Customer Reviews

Reviens

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Garou (né Pierre Garand in Sherbrooke, QC) burst onto the Québec music scene in 2000 with his debut album Seul after a successful star-making run in Luc Plamondon's musical Notre Dame de Paris. His good looks and Joe Cockeresque trademark growl proved a hit with francophone music buyers, but I found his first album to be hit or miss on memorable songs.

On his sophomore album "Reviens," Garou has assembled a list that reads like the Who's Who of francophone pop stardom, almost all of whom are frequent Céline Dion collaborators: Luc Plamondon (Notre Dame de Paris, Starmania), Jean-Jacques Goldman, Jacques Veneruso, Gildas Arzel, and Erick Benzi (the four "guys" on Céline's "1 fille & 4 types" album from 2003), Didier Barbelivien, Romano Musumarra, and Aldo Nova.

This time around, Garou's thrown in an interesting mix of styles that veers away from the overproduced sound on his last album, blending old-fashioned rock with nods to country (Et si on dormait), gospel (Pendant que mes cheveux poussent), and blues (Une dernière fois encore). One song in particular (Les filles) finds Garou channeling legendary French rocker Jean-Jacques Goldman, with his intimate delivery, witty lyrics, and strummed acoustic guitar (J-J plays guitar on this track).

A standout was "Le sucre et le sel," which finds Garou en trio with two contestants of Québec's Star Académie (Pop Idol), identical twins Suzie and Annie Villeneuve of Saguenay. The sensual ballad seems to unfold in slow motion, and the girls provide a fabulous counterpoint to Garou, who sings his part with an unusual gentleness that showcases a different side of his register.

"Reviens" gives us a more confident Garou on top of his game, featuring engaging lyrics, great mixing, a knockout guitar-driven band (versus the more synthesizer-driven debut Seul), and a high-energy blend of catchy rock interspersed with quieter, reflective moments. If you're new to Garou or Québécois pop, this is a great first album to invest in.

'Reviens' is a unique album that instead of following the same pop formula of 'Seul'; Garou, the lyricists, the producers have opted to go in a different direction...by showcasing and extending Garou's vocal style, intensity and range.

The songs contained explore refreshingly different and ecclectic styles from the blues of 'Une dernière fois encore' to the old gospel spiritual sound of 'Pendant que mes cheveux poussent' to the guitar heavy rock of the 70s in 'Hemingway' to the Cajun sound of 'Les filles'.

This is an album worth buying, listening to and keeping, because if the lyrics and the music don't get you, his voice will!!

Here's to a long lasting and fulfilling career for Garou and Company.

Great album. And the voice this man has!!! It's like several different voices in one. He's being compared to Joe Cocker and other Zuccheros - not unjustly, he's from the same vocal family. But the power, the range od his voice - and his incredible versality make him unique in the world. And this album does him more justice than his debut one. Really good songs, especially Gerald De Palmas' "Et si on dormait", also "Pendant que mes cheveux poussent", "Les filles".
But the best ones, in my view, are three songs closing the album: "Ne me parlez plus d'elle", "Un premer regard" and the beautiful, beautiful blues "Une derniere fois encore". Good job,Garou,now we are waiting for more! I know that he recorded an English-language album too, but for some mysterious reasons Sony Music refuses to release it. Why is that? He's too good for Sony, maybe?

This is the third album from the French-Canadian singer, Pierre Garand. A.K.A. Garou. This ablum has a wider style of music to it than the last album; From the cute and soft song "Les Filles"( The Girls). And "Le Sucre et le Sel" (Sugar and salt), a sort of soft love song. To a more 70es/80es rock song "Hemingway".
I have really enjoyed every thing sung by this artist, Garou has power and a unqueness to his voice that far surpasses any American Pop singer! I also enjoy his ablity to put so much feeling into singing any given song, even when you don't really understand the words. And you have to enjoy listening to a man who loves people and his "job" so much.
I highly recomend this album, perticularly tracts:1,2,3,5,6,8,11, and 13. Tract 2 was writen for Garou by Gerard De Palmas, also a great French Singer/Song writer! If you are into French rock, or are just looking for "something new" this one is a must!

I discovered Garou's music just after the release of "Seul" and loved it right away. I bought that CD having never heard of him. But I was very familiar with the producers of the CD and figured it was worth a try. And it was!
Three years later.... "Reviens" is almost worth the wait. And I say "almost" only because it is hard to meet the high level of expectation that builds over that period of time.
All songs are strong and very "Garou": an unmistakeable voice that tends to dominate. Contributions from Jean Jaques Goldman, Luc Plamondon, Erick Benzi and others make for some fine songs. After a few listenings I am very pleased. However, I haven't heard anything break out yet with the strength of some of "Seuls" cuts: "Sous le vent" for example.
But if you like Garou - and I very much do - then you will like "Reviens".

'Reviens' is a unique album that instead of following the same pop formula of 'Seul'; Garou, the lyricists, the producers have opted to go in a different direction...by showcasing and extending Garou's vocal style, intensity and range.

The songs contained explore refreshingly different and ecclectic styles from the blues of 'Une dernière fois encore' to the old gospel spiritual sound of 'Pendant que mes cheveux poussent' to the guitar heavy rock of the 70s in 'Hemingway' to the classically French 'Les filles'.

It's difficult to find an album, where the quality of the production, musicianship, the writing, and the vocals don't follow the standards set by many of today's mainstream cookie cutter "artists".

This is an album worth buying, listening to and keeping.

Here's to a long lasting and fulfilling career for Garou and Company.

Thank you.

Well first hear Garou from the Cable TV. He had a great voice control and a unique voice. Got the first album thru friends from Canada actually. To bad that the album is not in Singapore market. With the comeback of the second album, I believe that it will be great than the first album. Hope that this album could be in Singapore Market as I will definately get the album rather than listening or download from computer as in Singapore, we believe in buying original and not piracy CD. Believe that this will be one of the best album in international market.

Garou Puts Passion Into Everything He Sings...He Simply Can't Help It!!!! That Voice Is Heaven Sent!!! The Cd Is Different From His First Solo Cd...But Every Singer Grows & Stretches!! Now If We Could Just Get An English Cd Too!!!!