Customer Reviews

Unbearable Love

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

 

 

I agree in part with Aurora's review, but beg to differ in her overall appraisal. Walela's first CD was wonderful, but so is this one: The difference is that this is, as Aurora pointed out, more "Bluegrass" -- My point is, these three ladies have phenomenal voices, and whatever they bring that wonderful harmony to is bound to be just plain good music, and isn't that what it's all about? There isn't anything bad on EITHER of their releases. Put away any "classification" and just enjoy.

I admit that I like this CD better as I listen to it more, but it just can't compare to the first release, Walela. Then again, that other title was so good, I'm not sure how the artists could follow it! There are several tracks I like a lot, such as Smoke in the Wind and Bright Morning Star, but there are others that I program to skip when I play the CD. If you want to get one CD by Walela, I recommend the first release. If you have that one, then you will like this one as well. You could likely enjoy it more than i did, especially if you have a slight urge to listen to country/bluegrassy music.

I'm not sure WHAT I expected, but I guess something more rustic in sound. What I got was a beautiful blending of voice and instruments that refuses to be easily categorized. Sometimes they sound like a rock group unplugged, or soul music or folk music... The harmonics are luscious and rich, like an aged full bodied wine. It's not what I had expected but it is beautiful and I'm sure I will listen to it often, while drinking a warm syrah curled up by the fire.

That's the best way I can describe this album. After buying and falling in love with Walela's debut album, Walela, I was eagerly looking forward to this one. But, sadly, it's like comparing apples and oranges. The songs on this album are unremarkable and seem to my ears to be thrown together. Their first album was incredible and I listen to it daily. I don't see how they could go from amazing to pitiful from one to the next. Listening to this one just doesn't bring forth the same emotion as the first. It's just like listening to any old other country song...there's nothing spiritual about it. And the beautiful harmonies that they displayed in the first are nowhere to be heard. The songs are choppy and vary so much from line to line that it doesn't even seem like the same song sometimes. Very little sound from their Cherokee roots and turns into a total copout. My advice...pass it up. Save your money for something else...I wish I had.

Unless my copy of the CD is defective, the sound quality is not nearly up to the content of the material. I very much liked all of the selections, and having recently seen Rita in concert, performing one of the songs, found it very nicely done.

A "should-have" for most music libraries. I would like the tracks cleaned up, though.

I thought that this album might be pretty good based on the high ratings it had been given but I was disappointed in it. Some of the songs make reference to the Cherokee nation, I expected that, but I don't think any of the songs have any Cherokee language lyrics. I do find some of the songs to be pretty good from a Country or Bluegrass standpoint (#9 When it comes or #10 When love was all we knew are examples of this) but I'd like the music with some songs to be less intrusive. I've also ordered the debut album, Walela, maybe I'll find it to be better, others have.

I first discovered this group several years ago. The harmonies are exquisite, the lyrics amazing. This new release Unbearable Love continues with the same qualities but manages to add a wonderful new flavor. Like when you add a small spice to a family favorite recipe and it makes the dish just that much better, only there is something more. I highly advise that everyone should give a listen. Even if you have never heard these wonderful ladies before. I can't wait for another new release from them.

Unbearable Love This is a great CD and I recommend it to anyone who likes Native American Indian Music.

This album had a really hard act to follow. Walela's first release was so outstanding - how could they follow it?

When you first put this CD in your stereo, you might think that they'd set too high a standard for themselves. The first couple of tracks are slow. But don't take that CD out of your stereo! Just wait. The songs which follow are going to blow you away. In fact, song-for-song, I think this might be the superior album.

Like their first album, this one has a rich, flowing, sometimes gospelly sound featuring three beautifully harmonized voices. It makes soothing background music, but is better used as the focus of your attention - as the lyrics are vivid enough to keep you listening hard. Christianity, the world of the Cherokee, and the power within us all are the themes.

Just wait until you hear the song, "Smoke in the Wind" - a spiritually gripping waterfall of music that could make even an atheist cry.

Then listen to "Tell them they Lie" - where the group lets out some gentle, healing anger in a song with some real rhythm to it.

Don't miss "I Know I Don't Walk on Water", an emotional, bluesy piece that really soothes you when you're driving at night.

And your spirit will smile all the way through the spiritually uplifting, "When It Comes".

There are two songs - "Cherokee Rose" and "When Love was all We Knew" that have a simpler, country sound to them. But they are soft, and don't interfere with the overall moist mood of the album. The bluegrass sound and simple story told in "When Love was all we Knew" may bring you back to your own childhood... wherever that was.

So people who loved their first album .... you will love this one too. Don't be scared by a couple of slow-paced opening numbers. Listen to all the songs I just mentioned, and you'll be thrilled. You absolutely must not skip this! You will regret it if you do.

Walela's voices are lovely, and the muted drum background is good, but I can't help thinking that the choice of material is something of a cop-out. There's far too much Christian influence here for either New Age or Native American.