Customer Reviews

Naked & Sacred

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Following the collapse of Wilson Phillips, one third of that harmony trio made a solo album. She goes for the different producers route, including Glen Ballard, who did Wilson Phillips' two albums, and other 80's stalwarts such as Desmond Child and Rick Nowels. The results more or less work for her, but the fact that she only had the one album shows that she was much more effective as part of the Wilson Phillips trio.

The title track has a sound that should be familiar to 80's music fans, as the song was co-written by Rick Nowels and Billy Steinberg. characteristic rhythm guitar of Belinda Carlisle's music.

"When 2000 Comes" isn't too exceptional, although hearing her say that "I don't need to hear no new age cr-p about love" reminds me that she's not in WP anymore.

"Remember Me", for exes now under a different oath, is another Rick Nowels production, with haunting synths like Chris DeBurgh's "The Lady In Red." Nowels' good songwriting is still in evidence: "Remember me, because this highway is long, and who knows what will come in years/Remember me, because you can't forget your past/I'm the doorway flooded with tears/The doorways were flooded."

If "I Live For You" sounds like it belonged on a Jennifer Rush album, that's because it was produced by Desmond Child. However, her voice reaches shrillness in trying to get that high note, something not to be heard on a Jennifer Rush album. She does better on another Child production, the ballad "This Close."

The mid-paced "Turn Around" is the closest to a Wilson Phillips song on this album, along with the backing vocalists.

"Just To Hear You Say That You Love Me" wins from Diane Warren's penmanship, Desmond Child's production, and the string arrangement.

I wonder what got into Glen Ballard, as "Follow You Down" is more the stuff Wilson Phillips should've had on Shadows And Light rather than the overproduced vocals on that album. However, Chynna's trying to get a higher range isn't too successful.

The Desmond Child-produced ballad "Jewel In My Crown" is more like it, although these lyrics range from amusing/trite to nice: "You held me high up on a throne/you made a queen out of a clown."

The final melancholy separation ballad is the Patrick Leonard-produced "Will You" with its piano and strings. She asks well-tried questions such as "Why have we separated again?" and "Am I too late?/Has heaven already closed the gate?"

Chynna's vocal talent is laudable, but it only shows that her voice worked better in unison with les soeurs Wilsons, as the accompanying and backing vocalists Chynna uses don't compare. She does best on the ballads, not much on the engaging numbers.

To begin with, I would like to point out that it is an awful shame that this album is out of print. I lucked out years ago and ordered this disc on a whim from BMG because I liked Wilson Phillips, and I absolutely fell in love with Chynna's solo release. She presents 11 solid songs, at least 5 of which could have been huge radio hits. I won't subject you to a song by song evaluation, but Chynna's voice has matured from her WP days. She sings with confidence and skill, and this album should have launched her solo career with a bang. I only hope that she returns to the studio at some point and picks up her career where this album left off. I very strongly reccomend you pick up a copy of this disc if you're lucky enough to find it. Easily my favorite pop album, and a crime that it has been relagated to obscurity when blatant filth currently tops the charts.

This is undoubtedly one of the best pop albums of the 90's but it was a flop big time and I can't seem to figure out why. It's a beautiful album. From the dancefloor ready Naked and Sacred to beautiful ballad Jewel In My Crown. Not as refined and polished as either Wilson Phillips album her voice is beautiful but it also has a growl to it at certain points the hooks are just sooo catchy one can hardly resist it. Though the release could have been made better some of the unreleased tracks are better than some of the material here. There are two songs in particular that I just didn't like (Will You and Til the End) that could have been easily replaced with the superior material from the singles such as "life Ain't No Dress Rehersal" "Unfinished Business" and "Free This Feeling". So all in all a very enjoyable album with only a few minor tweaks needed here and there.

This was an excellent solo debut from Chynna Phillips of Wilson Phillips fame. She has a great voice and the songs on this album compliment her voice. Remember Me, Just To Hear You Say You Love Me and Jewel In My Crown are the best songs here - all beautiful ballads. Of course the other fantastic song was the big hit for her - Naked and Sacred. I think the group could never live up to their first album again, but Chynna on her own had great music. I want her to bring out new material. Her voice is fantastic.

On Naked and Sacred, Chynna Phillips bravely attempts to break away from the Wilson Phillips type of music. The best tracks on this ablum are:
1)Naked and Sacred: wonderful melody and very catchy
2)When 2000 comes: a sarcastic ode to someone pushing for commitment
3)I live for you: featured on the soundtrack for Striptease and should have been a big hit!
4)Follow Love Down: produced by Glenn Ballard and gives Chynna some attitude
5)Jewel in my Crown: a love letter to husband Billy Baldwin

I would have given this album 5 stars but there is one throwaway track which is Turnaround. It is a shame that this album was so overlooked and that there are no more albums by this promising artist.

That fact that Chynna Phillips had a hand in writing 9 of 11 songs on this album doesn't surprise me one bit. Especially when you find out that her parents were the founding members of the Mamas & The Papas. And after listening to this album, it's become obvious to me that Chynna's inherited their talent. MAN!! This album rocks!! From the first song to the last, there's not one song on this album that I don't like. I definitely got my money's worth when I got this album.

Reuben K.
Honolulu, HI

This is my favorite album of all time. Every track stands out. I am totally amazed that this album wasn't a smash. This is one of the very few albums that I have bought that I love every track. The great news is that I just saw on E.T. that Chynna is coming out with a new album in May of 2004!!!! Hope it's as good as this one. Definately recommend this album.....

This is proabbly one of the BEST albums i have owned. Each and every track on this album is full of emotions and feelings.
Best tracks are:

1.Till The End
A very touching song, very nice melody and well composed. A very differnt type of track as in terms of lyrics! Excellent!

2.Will You
Another sad touching song, Chynna has a beautiful and touching voice, she has really glorified this song, her voice has alot of depth and emotion. Amazing vocals, really give u the chills!.

3. Rememeber Me
A very sad song. This is proably the most touching song. I rememeber when I bought this album in 1996, and used to listen to this song, Recently i came across this album and listened to this song and burst into tears, it brings back memories and once again the depth of chynnas voice is outstanding.

The rest of the songs (Jewel in my crown, Just to hear that you love me, naked & scared) are all amazing, and are well composed, the 3 songs i mentioned are very unique and different, so i wanted to mention them.

This album deserves a very high recommendation and, and I wish chynna would come out with a new album......We miss her...

I am a big fan of Wilson Phillips, but if you're hoping to recapture the group's magic by buying Chynna Phillips' solo effort 'Naked and Sacred', there is a high chance (I'm not saying for sure, but there's a high chance) that you'll be disappointed.

Hardcore Chynna fans may scream at me for saying this - but most of her vocals are mildly pleasing at best, reed-thin and mediocre at worst. The songwriting also leaves much to be desired.

If you, however, can see the originality and poetry in lines like "If I could win your heart/If you'd let me in your heart/I'd be so happy baby/Just for these arms to be/Holding you close to me", then go ahead and disagree with me. But to me, those lines could have been written by an infatuated 11-year old. Apart from bland lyrics, the rhythms and melodies are mostly nothing to shout about either.

"Jewel in my Crown" sounded interesting at first, until I realised that it sounds like a watered-down version of Celine Dion's "Because You Loved Me".

There is just one track which moves me and has some of that magic one would expect from a Wilson Phillips member, and that's "Remember Me". The vocals are heartfelt and quite strong and the song is pretty well-written. It's about the stain in the heart from a love lost, even when one has found someone new and "moved on".

I like the lines "I'm the doorway flooded with tears/The doorways were flooded".

Unfortunately, this one decent track doesn't save the album from a one-star rating for me. I hear that Wilson Phillips has re-united and that is really the best thing, cos the magic and chemistry they had as a group is really irreplaceable by any solo effort.

Chynna Phillips has a beautiful voice, and on this solo album you really get to here how great it is. A mixture of ballad and beat songs, this album is great.