Customer Reviews

This Kind of Love (Dig)

5 star:		(38)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(15)

 

 

This Kind of Love by Carly Simon is her latest album and her voice is as strong as ever! The sound quality is very good and that artwork is nicely done. The one thing I like most about this album is that Carly Simon demonstrates her fine ability to flawlessly perform several different types of songs; this combined with all the personal work Carly put into this CD makes this CD one of her very best yet!

"This Kind Of Love" has a beautiful melody and the guitar work really enhances the natural beauty of this ballad. Carly sings this so sweetly and I'm very impressed. In no way is this boring or silly; Carly truly showcases her emotions here on "This Kind Of Love" and it makes a terrific, strong beginning to this album. "Hold Out Your Heart" has a sensitive melody and Carly Simon delivers this with the panache and charm of the champ she always was! "People Say A Lot" has a hip-hop/rap type of beat that I really like; this song sends a clear message about people who feed off celebrities for their own personal gain. "People Say A Lot" fits in well on this album even though at first blush it stands out against the "This Kind Of Love" and "Hold Out Your Heart."

"How Can You Ever Forget" gives us Carly at her best; the keys are awesome and the strings are used to great advantage. Carly's poignant song is the result of her singing with David Saw, Ben Taylor, Frank Filipetti & Jill Dell'Abate. "Hola Soleil" jumps back from a relatively pensive, slower tune to a peppy, upbeat and catchy tune that is impossible to resist--and how about those drums, too? This is way more than just muzak.

"When We're Together" has a distinctly bossa nova flavor that takes flight when Carly sings this so smoothly; Carly sings this with great sensitivity and the guitars work wonders for this number. "So Many People To Love" sounds more like today's pop music than anything else; Carly's voice is as clear as a bell and she handles this tune flawlessly. "So Many People To Love" is a very well done number that has Carly Simon shining brightly!

"The Last Samba" has a stunning Latin beat with great percussion, woodwind instruments and more--and it all fits in so well with Carly's vocals. "The Last Samba" moves me with its beauty and this is a major highlight of this album. "Sangre Dolce (Sweet Blood)" again has something of a Latin beat but it's mixed in with a few other musical effects to create a sound I rarely hear and enjoy so much. The CD also ends very strong with Carly Simon singing a song to remember a good old friend of hers who died, Art Buchwald. "Too Soon To Say Goodbye" is a beautiful waltz-type ballad with great key modulations that enhance the beauty of this ballad. "Too Soon To Say Goodbye" tugs at my heartstrings and I know this is one song I won't forget anytime soon!

Carly Simon remains one of the best female vocalists of the twentieth century; and with this album we have proof that she's here to stay for quite some while to come. Carly's fans will love this album; and people new to Carly will be amazed at the diversity of songs she delivers so masterfully on this CD.

1987's "Coming Around Again" was a high watermark release for Carly Simon; this effort propelled her back into the forefront of the pop music world. She employed all the "studio tricks" available at the time, using electronic musical devices to wrap the thoughtful lyrics fans were used to. This "come back" nostalgia serves as a point of reference to describe Simon's latest offering "This Kind of Love". Twenty years later, Simon has achieved re-invention, albeit in a much different vein.

This Kind of Love is dedicated to both Art Buchwald ( poignant tribute) and Antonio Carlos Jobim, the latter being most prominent toward influencing the album's sound. Simon takes the musical laws of jazz, Brazilian, and traditional pop to weave a tapestry of interesting odes to the most universal human emotion, in all its complexity.

As the album opens, Simon's voice seems altered, as though time has finally caught another cherished songstress in its merciless web. Fear not.... Simon strikes hot after the title track, and even it is a good, pure "song." As each song detours through the depths of her heart, Simon gets sad ( "Hold Out Your Heart"), indignant ( "People Say A Lot", an obvious stab at modern relevance with the hip-hop delivery), ambivilant ("In My Dreams"), individualistic (" Island", a song delivered by Simon's son, Ben Taylor), and full of acceptance and encouragement ( "They Just Want You to Be There".) Simon brings layers of history with Brazilian music, a contribution that colors the whole album. Thus, a fresh sound is achieved, differentiating this offering from any previous work. Quite an accomplishment, nearly forty years in.

Long time Carly fans will be transfixed by the "new" Simon; new comers will, presumably, be drawn to the sincerity and summer-infused passion of the music and lyrics. Carly Simon continues to grow and evolve as a singer/songwriter, ever ripe with experiences that become musical.

Carly Simon's "This Kind of Love" is a good return to original music. Her Into White CD had some amazing covers, Paul Simon's "Scarborough Fair" being one that was among my favorite tracks last year. This CD has its charms. Her son Ben Taylor's "Island" that opened his CD Famous Among the Barns is gorgeous in Carly's hands with its lovely melody, "I would rather bet my life against the rising of the sun; I would rather fall from grace completely than let you change my mind." The samba "Hola Soleil" is an exquisite track penned by Simon, son Ben and long-time collaborator Jacob Brackman, "Baking sand, shining sea, Turning world, dissolving shadows." "So Many People to Love" penned with Carole Bayer Sager is a lovely swaying melody, "They're praying on bended knees in their beds & on the dirty streets, Lights are out on all the Christmas trees, feels like everyone's about to freeze." Jimmy Webb's "The Last Samba" sways like a soft breeze which Carly's voice picks up like a sail, "So take me here on this sand in the midst of these stars, swaying in thrall to the fading guitars." "Sangre Dolce" builds with incredible drama, "She cries when underneath the crystal moon." Other tracks like "They Just Want You to Be There" & her daughter Sally's "When We're Together" are also strong. Simon's voice appears a bit thin in places. The rap track "People Say A Lot" doesn't resonate with me. However, while not perfect, this is a strong CD well worth repeated listenings. Enjoy!

Thank goodness!! Carly has returned to her early roots as a singer/songwriter, and has absolutely NOT lost the touch. Her writing, and singing, style have evolved with time; she no longer does music appropriate for a girl of 25; this is one more testament to her greatness. This is rock, but certainly not too hard; occasionally, a hint of jazz even creeps in. English, of course, but some Spanish lines for variety. Naturally, the production, and back-up, are superb.

The title cut, "Hold Out Your Heart", and "When We're Together" are especially fine. Cut three, "People Say a Lot" sounds a bit like rap; I could have done without it, though it sure carries a message. "So Many People to Love" is an allusion to advanacing years--obligations to grandkids, and adult kids. Two cuts disturbed me a bit...."The Last Samba" and the closing "Too Soon to Say Goodbye" sound like she's contemplating retirement. God forbid...it's WAY too soon!!!

Carly is a miracle...at 63, her beauty, and voice, are as great as ever. [OK...I've got a crush on her; allow for it]. You really need ALL her albums ["Hello Big Man" remains my favorite], but you have to hear this, and marvel. Enjoy...I sure did.

There are so many different sounds on Carly's new CD,"This Kind of Love," from beutifull ballads " Hold out your heart",to Rap,"People say a lot, "all with a Brazilian mood.My favorite cut is track 9,"So many people to love,"co written by Carole Bayer Sager,with fantastic background vocals by Sherree Brown.Carly and Sherree's vocals blend perfect together.On track 12,"Sangre doice,"Simon has never sounded better,hitting notes like she was still in her 20's.I just hope this year is the year Carly is FINNALLY voted into the Rock and Roll hall of fame.

Carly is back giving us original songs, and is at her best! ---and we are the lucky ones!!

I couldn't wait, after all I had read about this new album, to have a listen.... I loaded it on my IPod and brewed some coffee.... I am sitting on my deck on this sunny California morning with a beautiful cup of coffee, a crusty sourdough roll (this is not on my diet) and "This Kind of Love".

I must admit that I had goosebumps when I heard the first notes---Carly's voice is beautiful and clear. The album is wonderful--rythmic and richly melodic--you want to listen and listen--swaying to the music or dancing--all by myself this morning!

This album will provide hours and hours of great listening. 13 fantastic songs--she once again has the best in musicians, and along with Carly's singing and songwriting, it is pure musical pleasure! An exicitng, well put together album with the songs honed to perfection!

The video of this song is also wonderful--Carly seems relaxed and enjoying it as much as we arel. The ending of the song is incredible--I also love watching Ben Taylor and Peter Calo on guitar--

Enjoy Everyone!

The love described on This Kind of Love is all about nuance, suggestion, and the hints of sadness that make the stumbling on love that much more intense. After three detours to standards (again!), children's songs, and the demo-quality The Bedroom Tapes (recorded during her recovery from breast cancer), Simon is definitively back in her singer-songwriter form, having authored or co-authored 10 of these 13 songs that explore love therough the eyes, hands, and heart of a woman wizened but never whipped. With Jimmy Webb's seductive arrangements, Simon beckons the listener into a world of sunny celebration, moonlit beaches, fluttering curtains, and island dreams. And just when you're willing to follow her contralto anywhere, Simon reminds us of the ephemeral nature of it all, as she closes the album with a poignant essay on an immigrant child-care worker ("Sangre Dolce"), and her touching tribute to her late friend and writer Art Buchwald ("Too Soon to Say Goodbye"). From her no-secrets start some three dozen years ago, Simon remains one of America's finest purveyors of pop romance. And that's the way I've always heard it should be.

What a treat. A beautiful relaxed album that flows like an old Carly album from the 70's. The best 2 songs are the songs her kids wrote. She must be very proud. The only song that doesn't belong is the rap song. It's theatrical and interesting but stops the flow of the cd. It would have worked better on it's own rather than in the middle of a folk/pop Carly album with a Brazilan sound. She somehow got her higher register back which was missing on her Into White album. If you are a Carly fan you will love this album. And if you don't like this album, then your not a Carly fan. She has musically aged better than Joni & Carole who were better than Carly in their heyday. Not any more.

I originally had rated this album four stars, but changed it to five after not listening to it for two days, suffering album withdrawal, and returning to it to realize I absolutely HAD to hear it again.

This album is a return to form for Carly Simon--original material sung with passion, integrity and good phrasing. This is a richly produced album brimming with melodies that stay in one's ear in a very satisfying way. Ms. Simon is once again singing more like a musician and less like a celebrity, which is very pleasing. Her voice is not "perfect" but it has a unique sound and a vulnerable quality that reaches into you emotionally.

Ms. Simon's voice has become deeper over the years, with a wider vibrato, and the material here suits it well. That said, it's surprisingly great to hear her using those high notes again ("Hold Out your Heart" and "People Say a Lot"). They tune beautifully--I hope she continues to sing up there. On "Sangre Dolce" she seems to defy time by reaching back to find that heart-rending mid-range belt that wakes up all your emotions. How did she do that? Some will find the rapping in "People Say a Lot" hard to take, but it grows on you and the All About Eve sound clip is incisive! You'll notice the vocal on "Too Soon to Say Goodbye" sounds strange and raspy. Apparently it is the original demo vocal she recorded the day she wrote the song for her friend, the late Art Buchwald. On that day she was quite sick and very hoarse, but she wanted to keep the demo vocal on the CD as a tribute to him (he had been listening to and loving that recording shortly before his death). Welcome back, Carly.

Dec. 13, 2011 ADDENDUM: I had wondered how Carly "reached back to find ... that mid-range belt" on "Sangre Dolce," but now it seems obvious to my ear that this track, and at least one other on this collection, were recorded years ago when her voice was in better shape, and only got full production and release in 2008. So much for that mystery. I still love the songs though.

People can't compare this album with Carly's albums of the past; she is not going to give us another No Secrets, Anticipation or Playing Possum. Times have changed, and so has she. What Carly does give us is a CD full of promise and hope.

The only problem with this CD if it has one is the marketing it is not a Brazilian Samba CD, nor is it cohesive, some of the songs have a very different feel to them which makes the whole CD inconsistent, that doesn't mean that the CD is not good. The songs are wonderful, and Carly's voice and writing is very much intact. My favorite songs are:

This Kind Of Love, once she gets going.
People Say A Lot, listen to the Carly's haunting background vocal and music.
Island, is very raw and emotional
When Were Together, best song by far on the CD
So Many People to Love, love the groove
Too Soon To Say Goodbye, so tender, what a tribute.

I can't wait until the next ...