives them her own original spin. In other words, she makes them her own. Case in point would be my personal favorite cut of the album, "Don't Let it Bring You Down". This Neil Young, folk-rock tune is a classic in it's own right. It takes a lot of guts (or a certain part of the lower male anatomy) to take on a tune that is so intertwined with it's creator. Yet, Lennox does it and she's quite successful. Her version isn't necessarily better, its' just that she emotionally takes the tune to such a different place. I think that this is a strategy, that Lennox uses with most of the tunes on this album and it works. Other personal favorites include beautiful and very original covers of Bob Marley's "Waiting in Vain", Procul Harem's "A Whiter Shade of Pale" and Paul Simon's "Something So Right". I particularly love Lennox's upbeat and very danceble reading of The Clash's "Train in Vain". It just makes you want to move! The one song I might have a difference with is her version of The Blue Nile's "Downtown Lights". While Lennox does a very fine reading of this really wonderful song, it just doesn't have the emotional impact of the original version. Still, this is a great CD and I would urge any music fan to make "Medusa" a permanent part of their music collection. I have and the more I play it the better it gets! Highly recommended!

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Unsentimental, May 24, 2000

By A Customer

I'm yet another person who was absolutely mesmerized by the song "Don't Let It Bring You Down" from the movie "American Beauty," and I wasn't a particular Eurythmics or Lennox fan in the past. I wasn't able to stay for the credits at the end of the movie, so I had to rely on the Net to learn who performed the song. Thank goodness I did NOT buy the movie soundtrack. "Don't Let It Bring You Down" isn't even on the soundtrack, and that makes absolutely NO sense!

I'm not the sentimental type, but that song nearly brought tears to my eyes w. its sheer beauty.