Customer Reviews

New York City

5 star:		(48)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(12)

 

 

The word is that these recordings have sat on the shelf for 3 years. The success of Norah Jones forced the music to be brought out. Well, I'm glad it has now seen the light of day! Norah's singing is even more spontaneous and open on these blues flavored tunes than on her own CDs. And while I admit I would not have purchased the album if not for Norah's involvement, I also enjoyed Mr. Malick's guitar playing. He can be subtle when the song calls for it ("Strange Transmissions") and then cut loose on something like the Stones-ish "Things You Don't Have To Do."

I thought Ms. Jones sounded a little like Janis Joplin before, but with this material the resemblance is even more noticeable. She has a true knack for the blues, and it's great to hear this slightly different side of her talents. If you're a fan of Norah's music, get this CD. You won't be disappointed!

This cd makes a great soundtrack to any road-trip, to be sure. Norah's enchanting vocals compliment PMG's groovy tunes, creating a feel-good, head-nodding album. More up-tempo than Norah's debut, but trust me, this is a great thing. Faint echos of Bonnie Rait or *early* Sheryl Crow...

1) New York City - Title track. Begging to be stolen by some cheezy sitcom and ruined forever, that good. :)

2) Strange Transmissions - Slow, sensual build up, with a catchy musical hook that just makes you want to smile. This is a perfect mix between Mrs. Jones and Mr. Malick...hopefully shades of this will appear on Norah's next cd...

3) Deceptively Yours - Light rockin' song with a lot of soul. Think coctail lounge rock and you'll be closer. Blues-y and beautiful.

4) All Your Love - I heard a friend play this on his stereo and swore it was a young Bonnie Raitt. Traditional blues, with a *slight* modern distortion added in to the guitars. Seductive and sassy.

5) Heart of Mine - A Bob Dylan cover to slow things down a bit. Once more, Norah nails a classic song, while PMG's instrumentation drives her on, note for note.

6) Things You Don't Have to Do - The loudest song on the cd. This one will make you want to get up and dance, for sure. Don't be suprised if you find yourself smiling by the end of the song; It just has a feel-good vibe.

7) New York City (Radio Edit)

Overall - One of the best new cd's of the year...I find myself listening to it more and more every day...maybe now that it's hit the radio, it will encourage more people to experience this shining gem. One negative comment - at a running time of 30:04, it's too short! Though better to end it on a high note than to ruin the cd with a bunch of rushed renditions. Short 'n sweet. A must buy for any jazz/Norah/light rock fan. Expect to be hearing more of this on the airwaves.

Ok, first this is a Peter Malick CD and he did a great job assembling talent and production for this CD. However, I doubt it would have ever been released without the success of Norah Jones. My wife and I saw Nora Jones this summer and it was one of the most enjoyable concert experiences we have ever had and BC (before children) we used to go to a lot of concerts.

This EP brings back that sound and intensity that we experienced at the Norah show this summer. Although, it is hard to pigeonhole this EP's sound into just jazz, pop, blues, or what-have-you. It is just great music. I felt like I could melt into it. The tempo is more upbeat from Norah's solo effort and I like it. That's the way she is in concert and I think it is more natural sound for her. Here is the song list:

1) New York City - Title track. Very Sexy. Should be played on all dates. I cannot believe this not a chart hit.

2) Strange Transmissions - Slower, not one of my favorite on the EP, but it takes you away, but a good date soundtrack.

3) Deceptively Yours - My favorite song on the EP. I hope that Nora brings this sound to her second EP and Peter Malick did a wonderful job on this. Nice up tempo sound. This is the new jazz. I think Nora will move toward this sound for her next CD. The songs for the new CD that she is playing in concert sound similar to this. Things could change before they go to production, but so far this song reminds me of about 3 of her newer ones.

4) All Your Love - Nice blues sound. When we saw her in concert she did about 3 songs that sounded like this.

5) Heart of Mine - Bob Dylan penned. Nice sound reminds of her debut CD sound.

6) Things You Don't Have to Do - More Rock oriented. Norah Shares vocals. Nice arrangement by the PMG. Not what your used to from Norah and the guy singing sounds a lot like Dylan to me.

7) New York City (Radio Edit) - This is the edited radio friendly version of NYC. Although, I have never heard it on the radio or TV.

Actually all these songs are TV and radio friendly on some format, but you and I will probably hear the songs on TV before the radio plays them. The PMG did a great job. Look for Nora to have more of an up tempo sound on her next CD, which hopefully will be out in spring 2004.

This CD came as a complete surprise, and is a wonderful find for fans of Norah, the blues, and the "soon to be much better known" Peter Malick, a fantastic guitar player who for years has toiled in relative obscurity while playing with Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, and other major blues artists.
This is a "short" CD, consisting of 6 tracks, with a radio edit of "New York City" added at the end. 4 of the 6 tracks were written by Malick, with a cover of Dylan's "Heart Of Mine" and a "Chicago-blues" standard, "All Your Love" completing the recording.
The project was the result of Malick stumbling into a club and hearing Norah a few years before her major success of the last year - the two, by way of a mutual interest in the blues, toured together in 2001, and then did two recording sessions together which resulted in this release. The project also features Lee Alexander, the bassist on the "Come Away With Me" project
Malick turns over the vocal duties to Jones on the disc, and you can hear an emerging talent in each of the tracks. Though not quite as polished as the work on "Come Away With Me", the vocals are clear, fresh and distinctive, and are a must hear for any fan of Jones. Particularly worthwhile are the tracks "New York City" where the piano, guitar and percussion interplay is at its best, and Jones's voice sounds so natural in a blues setting. The Dylan cover "Heart Of Mine" is also a real gem, and Norah should be looking through the Dylan catalogue for material, for she has the voice (and talent) to make his music sound vital all over again.
This disc is vastly different from "Come Away With Me", and if you are buying it simply because of Norah, you may be disappointed. But if you like blues, great instrumentation, or a rougher, not overly-produced studio feel (it sounds almost as if the sessions were recorded live), you will be delighted with this project.

Norah Jones, stunningly beautiful, blues infused voice, and Peter Malick and his group have made a beautiful CD. It remains a mystery to me why "New York City" written by Peter and sung by Norah has not become a big hit. The glorious words sung by Norah are enchanting, and for everyone who has had a love affair with New York, you must hear this. Every time I visit New York I will remember this tune.

Peter Malick spent a lot of time in New York City listening to music, and he especially loved a little club called The Living Room. Here he found Norah Jones singing "Since I Fell For You", and he instantly knew that he had found a singer of his tunes. Norah agreed to sing some his music, and they played a couple of gigs in and around New York City. They ended up in a club on a lake in New Hampshire without much enthusiasm from the audience, but they entertained themselves, and decided to make a CD.

This CD is delicious. I found it by looking for Norah Jones new CD. I am so glad, I found it. Sam Maghett's "All Your Love" and "Heart of Mine" by Bob Dylan are stand-outs. Couldn't be better if sung by the maestros themselves. The favorite is , of course, "New York City".
"We were full of the stuff that every dream rested
As if floating on a lumpy pillow sky
Caught up in the whole illusion
That dreams never pass us by."

This is a little known CD and a real find. For you Norah Jones fans, a must buy. Peter Malick is a joy. A fabulous CD that is full of love found and love lost. prisrob

I have Come Away With Me and Feels Like Home (both of which are lovely albums), and this one can proudly stand alongside them on my shelf. Admittedly I was a little wary considering that this was created in collaboration with another artist (I'd never heard of Peter Malick - my loss!), but after listening to this, I can say that I unequivocally enjoy listening to every song. Strangely enough, the song that most people seem to attribute to their hearing of this album in the first place (Heart of Mine), is not my personal favorite, but it's still great listening. Overall the album is a catchy yet intelligent set, and I recommend it wholeheartedly. Norah Jones has never sounded better!

(I've just learned that Peter Malick has another album with additional tunes PLUS all included on this track - I think I would recommend that one instead because I know that I will be looking for more by Peter Malick in the future)

These songs were written by Peter Malick, an excellent lyricist, and he knew just who to go to when he needed someone to bring these songs to life. His lyrics are excellent and fresh here, and her voice likewise, only adding to the deliciousness of the recordings. If you have and have listened thoroughly to Norah's full-length album COME AWAY WITH ME (and if you don't have it you're an unfortunate case) than you should know that many songs on here are certainly nothing resembling leftovers from the album; on the contrary, they'd sound very out of place on it. Songs like DECEPTIVELY YOURS are more upbeat, where Norah's voice goes far beyond where it did on her debut album. The result? Excellent ear-candy that's hard to turn off, and further evidence that Norah's voice is an instrument in itself.

When I got this CD I wasn't sure what to expect. Since it was The Peter Malick Group FEAT. Norah Jones I was afraid it was just a scam to get more money, and that Norah didn't play an important role in the album. I was wrong! Norah not only sings every song, but at her very best!

I loved Norah's other albums, but there were definately a lot of filler tracks. Here, although there aren't a lot of tracks, there are NO fillers.

"New York City" is absolutely stunning. Norah's beautiful voice is heavenly behind the lush jazz beats of The Peter Malick Group.
"Strange Transmissions" isn't quite as catchy, but definately the 2nd best song on the CD

Every song is great! And the way it sounds, it could almost pass off as a live concert! Play this CD at your next outdoor BBQ! It'll feel and sound just like the best Jazz Band in the world is playing on your patio.

Like many people, I heard Norah Jones for the first time on her remarkable album "Come Away With Me." I was immediately captivated by her smoky, sultry voice. Once I got tired of that album (which, I might add, took a long time), I bought "Feels Like Home," which I liked almost as much, and which showcased a more country inspired artist. Smitten by her voice on those two albums, I began investigating whether Jones had a prior musical life, and I was delighted to discover that indeed, she had. "New York City" is a wonderful album that reveals yet another side of Jones; this album is definitely more bluesy and rock infused as compared to the other two albums. And yet again, Jones does not disappoint. Her pitch, phrasing and style are unerring on this album, and I therefore strongly recommend it. The only reason I did not rate "New York City" five stars was that I felt slightly cheated; there are only seven tracks, and two of the tracks are the same song, arranged differently. However, having said that, there are three or four gems on the album that justify its purchase.

OK, for those wondering, well, this isn't an official Norah Jones album, but yes, she does sing on every track of this seven-song EP which clocks in at 4 seconds over the half-hour mark. Still, for her warm lovely soulful voice, she's worth it. As for the Pete Malick Group, their music consists of folky-blues to classic rock. Some of the songs would be at home on that wonderful treasure trove of light pop jazz she released for us, Come Away With Me.

One of those songs is the title track, of which two versions are here, one of them the radio edit, but the full 5:06 version is fine. The nation's largest city is painted as the land of disappointment and disillusions instead of dreams. "New York City/what a beautiful disease" she sings.

No, "Strange Transmissions" is not what she's sending. How about wonderful transmissions? It's a wistful, wondering song that picks up when the electric guitar comes in.

The mid-paced rock blues "Deceptively Yours" is about a woman who finds out her man has been unfaithful and shoots him. Sad line: "Shackled with chains or love/I knew that I had bought/My own coffin nails." It ends with her in a jail cell. There's an electric guitar solo that reminds us that this isn't a Norah Jones album.

Her cover of Sam Maghett's "All Your Love" is more pure blues, a slow swaying number that proves she can do the blues as well as jazz. Love that bluesy guitar as well. My favourite song on this album.

The other cover is Bob Dylan's "Heart Of Mine" done in a tasteful country-ish style. Protecting one's heart comes into mind: "Don't let him see that you need him, don't put yourself over the line, heart of mine." Also, "So malicious and full of guile/I give you an inch and you take a mile/don't let yourself fall/don't let yourself stumble." She did cover Hank Williams' "Cold Cold Heart" on her own album so it's no surprise she does wonders on this song. More great guitar work here from Malick.

Tom Malick trades lines with Norah in "Things You Don't Have To Do", more a classic rocker than the other tracks. Yes, her talents show here, but Norah, please, don't do this kind of music on your next album.

This might be considered a stopgap album before she does her second album proper. Until then, it'll do nicely.