Customer Reviews

Natural Wonder

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Phoebe Snow, Wow, this lady still has one of the best set
of pipes to sing or should I say BELT out her lyrics. Heavy
on a rock sound and a very competent band letting loose beside
her, Phoebe offers up one of her best, most CONFIDENT collections
in many, many years. She still knows how to tear up a song,
she use to tease us with a couple of these here and there on her
earlier albums but this one she's letting her fans know she isn't about to ride off on her past glories but shakes this whole outing with a voice like no others. It grows on you, as
any worthwhile effort should. It needs the time to savor its
many stand outs. I will be listening to this in the days ahead when its cold and I need something HOT to
make it though these cold New England winters. So nice to see
this classic recording artists re-peaking here in 2003! RoCk on
Phoebe Snow, missed your beautiful one of a kind voice.

It's been 5 years since "I Can't Complain." And it sure is GREAT to hear Phoebe Snow back recording a full set. Her tribute to Laura Nyro "Time & Love" was one of my favorite single tracks of hers. Phoebe is in that rare stratosphere for me with Carole King whose CDs come home with me as soon as I see them.

"Natural Wonder" has some amazing things about it. First, Phoebe the singer is, as usual, completely brilliant. This woman could probably sing the phone book; and it would sound great. Jim Chapdelaine who worked with one of my favorite unknown singers, Hugh Blumenfeld, does a masterful job of production. The instruments are crisply recorded, varied, with diverse arrangements that compliment the singer exquisitely. There are also some amazing tracks. Gerard McMahon who made only one record, "No Looking Back" for Warner Bros., in 1982, cowrote the "The Other Girlfriend" with Phoebe with the addictive chorus, "Don't want to be like this, don't want to be like that, I don't want to be the other girlfriend." The song is direct & powerful. Tina Shafer, who has worked with Celine Dion and had songs recorded by Sheena Easton and some band (I kid you not) called Danielle's Mouth, cowrote "Above the Band" which is a perky high energy track with a charming positive flare. My personal favorite track is the one Phoebe wrote by herself, "Key to the Street" which is a smoking electrified breakup song, absolutely stunning!

On this set, however, that is certainly part natural wonder, there is also a bit of natural disaster. That disaster is Steve Fox who cowrites some the worst material I've heard in a long time. Steve apparently worked with the Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles which is about the only way one can explain a lyric like, "I remember when George became Christine." I suppose for the handful of folks who have experienced a gender changing operation, this will be a true find. His opener "Sahara" and the closer "Going Home" are not quite as bad, but neither has particularly grabbed me. The one cover tune here "Baby I Need Your Loving" has been recorded by the 4 Tops, Temptations, Supremes & Johnny Rivers' familiar cover is a bit too slow, losing its energy.

It's great to have Phoebe back. Phoebe the singer is a natural wonder & a great treasure. There is enough good material here to make this an excellent addition to your music collection. Enjoy!

Phoebe Snow is back in top form with a rock-soulful collections of mostly new written material. It really showcases the range of this formidable singer. She definetly and ultimately ROCKS! Get it and enjoy!

This is a strong, uplifting, rocking collection of songs by Phoebe. One of the best songs I've heard in awhile is "The Other Girlfriend". What makes an impression are the buildups in the songs. Those vocal crescendo's squeeze my heart every time. The guitar riffs by Jim Chapdelaine sail behind her voice and these songs perfectly. Bought it right after I heard her on the World Cafe radio program. Well written songs...Great Stuff! I hope Phoebe continues to take chances and grow in her music. I can't understand fan's wanting to hear the same album reproduced over and over again. It's death for an artist and stale for the fan. Cheers to those artist's who have the guts to try new things! This is a fresh recording.

Natural Wonder is a triumphant -- if for no other reason that it showcases one of modern music's most remarkable voices. For some who think they know Phoebe -- that is, know the direction of her previously recorded work -- this CD may comes as a bit of a shock. But for those of us -- me being one! -- who have had the opportunity to see her perform live, this comes closer than any other CD to showing the listener just how powerful and versatile her voice is. Well done, Phoebe, for not following the crowd and for not -- like so many singers these days -- for making a CD full of rehashed covers for an easy sell.

Phoebe Snow has a frustrating and erratic recording career, made more so by the enormity of great talent and her lack of direction. Unfortunately, more often than not, she uses her powerful voice to oversing, pummeling the song instead of caressing it. She desperately needs a producer to reign in her excess, and show her versatility as demonstrated on her first two classic albums, "Phoebe Snow" and "Second Childhood," and on her underrated late'80s Elektra album "Something Real." The songs on "Natural Wonder," mostly co-written by Snow, are in a rock/blues mid-tempo groove, and play mostly to her flaws. The final track, "Going Home" bears the most charm, and the first half of her cover of "Baby, I Need Your Loving" is controlled and soulful, and immediately grabs your attention because it is the best melody on the album. As a fan who has followed Snow's career, both on recordings and in concert, it is sad to report the mediocrity of this album, especially given how far and few between her recordings are.

Natural Wonder
This is only one of Phoebe Snow's amazing albums, she has the most beautiful voice and delivers the message as well as fantastic music
she is one in a million highly recomend this album very inspirational.

And she brings something of a solid soul, hard rock 70s poetry to this 2003 production. In a word, she's lost none of what made her great. Nice lyrics, Phoebe's great voice and very moving tunes make this album a more than worthwhile purchase. Phoebe's ability to keep coming up with quality tunes in this day and age IS something of a natural wonder.

i liked it. but then, i am a long time fan so i like anything she does. her voice is crazy good.

I bought this cd when I heard of her death. It's again another great piece of Phoebe Snows talent & very distinctive vioce. It's my second favorite Phoebe Snow album. Something Real is my fave.