Customer Reviews

Old Bitch Warrior

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

 

 

How could anyone pan an album with such a great title?

This album is full of great songs, but it does have an uneven quality about it. Truthfully, I didn't like "Old Bitch Warrior" when I first heard it, but it has grown on me and I am now very fond of the disc. It took some time for me to discover the underlying beauty of most of the performances.

There are a number of songs on the disc that Melanie recorded before. Two of the songs were better represented elsewhere: "Rock In the Road" (alternate title: "I Will Get Over") and "Freedom Knows My Name." There are also four of Melanie's classic songs that she re-recorded: "Beautiful People," "Candles In the Rain," "Ruby Tuesday" and "Look What They Done To My Song, Ma." These re-recordings, without taking away from the original versions, contemporize them without compromizing their integrity.

Melanie's vocals are so distinctive that, when she covers another artist's work, she usually recreates the songs as her own. Her version of Gloria Gaynor's "I will Survive" is outstanding. It's different from Gaynor's: less disco-oriented with a more plaintive delivery. Her rock and roll heart shows through on "You Don't Know Me" and "Any Time at All." Her warmth shows through, big time, on the ballads: "Something Warm" and "These Nights."

In "Summer of Love," Melanie recalls the glories of the Woodstock experience. The song was written for one of the Woodstock anniversary celebrations. Her work has developed so much since that time, though. This album is an important part of that legacy even if it is not its strongest link.

While there are a few retreads here, overall this European release from 1995 is a winner. Melanie's voice has matured, much like a fine wine. The cuts vary from folk to rock to country and even a little dance beat on the reworking of "Beautiful People" and Melanie's cover of "I Will Survive." It's too bad that Melanie has been ignored by the mainstream labels; she is a vastly underrated singer and songwriter. Those who are old fans will enjoy this collection. And if you are new to Melanie, this CD is a fine introduction. Give it a listen.

some albums are not so good some are brilliant but you cannot judge a singer with a over 35 years in the business do a number one album each time,no one can do,but is one thing that Melanie does is she sang with passion,and for this album Old Bitch Warrior,has some geat song,Something Warm is my favorite cause she sang it with force...I'd like to tell you that you're beautiful;she does make my hair stand,I don't know how to say that to someone and I wish I could just like that and make their hair stand on the back of their necks

Although there are several great songs on this CD like "These Nights" and "Ballerina", the title song is disappointing and boring, as are many of the other tracks. I have loved Melanie for over 25 years, and keep hoping for her to produce something that will bring her back into popularity in the U.S. This album will not do it. The remake of "Beautiful People" is gratuitous, does that song ever need to be recorded again? The "bonus tracks" have been put out on import CDs so many times that it feels like one spends one's money on the same CD with different title over and over again. I would like to hear Melanie really get up to date. I have always thought her voice would sound great with rock music that was of the caliber of a Fleetwood Mac or Eagles. Sadly, whenever she sings rock and roll songs the backing musicians play a canned, musak sort of rock and roll that does not fit with this talented singer's folksy, old counterculture image. I always get the feeling that there is a desperate family plot to pay the mortgage with another album. I know that Melanie continues to perform in the Netherlands, etc., and in small venues on the east coast of the U.S. I will continue to hope that she'll put out one more great recording. Until then, I will remember "Gather Me", "Leftover Wine" and "The Good Book" as the pinnacle of her career. Sadly, those albums were produced over a quarter of a century ago.

Melanie's recordings can be a bit uneven, causing confusion for the customer. On this Belgian release, there are several recordings of newer songs that we've heard elsewhere. Melanie's Crazy Love CD had me riveted. In this 1995 recording that took over a decade to reach my radar screen, she turns in some excellent tracks. "No Time to Smell the Flowers" pounds gloriously with some lovely strings, "Danger in the dancing, The seasons rush by." The title track opens like a classic Bessie Smith blues, "A scream in the night; Look over your shoulder; Turn on the light." Robin Batteau's "These Nights" blooms under Melanie's classic touch, "No room service after midnight, so I'm dining lite on nuts from the machine & your picture's not like havin' you, but it sure dresses up Room 418." Melanie's take on the Beatles' "Any Time At All" fits wonderfully in this set that focuses on loneliness and sounds freshly updated from the 60s to the 90s, "If you need a shoulder to cry on, I hope it will be mine." "Summer of Love" seems to pay homage to Woodstock where Melanie's star shined bright. It's a strong stately rock anthem. "Ballerina" is a cheerful conclusion to the set with four re-recordings of her classic songs as bonus tracks. "Old B**** Warrior" is a good disc that Melanie's hardcore fans should require. Enjoy!

"OLD BITCH WARRIOR" IS THE MOST MUSICALLY SATISFYING ALBUM FROM MELANIE IN YEARS. THIS IS A MODERN ROCK ALBUM AND PROVES THAT MELANIE HAS GROWN FROM HER MUSICAL ROOTS SUCH AS THE "GATHER ME" ALBUM. THE NEW RECORDING OF "BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE" AND THE GREAT INTERPRETATION OF THE OLD DISCO HIT "I WILL SURVIVE" ARE TWO OF MELANIE'S BEST. MAKES ME WONDER IF EITHER WERE RELEASED AS SINGLES IN EUROPE. THOSE OF US WHO REMEMBER JONATHAN EDWARDS FROM THE EARLY 70'S GET A TREAT ON "I DON'T KNOW WHAT LOVE IS" - A DUET WITH JON AND MELANIE. "SOMETHING WARM" - "THESE NIGHTS" - THE OLD BEATLES HIT "ANY TIME AT ALL" - AND "BALLERINA" RANK AMONG MELANIE'S BEST. EVEN THE "NEW" RECORDINGS OF "CANDLES", "RUBY TUESDAY" AND "DONE TO MY SONG" ARE EXCEPTIONAL. HAVING BEEN A MELANIE FAN FOR OVER 20 YEARS I HAVE LISTENED TO MANY, MANY ALBUMS BY HER - AND I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT THIS ALBUM IS BY FAR HER BEST TO DATE. AN EXTRAORDINARY PERFORMANCE - AND ONE THAT SHOULD SILENCE MANY OF HER DETRACTORS. THIS IS A MODERN INTERPRETATION OF LIFE FROM A WOMAN THAT HAS BEEN AROUND TO SEE IT ALL. AN ABSOLUTELY OUTSTANDING ALBUM THAT RANKS IN QUALITY WITH SPRINGSTEENS "BORN IN THE USA" ALBUM. (YES FOLKS -THIS ALBUM IS THAT GOOD) WITH QUALITY PERFORMANCES LIKE "OLD BITCH WARRIOR" IS IT ANY WONDER HER CAREER SPANS 30+ YEARS? NO FLASH IN THE PAN - TRULY ONE OF ROCKS GREATEST.

After reading a few of the other reviews of this CD, I have renewed confidence in my own generousity. I don't think it's all THAT bad. Unlike most of the reviewers, I like the title track. It's Melanie in kind of a goth mode. Surprisingly, it's not much of a stretch and I think it works well. SOMETHING WARM is pretty and well-done even if it isn't to my taste. The vocal just might be the strongest of this outing. And her version of I WILL SURVIVE is as inspired as it is unusual. It's by far my favorite piece on OBW. Unfortunately, these three are really the only tracks of the 13 original cuts here that really sounds like she was interested.

A couple others are OK, I suppose. FREEDOM KNOWS MY NAME is solid, but as others have mentioned, we've already heard it on several other collections. BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE is truly overdone as is much of her back catalog, but this admittedly silly disco version is campy good fun.

Unfortunately the rest are pretty sad. Many sound as if Melanie and Co. only rented the studio long enough to record them once. Melanie's still powerful and expressive voice sounds as if it isn't even in the right key much of the time. I guess BALLERINA is OK, but to my ears it's more novelty song treacle. And while some have sighted ANYTIME AT ALL, I find it downright painful to hear this magnificent singer fumbling to find the right register.

One can understand the singer's urge to include the "bonus cuts" as they are three of the best tracks on the album. Anyone who missed the European CD's on which these originally appeared, might consider picking up OBW for those alone.

Still, it's definitely an album for Melanie fans. And even then, only with reservations. I give it two stars largely on the strenght of I WILL SURVIVE. I hope, like the other reviewers, that this singer finds her footing one day and nails it just one more time.

Oops, I thought that this album of new material by Melanie would be the album that would bring her back into the spotlight. We all have dreams I suppose. Well, it will have to remain a dream because this isn't the album. Uninspired is the best word to describe it. The title cut buries Melanie's voice in a mass of loud and insipid music.Her voice is there somewhere I suppose. "Beautiful People", yes, another version of this classic. Why is it here? Because it was a hit in Holland, I believe. The rest of this cd leaves me cold. One word of advice for Melanie, dump Peter Schekeryk as a producer; he's tired and obviously bored. Move into the 21st Century with a brand new sound; one that will capture the essence that made you Melanie in the first place.

This album is another "why bother" effort by singer/songwriter, Melanie, who by now should know better. On most every cut, the vocals are so laid back and uninspiring that I wondered if the singer recorded these cuts while ill. Starting with "Rock in the Road," which is a cover of her own original, released in 1993 on the superior "Freedom Knows My Name," the laid back synthesized arrangement and passionless vocals set the tone for the remainder of the album. The title song, "Old Bitch Warrior," should have become an instant Melanie classic; however, the weak piano and listless vocals do nothing to invoke a "warrior," and a potentially good song is completely wasted. Her remake of her own "Beautiful People," with singer Meredith is an embarrassment, using an outdated 1970s disco drum pattern and arrangement. The two singers sound worlds apart. Speaking of worlds apart, the duet, "I Don't Know What Love Is," is equally, if not even more painful to listen to. The only cut that sounds like there was some true inspiration is Melanie's cover of "I Will Survive," which closes the album, save for some bonus cuts from her "Silver Anniversary" collection. "I Will Survive," has an interesing middle eastern sound to it that suits the song and the singer. Unfortunately, someone should have rehearsed and recorded the background singers until they got it right, as they are extremely weak and unfocused. I am certain that Melanie "will survive," after this collection, but we hope and pray that she finds a good producer who will bring her into the real world of the modern day recording industry, and make an honest effort to put out the properly produced album that we all know she has in her.

best album of the year so far . how can she do this to me after so many years? it's fabulous. buy and enjoy.