Customer Reviews

Piece By Piece

5 star:		(38)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Fans of bluesy jazz-pop crooners Norah Jones and Joss Stone need to sit up and take notice of Katie Melua. Following up on the success of “Call off the Search” (2003), her much anticipated second album doesn’t disappoint, and the twelve gorgeous tracks are guaranteed to mellow you to perfection.

Released since September 2005 in Europe, the Brits have a nine month jump on the USA, but finally this baby has arrived stateside amidst much rejoicing and celebration. Originally from Georgia (the former USSR, not the peachy place) and now settled in the UK, Katie’s sultry voice curls around your speakers and nestles comfortably against your eardrums, and even though I’m no fan of either jazz or blues, I thoroughly enjoyed this album from the first listen.

First single “Nine Million Bicycles” is an excitingly different and unforgettable track that starts with a simple truth: “There are nine million bicycles in Beijing / That's a fact / It's a thing we can't deny / Like the fact that I will love you till I die.” The music is hauntingly beautiful, perfectly matched by Katie’s clean, clear vocals.

Although every track is a winner, there are those that cry out for more attention, namely “Just Like Heaven” from the movie soundtrack of the same name; the social commentary of “Spider’s Web”; bouncy opener “Shy Guy” and the passionately performed title track; but let’s not forget the cover of the Canned Heat 1960’s hit “On the Road Again” and the catchy “Halfway Up the Hindu Kush”. “Thank You, Stars” is another perfect song, and to be honest, I should be recommending every song on this album.

“Piece by Piece” is highly recommended for fans of blues, jazz, pop and intelligent yet romantic music, and that’s no exaggeration.


Amanda Richards, June 6, 2006

Her voice is pitch-perfect; a little Eva Cassidy, a little Alison Krauss. The whole album is beautiful over and over again.

"If you only knew
you could make your dreams come true"

Eternal love, haunting flute, guitar, piano, sweet sexy lyrics and everything you could wish for in a romantic dream of a collection of songs. Katie Melua's crystalline voice is like the comfort of cold milk from a cold glass after taking a bite of a rich chocolate brownie. Her voice is smooth, dreamy and satisfying.

Nine Million Bicycles has modern and nostalgic notes woven into a sweet fantasy of a song. When she isn't dreaming about enticing shy boys, she is poetic in her social commentary and delves into provocative concepts we face daily, but often fail to address.

I love the hopeless romantic concepts in "Piece by Piece," which is so true about trying to forget someone you love. Katie Melua isn't shy about getting downright sexy in some songs and her honesty is intriguing.

Most of the songs seem to embody a sweet country/folk mood with modern appeal. At times she seems to transcend the limitations of descriptions like adult alternative. She ranges from classical to country (On the Road Again) to jazz (Blue Shoes). She seems as comfortable alone with a guitar (Thank You, Stars) or on a stage with an orchestra. At times you can imagine she has walked out of an old movie and is singing a romantic ballad captured in a moment in time. "I Cried for You" has elements of ecstasy in a story of sadness. The entire album is exquisite with romantic appeal.

"You're the one I love most of all..."

~The Rebecca Review

When you're born with the ability to sing like Katie Melua, they could set a shopping list in front of you and you'll break people's hearts singing it.
Katie has a timeless voice and on her latest album she has chosen a set of blues-based songs that set it off perfectly.
Huge natural talent was always going to secure Katie Melua's future, the excellence of "Piece By Piece" will simply reinforce her arrival as major force.
Nonetheless, this offering does not surpass in beauty and success her debut album (which became Britain's biggest seller and has so far attracted three million copies world-wide).
The album does occasionally reach out to a potentially wider fanbase thanks to its ability to draw on a number of influences and remain fascinatingly diverse.
There are some self-penned tracks as well as some covers but, for the most part, it's an accomplished affair that feels as though Melua has taken her time over it.
It's also distinctly blues-based, occasionally feeling ponderous depending on the mood it catches you in at the time.
Highlights include the single, "Nine Million Bicycles", which is genuinely sweet. The track was inspired by Melua's own visit to China and some of the things she heard on the trip, thereby equating the fact that there are nine million bicycles in Beijing with the certainty she is in love.
The meandering blasts of flute that weave their way throughout lend the song a Chinese feel and make it quite enticing.
Further evidence of the album's diverse instrumention is evident on the upbeat and melodic "Thank You, Stars", which provides more heartfelt lyrics and a really nice blend of strings and mandolin.
While the kooky "Halfway Up The Hindu Kush" is another that demonstrates Melua's vocals at their most happy go lucky - it's no coincidence that all three tracks were written by the conductor, Mike Batt.
Elsewhere, Katie demonstrates a more melancholy and mature style on self-penned tracks such as "Piece By Piece" and "I Cried For You" - although such moodswings can sometimes catch you off-guard if you're not in the right mood for them.
More straightforward blues fare comes in the form of "Blues In The Night" and "Blue Shoes", both of which find Melua at her moodiest, while a slightly more rousing cover version of "On The Road Again" feels like the sound of an artists having fun with one of her favourite tunes.
It lacks the edge of the original but should still delight fans, while bringing the album out of one of its brooding passages.
Another cover version drew a more mixed response from both these listeners, however. The artist has re-recorded The Cure's seminal "Just Like Heaven" for the soundtrack of the movie of the same name.
The hardcore Cure fan among us may find it risible and sickly sweet, while the Melua fan enjoy the acoustic guitar and female makeover given to Robert Smith's classic.
That said, given that we represent both a Melua fan and sceptic it's satisfying to be able to report that "Piece By Piece" does achieve what Melua set out to - that is to say, fans will get what they're seeking, while the album does indeed appeal in small doses to those who may not have been touched by the artist's work so far.
Pictures

Piece by Piece~ Katie Melua is a very good album that I picked up just by pure chance. I did not know who this woman was at all and therefore this album was definitely a pleasant surprise. Ms. Melua has tremendous vocal skills and writes descent enough lyrics. The problems with the lyrics is that they become a bit meandering and she seems a bit happy to go on and on which can get a bit tiresome. The best song is without a doubt her cover of the stupendous and astounding cure track just like heaven. The book-let is really well made and the photos are top of the line. Now do not get me wrong, I really like the sound and the vibe of the album. Ms. Melua has vocal skills that can be comparable with some of the best in the business. However with a more strict text editor her songs could have become even better. Still and all this is a very good album that gets the 4 out of 5 stars that it rightly deserves.

I like a variety of music and this CD caught my attention while browsing in a book-music store. Impressed, I bought the album and then went to a Melua concert at the Montreal Jazz fest. She was equally impressive live, displaying a low key, delightful sense of humor along the way. On the CD I like the melodies and intelligent lyrics which don't repeat adnauseam typical of so many popular songs; solid group of musicians; and Katie's singing which doesn't try to overpower, but rather subtly insinuates and seduces. I suspect if she takes care of her voice, it will grow better and better. Mike Batt's and Melua's lyric writing and tuneful music will also, I hope, continue to grow. I don't always like a mellow album, but this one "works". However, only time will tell if Melua will be able to keep producing fresh material (along with Mike Batt). For all our sakes, I hope they do!

This CD is one you have to check out. It's a mellow blend of jazz/pop/country and rock. This CD has great replay ability. This CD is mellow, and most songs are about love. When I first heard it, I pictured Katie sitting on a stool on the stage of a smokey bar room. While I'm not that big of a jazz fan, I greatly enjoy this album, as it's not over done. If you're looking for a great new CD to have playing in the background, or just to play, you NEED to buy this.

I haven't heard a better voice for this kind of music since I first discovered Eva Cassidy, whose voice is quite similar. It's a little like the songs that Norah Jones sings, but Melua's music seems to remain fresh, play after play. Everything about this CD (like her earlier CD "Call off the Search") is pretty much perfect, from Katie's pure voice to the arrangements and great songs. If you're a fan of jazz vocal lite and female singer/songwriters, anything by Katie Melua is a good bet.

I can't believe the world hasn't heard more about Katie Melua! I certaintly hadn't. Her music is gentle with a dash of jazz and other musical elements. Her voice is amazing too. It's breathy without sounding totally inauthentic. I love the tracks "Nine Million Bicycles" and "I Cried for You."

Katies voice is absolutely gorgeous, the songwriting and production are top notch. I was such a fan of her first record, I imported this album last year when it came out Internationally. I rated it my favorite album of 2005.