Customer Reviews

Shadowland

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm writing this because of how often we (I) hear music on the radio, like the band or artist, decide to buy an album, look them up, and discover there are 30 records. I flip through the reviews, mostly written by ardent fans, until I'm exhausted of the task. I buy one and maybe I don't like it; I buy another and maybe I don't like it either. Then I give up.

So... if you've heard a little k.d. lang, think you might like her and want to buy an album I'm writing to say that Shadowland and Drag are the two, of hers, that I like most. Not "Ingenue" which seems to be others' favorite (too boring) and not "Absolute Torch and Twang," in which, frankly I don't hear *absolute* torch nor twang the way I do in "Shadowland."

"Shadowland" has country music in its blood. Not bluegrass or Hank Williams country, and not recent-pop country. Lang has a style all her own. "Waltz Me Once Again Around The Dance Floor" makes me want to, and "Tears Don't Care Who Cries Them," beautifully sweeping, makes me want k.d. not to be the one crying.

This album has some faster (not extremely fast) songs--in a country, guitar, groove way--and it has slower, sweet, and smart songs of love and love lost. My husband commented to me that it sounds a bit 1940's to him; I'd go along with that.

I wouldn't hesitate to start with "Shadowland" as an introduction. I give 4 stars rather than 5 because, to me, 5 is perfection. 4 stars is the highest without eligibility for the Nobel Prize. Try out "Shadowland" if you're looking for some country-based music with a very female and surprisingly beautiful voice that is lush and interesting. k.d. lang has personality and her voice is truly quite lovely.

Kd Lang is ,in my opinion,the best North American female voice of her time.But not all of her Cds are as satisfying as this one.This one shows the Nashville influenced side of Kathryn Dawn Lang as arranged by Owen Bradley who also produced Patsy Cline.In songs like BLACK COFFEE,the title track and I WISH I DIDN'T LOVE YOU SO she passionately and contemporarily delivers tunes written way before her time.She sings DON'T LEt THE STARS...a 50's hit with
unique vigor and belts out the CHris ISaak penned WESTERN STARS so appropriately as the disk opener.It was the first Kd Cd I ever bought and what an introduction it was!

You don't have to like country music to appreciate k.d. lang's extraordinary talent. Produced by country veteran Owen Bradley, this was arguably the recording that put her on the map, with Bradley's super-polished array of songs highlighting her crystal-clear instrument and winning her millions of new fans. Since this CD, she has ventured far and wide, but to many, this will be remembered as the project where it all began.

The title track sets the tone, tapping into country music's wells of melancholy, although Lang's demeanor, persona and voice can't really be put squarely in the country camp. Her influences are much broader, including contemporaries like Chris Isaak, whose suave "Western Stars" opens the disc. Throughout, lang mixes hardcore country -- check out the opening chorus in the lovely "I Wish I Didn't Love You So" -- with what might be characterized as "1940's lounge," and sounds glorious. She could be equally at home in a smoky night club or at Nashville's Grand Ole Opry.

By the time the stunning "Busy Being Blue" arrives, you may think you've never heard a voice like this. After a quiet introduction, the song builds until lang is completely engulfed in a rapturous, torchy wail. This is simply great singing, whatever genre. The final track, "Honky Tonk Angels," features Loretta Lynn and Kitty Wells, whose winsome, plaintive harmonies end the set on a sentimental high note.

The recorded sound is beautifully clear, fully capturing lang's huge cries as well as her quieter moments of lazy sensuality. From an artist who has done many fine recordings, this is one of her best, with influences new and old, and also one of the great recordings of the 1980's.

Shadowland is subtitled `The Owen Bradley Sessions' for good reason: Owen Bradley is one of the main people responsible for the evolution of the Nashville Sound. He minimized the use of fiddles and steel guitars while emphasizing strings and backing vocals. Bradley's production ideas gave artists such as Eddy Arnold, Kitty Wells, Marty Robbins, Patsy Cline, Brenda Lee and Loretta Lynn crossover appeal. Once considered `hillbillies,' artists became popular both in the Country and Pop Charts. K. D. Lang has always had the Midas touch: everything she touches (including Shadowland) turns to gold. Shadowlands is a country CD for people who don't like country music. K. D.'s voice is sultry, smoky and pleading. Favorites include `I Wish I Didn't Love You So,' `Shadowland' and `Tears Don't Care Who Cries Them.' Can anyone do loss-and-heartache better than K. D. Lang? Not for my money.

K.D. Lang is blessed with a phenomenal voice, which she uses like a precision instrument. The selection of songs on this release really allow her to show this off.

A wonderful and timeless collection of music!

From the moment I heard the first song on the this CD, "Western Stars", I was hooked on K.D. Lang. Every song on this CD is a wonderful mix of a little parts western & blues. Just listen to her rendition of "Busy Being Blue" if you don't believe me. If you are a Patsy Kline fan, then you will definantly enjoy "Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes". Well worth the price that Amazon is asking for.

This may very well be the finest CD I have ever come across. kd shows absolute perfection on every note in every song. I have extra copies so I can have one in the car, one by the hot tub and one in the family room - just in case. What a superb voice!!! This is what singing is really all about.

Can I only give it 5 stars?? To echo another reviewer, from the first track, "Western Stars", I was hooked. This CD is permeated, ney, overwhelmed with a dreamy orchestration that delicately gives way to the sultry, seductive and yet powerful crooning of ms. lang. There is not a bad song on here. k.d. doing "Black Coffee" is like Judy Garland doing "The Man That Got Away". There can be no question that God put these ladies here to sing. "Busy Being Blue" evokes images of Etta James. "Sugar Moon" is one of my favorites. In spite of all the people this music brings to mind, k.d. "owns" each and every one of these songs.

I grew up listening to such music as the Beatles, Elton John, David Bowie. Though occasionally artists like Linda Ronstadt could lure me in the direction of country for a song or two, I never intended to like country music!!! This CD, but more accurately, this incredible voice of k.d. lang's, just goes to show that the right woman can turn you around!

First, I love k. d. lang (sic). I've loved her since her "big-boned gal" days when she was barely known outside Canada. And then I heard she was changing her style, expanding, trying new types of songs. "OH NO!" I thought, "k. d. can't leave her roots." It'll be like Linda Rondstadt's style-of-the-month phase after she tired of pop. But how wrong I was! In "Shadowland" k. d. brings her powerful pitch-perfect voice of an angel to truly beautiful torch songs. The result is musical ecstasy. k. d. can do anything, and she proves it in this extraordinary transitional CD. It is a magnificent vocal experience. I thank k. d. for bringing her wonderful voice, and this rich new style, into my repertoire.

This is my "go to" album when the mood requires gentle music with a bit of "twang". k. d. is in great voice in this early recording. That was when you could hear the star quality just resonating through every word. While I think highly of all of her early country recordings, I maintain that this is the best (some would argue for Absolute torch and Twang). Her later efforts become a bit too relevant and forlorn for me. It's difficult to single out any one song as the best...it really depends on what mood you're in. Certainly Shadowland stands out and I love the medley with the "old timers' at the end. Interestingly, I'm not a country music fan. Just a fan of great singing. K.d. is one of the best. I highly recommend this recording