Customer Reviews

Never Enough

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Here Melissa tried to do something a little different. Incorporating dance beats was a risky move from an emerging rocker,but somehow, in my opinion it worked. This is Melissa having fun and it really shows. You must be crazy for me and Meet me in The back are just total fun, but she wrote two of her most beautiful songs on this album as well; The Letting Go and Keep it Precious. A great album, largely dissed by the critics. What a shame, because it was only a glimpse of what was yet to come.

After the insane success of "Melissa Etheridge" and "Brave and Crazy," Melissa Etheridge apparently decided to vary her style just a bit on "Never Enough." This album is filled with everything from industrial drumming ("2001") to intensely emotional lyrics that hit home ("The Boy Feels Strange" "The Letting Go"). Etheridge fans who are new to the scene will probably love this album, as it seems to be a critical turning point in the rocker's incredible career. If you've not checked out this album by now, give it a spin as soon as possible. It's definitely worth it

To all previous reviewers; God only knows why the average rating for this album woudl be only 4 stars. I suggest you listen to it more often! Though virtually all Melissa Etheridge albums are of a very high level, this one clearly stands out in my opinion as the best she has made so far, due to the consistently high musical and emotional level of the songs on this album. Whereas her other albums tend to have several outstanding songs, but often also several less noteworthy ones, this whole album is excellent. Personally, I would also consider 'Keep it precious' for the title best pop-rock song (composition) ever. (Another one on my list for that title would be Bonnie Raitt's '(Goin') Wild For You Baby', to add some perspective.)

While maybe not her most popular album, I find it by far her best (and boy have I listened to her albums; I possess every single one of them and they are starting to show some wear). The reasons? It is extremely versatile; the most complete range of styles she has explored are represented. Not just a couple of huge stand outs but each one at a level rarely seen. Also, it contains possibly the best pop/rock song ever 'Keep It Precious'; turn off the lights, turn up the volume and let yourself be carried away. Send me to a completely isolated island with just 5 CDs for the rest of my life and this one will be among them!

I started very late to listen to her music. But the moment I heard it, I thought, that is how music should sound. Especially two songs inspired me. "Meet me in the back" and "the letting go". I never thought that lyrics could be so touching. Great stuff and I always love to listen to it again.

In the dozen years that have passed since this album came out Melissa E has become somewhat overrated and over glorified, now I'm not saying Melissa doesn't deserve the kudos she is bestowed, in fact I was on that lesbian bandwagon way before anyone outside of the music critic's circles knew she existed. The prob is Melissa's first four albums (Melissa Etheridge, Brave & Crazy, Never Enough, Yes, I Am)were great - spirited, spunky, thought provoking, sad and happy all at once. But after that she decided to stick to the formula on Yes, I Am and milk it for all its worth. Sure she had some great hits post Yes I Am, but to me it was always her album tracks that really shined and its on those first albums where she was saying something new. I tend to go back and forth between this album (Never Enough) and Brave & Crazy as my favorite Melissa albums, but since I wanted a little more rocking in my ears, I opted to dust off this CD and play it for all its worth - featuring one of my fav singles "Ain't It Heavy" (Sometimes it's never enough/ survival is fine but satisfaction is rough) Melissa goes for a feminist approach before crunching into one of her most experimental songs "2001" which now that its 2006 doesn't pull the punch so much anymore ("wake me up when we hit 2001") but it's still a good song. Most of the songs incorporate her old school rock roots with some twang thrown in here and there, and of course songs of sex - though Miss E was pretty clever in these early days never giving the songs' characters a real gender thus making the song one anyone straight or gay could sing along with and of course there's the little over the top ballads she would later be known for but like most of Melissa's work, it's her lyrics that have always pulled me in, and Never Enough really pulls you in from beginning to the end.

This is something of a transitional album for Melissa Etheridge. After he stellar debut and a follow-up that was a bit too raw for the mainstream, there is something of an effort here to go 'pop'. Such songs as 'Ain't It Heavy' and '2001' add some pop beats that are ok, but pretty much disposable. 'Must Be Crazy for Me' and 'Meet Me in the Back' are also upbeat songs but these work.

However, digging into the album a bit more we find her strengths, when that acoustic guitar get strumming and her voice really penetrates to the very soul. One of my favorite songs, 'Keep It Precious', is found on this album. The other slower numbers on this album are also excellent showing her range. She is no flash in the pan. Overall, it's not as strong as her debut nor as consistent as 'Yes I Am' but this one's a must have for any fan.

This cd is so different from her others, but at the same time it still reveals Melissa's creativity. This is a more "serious", I guess you could say, cd, in the sense that she talks a lot about being a lesbian and how it can affect your life. "The Boy Feels Strange" is a perfect example of this. I still believe that it's worth buying even though it's not your typical rockin Melissa. My favorite though has to be "Keep it Precious", it talks of a love that has to be forgotten, but she still wants them to take care... how sweet is that!!!

Melissa Etheridge is one of a kind. Phenominal in every way as a singer, song writer, musician, performer, human rights activist, role model, and lesbian. Never Enough has insight foresight and hindsight if you read between the lines. Somewhat autobiographical continuing the journey that you hope doesn't end. The cd rocks, so does M.E.! ;)

I genuinely like every song on this CD, and yet nothing quite measures up to the songs I love on Brave and Crazy. Ain't It Heavy, 2001 and Must Be Crazy For Me and The Letting Go are my favorites -- the only songs that tend to make he hit repeat. The piano work on The Letting Go truly is gorgeous, and Melissa's voice is perfect for the song. Crazy For Me has a great beat, and it's a interesting sound. Love that there are some all out rockers on here, too. As much as I like that Etheridge experimented with this album, and I admire her for doing so, the album doesn't come together as a whole -- it feels a bit disjointed. That said, the worst of Melissa Etheridge is better than the best of some other singers. It's still worth getting if you're a fan, it just likely won't turn you into a Melissa fan if you aren't one now.