Customer Reviews

Telling Stories

5 star:		(65)
4 star:		(32)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Amidst all of the dark stories generated by most facets of the media, here is a woman who just beems with light! Even her most heart wrenching songs seems to call up hope from somewhere deep. It is easy to develope expectations from a particular artist in how they should sound based upon previous projects. However, people progress and evolve (most, anyway). I've read reviews by some who say she doesn't groove on "Telling Stories" like she had in the past. That may be. But relax and give this disc a few listens, beginning to end. You'll find it has a powerful and delicious flavor, although delicate. Like a fine wine or a very good scotch. Swirl it around a bit; really taste it! "Telling Stories" is very thoughtful, warm, and reflective. Tracy's voice cuts right into me, as always. Her band did a great job as well: again, very tasty yet subtle. Her music is an absolute blessing to the world! Beauty is only skin deep? Not at all. Tracy Chapman is saturated in it! Thank you, Tracy, for another incredible disc! P.S. - If you're looking for a drummer...

I've been a Tracy Chapman fan since I first heard "Baby Can I Hold You" way back in the 1980s. I thought her first album was incredible, but the followups left me a little disappointed. Even though there were very good songs on all the albums, there wasn't much depth or consistency. I got "Telling Stories" on Saturday and have been listening to it ever since. Reviews say it is similar to her first cd, "Tracy Chapman", but to me it seems more like a synthesis of that album and the style of some of her worthier competitors, like Natalie Merchant. If you like Tracy Chapman, Natalie Merchant, Julia Fordham, or early Everything But The Girl, you should enjoy this cd. One word of caution: the blues grooves that made "Give Me One Reason" such a big hit are missing from this album. The album also flows well from start to finish, for an amazing listening experience.

Telling Stories is a classic Chapman release that will please all fans, but includes some new sounds and rythms that might surprise the first time around. The introductory track and "Speak the Word," the third extract, would not be included in the usual Tracy repertoire. "Unsung Psalm," the sixth song, is certainly the climax of the album; a very peaceful, poetic, and inspiring piece. The songs that follow are far more typical and equal to the standard set in previous Chapman albums. In general, a good release and a sure buy, despite lacking the brilliance of songs such as "Fast Car" or "So."

I am not in the music industry, so I am not sure just how Ms. Chapman does it. With each recording, the sound quality and vocals get better and better. This is one WELL RECORDED album. Additionally, Ms. Chapman's unique vocals captivate and pull the listener into a trance-like dream state (especially with Ms. Harris on background vocals). Pour yourself a nice cup of Joe, curl up with a fuzzy blanket, sit back and enjoy being mezmerized.

Music is supposed to be all about communication and expressing your inner thoughts and feelings and Tracy Chapman is one of the few artists around who seems to fully understand and believe that . Her work over the years has been direct and undeniably brave in terms of honesty and sensitivity . In " Telling Stories we meet a more gentle and compelling as always Chapman , singing about lies ( the tittle track ) , love ( " Speak The Word " ) and death ( " Unsung Psalm " ) . The track which in my opinion stands out though is the tender , low-key " Wedding Song " .

One of the best things about this album is to see that , more than a decade after her amazing debut , Chapman's virtues as a singer-songwritter remain intact . Her meticulous lyrics full of self-awareness , her warm , striking voice , her humble personallity - so real and humane you just can't help but admiring are all still here . " Telling Stories " is a record of rare beauty and soul , one to cherish forever and ever .

More than a return to the production and writing values of her earlier work, I see this album as both a return to her past but a step towards the future. The songs here are shorter, more focused, less about social issues in an abstract sense, and the arrangements are varied. There are some incredible grooves. The treatment of love in the lyrics is varied and original; Chapman has a great way of making simple words somehow transcend their simplicity and become more meaningful. It is owed in part to the musical swells and nuances of the production but also to her beautiful, strident voice that still strikes me as one of the most human I have ever heard. She is one of the best musicians of our time. Although I still find "Fast Car" to be her best song, this might be her best album as a whole.

Don't get me wrong, I really like Tracy Chapman - BUT I expected better considering it is 5 years between albums. 'Telling Stories' begins with the title track which has received reasonable airplay in Australia for awhile now. The song eventually grew on me as it is rather catchy, so I went and bought the album. I have listened to the album more than 5 times, and it is rather dull. It is lacking some magic and life, and fails to really deliver. After each track, you wait for the next one to be a little different but they all sound very similar. As mentioned by other readers, the album is very short in that finishes well under 45 minutes. I believe consumers are entitled to a few bonus tracks these days. My favourite tracks include 'The Wedding Song' and 'Unsung Psalm'. The album is probably an ideal purchase if you want background music for a dinner party, but for those who are after some Chapman music - go for the first album.

Tracy's latest album touched my heart as much as her others, all of which I have and treasure. This one speaks right to the heart especially "Wedding Song" and "Unsung Palm". Her voice is fantastic and her message of the human condition is really inspiring - it always reminds me that despite all the tragedy and misery in the world as long as we each try our best to live our lives right then everything will somehow be okay.-The humble, innocent and complete trust in " wedding song" lifts the heart into believing that a love as pure as that does exist and you feel special just to have been able to have her share that part with you. A very special lady, a beautiful voice and lyrics that let you know that yes, there is a heaven!

In this album, Tracy does what she always does; take a piece of her heart and give it to us. As in her other albums, she sings with that powerful voice about troubles of the world, but she provides beautiful guitars and voices to background it. This album is no exception. Flowing tunes that never falter, filled with pain, beauty, compassion and fear are what you can find on this album. If you want rap go to Eminem. If you want rock, go to Metallica. If you want a beautiful record, with tunes that stay with you and feeling that touch your soul, than buy Tracy Chapman's "Telling Stories". You will not regret it.

This CD is both an introspective view of the past 5 years and hopefully a glimpse of where the next 5 years will take this artist. Strong insightful lyrics, delivered with a conviction sorely missing in much of today's music. Some of this is presented in the characteristic Chapman monotone, however, this is not unappealling. With such powerful lyrics, you easily defocus on the delivery and refocus on what is being said, not how. Great muscianship throughout; a sparkling production that brings the most salient quality of each song to the forefront. Emmy Lou Harris was a great addition to this production; I only wish we had been treated to full duet with these two talents. Buy this and the repeat button will get a workout. Ms. Chapman this was well worth the wait, but don't let us wait this long for another CD of this caliber.