The Ol' Razzle Dazzle

Missy Higgins | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 17, 2012)
• Original Release Date: 2012
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Vagrant Records
• ASIN: B008645YO4
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,757 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #28 in Music > World Music > Australia & New Zealand

Editorial Reviews

Missy Higgins' 'The Ol' Razzle Dazzle,' is the breakout Australian songwriter's first album in five years and her debut for the label. U.S. tour dates will be announced soon. Recorded in Nashville, and produced by Brad Jones (Jill Sobule, Matthew Sweet) and Butter?y Boucher (David Bowie, Sarah McLachlan), the album s twelve new songs represent the boldest, most experimental - yet irresistible - music of her career.

And they almost never happened.

In 2007, after generating over one million global album sales and a U.S. gold single, performing on top shows like Conan, Kimmel and Leno, logging over twenty TV syncs, and selling out venues like NYC s Terminal 5 and LA's Orpheum, Missy quietly backed away from music. She came back to it after her time at University and through volunteer work. All of her experiences - the ups, downs, uncertainty, questioning and all the lessons learned - have made it on to this album.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic 3rd Album: Filled with Great Pop Tunes and Ballads July 17, 2012

By T. A. Daniel TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:MP3 Music

Missy Higgins' THE OL' RAZZLE DAZZLE is surprising for a few reasons -- Higgins reportedly "quit" music after her fantastic 2007 sophomore album (ON A CLEAR NIGHT). The Australian singer/songwriter apparently utilized her time away well: her new album might just be her best. RAZZLE DAZZLE might be a bit more extroverted than her previous two full-length records. A few cowriters (Better Than Ezra's Kevin Smith, Semisonic's Dan Wilson, Katie Herzig) help craft some of Higgins' more poppy tracks here, with Higgins writing many of the more mellow tunes.

The first track on the album, "Set Me On Fire" serves as a great start. It's a catchy, melodic tune that is dripping with emotion. Lead single "Unashamed Desire," has the same stomping, jazzy pop sensibilities that made Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" a hit. The album's 1-2-3 combo of "Set Me On Fire," "Hello Hello," and "Unashamed Desire" might give new listeners the wrong impression that this is just a pop album. In fact, RAZZLE DAZZLE jumps around from toe-tapping pop tracks to heartfelt ballads; in many ways, it's similar to Adele's blockbuster 21. "Everyone's Waiting," is objectively just an acoustic track, but what Higgins (and cowriter Dan Wilson) bring to the track make it a stunning, beautiful, soaring ballad. After two ballads, Higgins' changes the pace again with "Temporary Love"; a track that wouldn't have sounded out of place in the 1970's disco scene. "Watering Hole" is a bluesy, country stomp. The last four tracks on the album, all penned solely by Missy Higgins, are stripped down affairs (compared to the other tracks on the album), and they feel more personal for these reasons.... The reverb-tinged closer "Sweet Arms of a Tune" sounds the most personal of all, and it's a beautiful ending to a great album.

THE OL' RAZZLE DAZZLE is a fantastic piece of songwriting and arrangement; the album is all over the place in terms of style and genre, but it is all bound together by Missy Higgins' beautifully confident voice and sense of melody. Fans of Adele, Sara Bareilles, or Christina Perri will find plenty of content here to love. Those who are familiar with Higgins' work won't be let down by her third album, and those who aren't familiar would do well to start listening here (or any of her albums for that matter). Standout tracks to sample/download: "Unashamed Desire", "Everyone's Waiting", and "Set Me On Fire." Be sure to check this album out -- it's wonderful.

(Additional Release Information)
THE OL' RAZZLE DAZZLE, if purchased on iTunes, includes the bonus track "World Gone Mad." For listeners that preordered the album, the song "Link in a Chain" is also available. These songs are good (although they don't quite fit on this album), and are worth seeking out for Higgins' fans. Read more ›

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Higgins Rises Like The Phoenix July 17, 2012

By Philip R. Heath TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:MP3 Music

I tried Missy Higgins' last album On a Clear Night a few years ago, but I never really connected with it. However, when I heard the samples from The Ol' Razzle Dazzle, I decided that I needed to give her a second chance. I am certainly glad that I did.

According to Higgins' web site, The Ol' Razzle Dazzle is a comeback album although some may not have known that she was "gone" so to speak. On the surface many of the songs on this album sound like the relationship problems we've heard on Norah Jones' recent album. However, the relationship in question here is the one Higgins' has with writing, recording, and performing.

The opening track "Set Me On Fire" sets the stage appropriately with the line "Melody, you're the only one who saves me." On other tracks such as "All In My Head" she becomes more reflective "I didn't know the dark night of my soul had been blacking you out." She fitting closes out her rekindled relationship with music in the "Sweet Arms Of A Tune".

While the overall tone of The Ol' Razzle Dazzle is earnest with ballads and slower, driven song, there are some exceptions. I thought that "Hello Hello" shared some stylistic touches with "Stray Cat Strut" with the instrumental and vocal rhythms. Then "Unashamed Desire" has some super fun cowbell during the second verse. Finally, "Temporary Love" made me think of "I Will Survive" with its hints of 70's pop.

There is one song ("Cooling Of The Embers") that is not symbolic of Higgins' relationship with music. When I heard this line "What you've become is not who I remember/Is this the cooling of the embers?", I thought it was about an aging parent. However, according to Higgins' web site it is about her grandmother.

Overall, The Ol' Razzle Dazzle is really good album.... It has a lot of variety, and its deeply personal nature give it a strong sense of authenticity. Give it a try. I think you'll like what you find.

Download this: "Hello Hello" Read more ›

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Pretty good November 26, 2012

By BMWilson

Format:MP3 Music|Amazon Verified Purchase

I was more a fan of the sound from her previous album. This album is cool, a nice change of pace... the metaphor to music is intriguing, but it just doesn't have that "it" factor to it that has me connect to this CD- like I think a good to great album should provide.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Not what I hoped for, sorry November 18, 2012

By Sorry

Format:Audio CD

Loved her first two but I agree with the others, this is not what I was hoping for. Missy's other albums have a lot more soulful melodies, timeless relatable lyrics, and simply touches you emotionally. While you can feel some emotionals in this album, it lacks the focus on her best qualities: her melodies, her voice, her simplicity, her lyrics that are so deeply moving and heartfelt! Less production and a lot more of her please! Her interviews make it sound like she is trying to find herself but I fear she is forgetting her past/roots/qualities to please others. I hope time will set her free and wish she would continue to spread her wings. Hope we have not heard the last of this great artist!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Dazzled by the Ol' Razzle sound of Missy October 2, 2012

By ZheyAyoK

Format:MP3 Music|Amazon Verified Purchase

I was trying to think of a good comparison for this album for a friend of mine. The closest comparison I can come up with is sara bareilles, but I'm getting caught up on the occasional piano hooks. The Ol' Razzle Dazzle is more ethereal than anything I have heard by sara bareilles, and Missy's voice seems more smokey rather than powerhouse vocalist. I also think that Missy Higgins incorporates more genre variation into her work. I'm a fan of how she is able to blend her folk sound with classical, pop, and country mixed in to make a great overall album. I also love how this album can be used for a soothing background or introspective and thought provoking.

track review:
SET ME ON FIRE easily the best track. Subtle yet powerful lyrics. I love the slight accent she has on certain words and there seems to be something
HELLO HELLO is probably my least favorite. It has some good parts, but it seems more rigid than the rest of the album.
UNASHAMED DESIRE has a darker feel to the music. It seems as though she let the lyrics flow from the feelings and titled the track accordingly.
EVERYONE'S WAITING has a heartfelt chorus but the entire song has a crazy honest overall feel with what seems like a holy undertone that transfers into somewhat of a power ballad in some places.
ALL IN MY HEAD a slower track with an almost Beatles like build up to the start of her singing. And I can kind of sense a Beatles influence throughout the whole song.
TEMPORARY LOVE follows the last track in contrast once again an open, honest with a faster pace ballad
WATERING HOLE employs elegantly thought out lyrics that fit perfectly with a simple beat. The breakdown of the beat is aa highlight of this song....
TRICKS & IF I'M HONEST probably the most poppy song on the album in terms of lyrics and theme. But don't let that deter you. I really like how she can sing a song that may have very similar ideas as many pop songs but be so much more elegant and plain about the way she describes her experience.
COOLING OF THE EMBERS another introspective and honest song where I feel like I'm living in a state of dreaming.
HIDDEN ONES tells a wonderful story through example of choices that people make. Its a very empowering song if you listen to the words and the music has the feel like builds up throughout the song. The only thing I don't like about the song is the somewhat corky music that crops up for several secons, but overall its one of my favorite songs on the album.
SWEET ARMS OF A TUNE I really like this song because of its classical incorporation of piano and strings along with the folky feel of the guitar. I also think it is a great closer musically and lyrically to the album.

At first I wanted to give this album a 3 mainly because I only really liked SET ME ON FIRE and everything else was pretty good, but didn't speak to me. So I listened through the album a few times. I've not only discovered that I can listen to the whole album the whole way through and enjoy it, but I think it deserves 5 stars. I also bought this album just listening to the samples. Have yet to listen to Missy Higgins' prior work. Read more ›