Customer Reviews

Peace (Reis) (Dlx) (Dig)

5 star:		(92)
4 star:		(63)
3 star:		(18)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(17)

 

 

For 10 years, Eurythmics' fan base has eaten up individual efforts such as Dave Stewart's "Lily Was Here" with Candi Dulfer and Annie Lennox's albums Diva and Medusa. The idea of a Eurythmics reunion seemed far-fetched at best. Stewart had settled in nicely in the United Kingdom as a man behind the scenes, and Lennox was gaining respect among fellow singers and critics as a solo artist. Well enough, this year VH1's artist poll ranked Lennox ninth among the 100 greatest women in rock and roll, higher than such ancestors as Carole King, Patti Smith, Joan Armatrading, Diana Ross and Siouxsie Sioux. That's a lot to place on the shoulders of this Scotswoman. (Later in December, Eurythmics' landmark 1983 video "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" will be broadcast among the top 40 of MTV's Top 100 music videos of all time.)

The announcement of a Eurythmics reunion may have been received with trepidation: why stop the solo progression on either end now? Well, Lennox and Stewart both have said that working together after the 10-year hiatus turned out to be too much fun to forego. The result is a mix of melancholy and fun with sprinkles of environmentalism and love's agony. It's a lot to place into one album, but Peace pulls it off very well.

Critics have been lukewarm about Peace, lauding Lennox's vocal delivery but criticizing Stewart's production value and saying, over all, that this album lacks the drive that was in earlier classics like 1985's Be Yourself Tonight and 1986's Revenge. I can't be sure this is what Eurythmics were driving at with this effort. How, after 10 years off, can Lennox and Stewart expect to have grown and still come up with pure pop? Let's be honest. Their music was never "pure" pop. There were always dark shades of despair, paranoia, seclusion and antipathy in the music that emanated from Lennox and Stewart in the '80s. They may have packed it with soul and some rock and roll, but that doesn't disguise such feelings. So having some Beatles inspiration in songs like "Forever" on the new album I can only construe as diversifying one's sound. The lush strings and lack of "cheesy" synth riffs makes the entire production value incredible, in my opinion.

Some critics say this sounds like a brand new band as opposed to the reliable Eurythmics. But I contend that their spirit is still here. Songs like "I Want it All," "Power to the Meek" and "I Saved the World Today" definitely shine with what we fans would consider a traditional Eurythmics feel. "Peace is Just a Word" is emotional. "Beautiful Child" and "Anything But Strong" are powerful. "I've Tried Everything" and "Lifted" are haunting. The first U.S. single release from the album, "17 Again," is simply awe-inspiring. Lennox's voice seems more provocative and beautiful than ever. It makes you wonder if this woman ever ages.

And, for those of you who still think they've lost "it" over the years, you should've seen the show Dave and Annie did in New York in early November 1999. The revival was intense. And, after all those years growing up feeling isolated as a Eurythmics fan, knowing few people who knew anything of the group's music other than "Sweet Dreams," I felt true solidarity with a crowd that screamed at the slightest hint of an oldie that Annie was about to croon. This band really does live on, and it's better than feeling like I'm 17 again.

It is first interesting to note that although the popularity of 80s music has returned, Annie Lennox has increased her popularity throughout the 90s despite this hip trend. Hence the debut of this album as the top debut in the nation for the week. After the popularity of 'Diva' and 'Medusa', it seems everyone is curious to hear how Dave Stewart influences her on the latest project. Although a Eurythmics fan since 'Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)', it wasn't until Annie Lennox broke out on her own that I became an Annie devotee. With the brilliant writing in 'Diva' and personal adaptation of songs in 'Medusa', Annie seemed to grow gracefully with age, pouring her soul into intensely personal projects. Many consider both albums to be classics, and unlike most music this decade (98 degrees? That's a temperature, not music), we will find our children listening to these albums. So, What of 'Peace'? Most noticeable is its variety. What Annie comes back to is some of the hard edges of their music; songs such as 'Power to the Meek' and 'I Want It All' complement Annie the rock singer, and 'I've Tried Everything' is soulful yet letting Annie rage. Yet, I prefer the sheer beauty of songs such as 'I Saved the World Today', a haunting song that allows Annie's unique voice to complement it as a classic, far and above the best on the album. 'Forever' is Beatlesque, featuring horns and guitars reminiscent of 'Sgt. Peppers'. The ending, 'Lifted' makes me feel just that - inspired and lifted. I am hopeful that most people appreciate this album as I have - interesting, varied and inherently listenable. Looking forward to their success!

When I first bought this album I found it a little depressing. It may have been my mood, or maybe it's the melodramatic lyrics. Anyway, I got over that pretty quickly when I realy listened to the the lovely "Saved The World Today", or the rocker "I Want It All". Then I noticed other standout tracks like the spare and beautiful "My True Love" which showcases Annie's vocals best on the album, and "Power To The Meek" reminded me a little of the duo around their "Missionary Man" days. And if the slower tracks leave you a little downtrodden, they do at least leave you on thier last cut with the subltle and pretty "Lifted" - a song about just hanging in there.

So, no, this is not my favorite album from Dave & Annie (I have all of them), but it is a satisfying update to some of their classic work, so I gave it four stars. My favorite albums are still "Touch" and "Sweet Dreams", but this is a nice addition to my collection.

The least fans can do for this band is put the work into actively listening to this album that the Eurythmics put into giving us all the joys of their 80's material. This album does indeed lean towards a more melancholy, ballad style than found on most any eurythmics album of the past. However, there are some rockers here, like the freak-out, "Power To The Meek' and "I Want it All," both superb rock performances by both Lenox's voice and Stewarts musicianship. "Beautiful Child" is, quite simply, the best ballad put to tape since "Here Comes The Rain Again," and almost every song is rich with a catchy chorus and stinging guitar work. Stewart shines on the title track, while Lennox's song writing proves its endurance on "17 Again," 'I Saved The World Today," and the remarkable piano extravaganza, "Forever," which sounds good enough to be on any Beatles album. No, this album is not likely to rip your ears off after the first listen like their early work, but this is an aged, mature band that is not out to rape the pop charts, but rather to deliver an honest set of music from the heart. Fans cannot rationally expect a band to remain stagnantly entrenched in the same sound they delivered when they were 25 years old. If veteran fans cannot attempt to tune their ears to the Eurythmics new sound, after all the glories of this band's past efforts-not to mention the sheer surprise of a reunion-perhaps they should not have bought a Eurythmics album in the first place.

...It's been nearly twenty years since Annie and Dave released their first US album, and guess what? People change over the course of twenty years. They grow, they find new things to say and new ways of saying them--at least we *hope they do. If you want "Missionary Man," go listen to it--it's still fabulous. But as a longtime fan, I'm grateful they didn't try to make "Missionary Man II." I expect more of them, and this record delivers. "Peace (Is Just a Word)" is one of the most moving songs I've ever heard, as is "I've Tried Everything." Annie's voice is gorgeous, the effects of time only making her delivery more affecting. "I Saved the World Today" sends me shivering, even eight months after I bought the cd. And as to the generally derided "I Want it All" and "Power to the Meek," while not my favorites, they're still an improvement over 90% of the pop music released in 1999. If you're willing to judge the music based on its own merits, rather than as compared to Eurythmics' eighties hits, it's well worth the purchase. And if you're not, maybe you should go back and listen again to the earlier stuff--not just the singles, but all the tracks on albums like "Touch" or "Savage." You may find Eurythmics never was the simple, pop-synth dance band many people remember, but a band of real depth and stylistic diversity.

Eurythmics were quite possibly the most misunderstood popular group in the eighties, especially by me. When I first saw them parading around on "Sweet Dreams..." I thought of them as smug new wave and nearly dismissed them. Then I heard "Right By Your Side" and it was, perhaps, the least pretentious song of the decade. The onslaught of diverse hits, each accompanied by Dave's understated popslick production, Annie's perfected popslick voice along with some of the most honest songwriting ("Sisters...," "Would I Lie To You," "Thorn In My Side," "Who's That Girl," "Here Comes The Rain Again," et. al) left me wondering if this was the greatest duo ever.

Where were they in the nineties? Solo projects, mostly, and just living off of the eighties royalties. They could have kept doing that, I am sure, and pretty much left their legacy intact. An impromptu "wedding present for a friend" resulted in a reunion concert, and the time felt right for a new collaboration. No press. No MTV Unplugged or VH1 Behind The Music/Storyteller. They could very well have gone that route and almost certainly tripled the sales of this new album. But they did not, and it feels right.

Nothing on this album feels rushed. The lyrics are laced with ironic musings and smiling laments. This album is in the truest of Eurythmic sense, totally honest...and totally unpredictable. Dave Stewart reigns in the sound for a more subtle backdrop to Lennox' interpretations of their words. And she has the voice to do it. But this is not Annie's third solo album. Each note is with purpose and tension, pushing her to a balancing act on the tightrope she hurled herself over in the past. This is not something today's pop divas are capable of. Mariah Carey would be out in space somewhere, Whitney would be urging the crowd for adulation and it is not even fair talk about Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. Maybe Anita Baker could walk this line, but she, like Annie Lennox, is not in a hurry for a rekindling of her 80's fame.

The album is as good as anything they have ever done. "Peace Is Just A Word," "I Saved The World Today" and "Anything But Strong" are just about the wisest pop songs I have ever heard. They sound great, too. This album has no throwaway tunes, which is rare for any major record label, an entity that lives and dies by the release schedule. Eurythmics, with "17 Again" divorce themselves from that madness. They pulled a Gerry Rafferty on this one. Sure, they will release albums, but only at their own pace.

People tend to associate bands with the decades they were most successful in. The Beatles are usually remembered during they're 60's heyday. Fleetwood Mac will always be connected to 70's and Rumours. And the Eurythmics are forever linked to the 80's with their emotional electronic sound and brashly honest lyrics. Peace is unlikely to change this and yank them into the 90's but it gives it a bloody good go and they deserve full marks for effort.

Those expecting a rehash and retread of Sweet Dreams and Sex Crime will initially be disappointed. The music is reminiscent of Angel and Miracle of Love with its acoustic guitar work and spare backing. The meaning is obvious: Dave and Annie have grown up and are making grown up music. These are people in their 40's dealing with 40's problems - raising children, a slight cynicism with the world and looking back on younger days with a nostalgic glow. That doesn't mean they've lost any of their sense of humour. Try keeping a huge smile off your face as the the irrestibly chirpy lyrics of 17 Again suddenly and beautifully make way to the chorus of Sweet Dreams. It's a strikingly effective link to who they were and who they are now. If only all musicians could grow old as gracefully (Bowie and Jagger, I mean you).

The brilliance continues. Power To The Meek sees the return of 'Anxious' Annie in full shouty mode, I Saved The World Today's patient optimism smacks head on with Peace's downbeat futility and My True Love is one of the finest songs they've ever done. But ten years apart does do a little bit of damage and there are a couple of glitches. Beautiful Child misfires ever so slightly, I Want It All trys to be I Need A Man and fails and Forever is so Beatles sounding it hurts. It doesn't mean they're bad, just not good enough to get 5 stars.

Of course there will be those that will scoff at this fine collection and persecute it as nothing more than a cash-in on the anniversary of their split. These people need to do what Annie and Dave have done: grow up. The 80's died ten years ago, the 90's mere months. This album is not a reminder of how good they WERE but of how good they ARE. If you're lucky they'll do another one. Start hoping.

Band reunions, or so it seems, all to often do little else but serve as painful reminders of previous achievements and heydays. More often then not they make all but the artists' die hard fans wince in pain, or shrug in indifference. But every once in a while there is an exception, and the result is a reunion that excites, compels, and exalts. The reunion album "Peace" by the 1980's duo Eurythmics is such a reunion.

Beginning with the warm, yet wistful "17 Again" and ending with the comfort and reassurance of "Lifted," "Peace" is a remarkable achievement, full of great songs, impeccable production and, of course, the glorious vocals of one Annie Lennox.

Long term fans who have been waiting ten years for the duos return (and almost five since the last Lennox solo project) will find plenty else to love too. From the snarly rockers "Power To The Meek" (I defy you to not hit the repeat button on your CD player after this one) and "I Want It All," to the surprisingly optimistic "I Saved The World Today," to the contrastingly downbeat "Peace Is Just A Word," there is something here for everybody. With any justice "Peace" will not only remind Eurythmics fans of why they have missed Dave Stewart and Annie Lennox as a team, it will also successfully court an entire new generation of fans, hungry to know that there is more to the music world then Spice Girls, Backstreet Boys, N'Sync, and countless other flash in the pans. Yes, Virgina, there is sophistication in pop.

The first time I heard that Eurythmics were planning a reunion album, I was more than a little suspect. After all, Annie's solo career didn't necessarily need to be "rescued." Originally I didn't even buy the "Peace" CD when it was released, and there was a time when I was at the door of the shops the day a new Eurythmics' disc hit the shelves.

But then came two rather unconventional events. One was an episode of "The Sopranos." At the end of one show, after Tony Soprano decides that he didn't need to resort to violence to solve a problem, the fabulous and haunting "I Saved The World Today" played below the credits. I instantly recognized Annie's voice but not the song. A few days later, the A&E network played the Eurythmics' reunion concert show featuring a few of the songs from the new CD, "Peace," and the classics from their past. I was astounded that all the new songs didn't sound like throw-aways and bought the new CD that week.

I'm glad I did, because unlike most reunion albums that come across as desperate attempts to snare a few extra nostalgia bucks, "Peace" sounds like Dave and Annie never had the fights that split them after "We Too Are One." The tongue in cheek "17 Again" even teases the listener with references to "Sweet Dreams." Yet the remainder of the songs, especially the title track, follow in the footsteps of Annie's finest solo material. Dave's rocker instinct comes to the fore in a couple tracks ("I Want It All" and "Power To The Meek"), which could have been from "Savage" or "Be Yourself Tonight."

There are days I actually like "Peace" better than Annie's "Bare," because here she has an exuberance that "Bare" needed so much. (Not that I would ever say you shouldn't own both!) But "Peace" certainly builds on the Eurythmics' legacy of durable albums, and a worthy one off between two artists with undeniable chemistry.

The time apart must've helped; Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart have made the best album of their association together. In place of the sometimes tiresome histrionics Lennox would go into when singing in the past, you get vocals here that sound assured and full, brash when called for and moving and soulful the rest of the time. The songs are SONGS, thank goodness, and the arrangements take full sonic advantage of your ears without pummeling them into chutney. This is one of the best albums of 1999.