Now What (Clean) [Clean]

Lisa Marie Presley | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 5, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Clean
• Label: Capitol
• ASIN: B0007QJ1Q6
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (113 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #404,824 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Whatever you think of Lisa Marie Presley—serial bride, Scientologist, Elvis’s daughter (and let’s not even mention Michael Jackson)—you can’t deny the girl has guts. That was apparent with her long-awaited 2003 recording debut, To Whom It May Concern, but it’s even more obvious with her sophomore album, the appropriately titled Now What. Though the collection of rockers and ballads reprises the portrait of Presley as an explosively angry woman who feels jumpy in her own skin, it also frames her as a passionate artist with a brilliantly wicked sense of humor and a gift for language (often shamelessly profane), even if the subtleties of her concepts are sometimes opaque. Most of all, the album—tougher, hookier, and more sure of itself than the last one—proves she’s serious about a pop-rock career, although her songs are so personal, bitter, and internal it’s hard to imagine anyone covering them. Still, she relies heavily on collaborators to help her craft her melodies, most often Linda Perry of 4 Non Blondes, who worked wonders in polishing the songs of Christina Aguilera, Gwen Stefani, and Pink, who shows up here in a duet on "Shine." As before, Presley’s Cher-like vocals are so heavily processed, layered, and tuned that it’s hard to know what she really sounds like, an oddly glossy counterpoint to her scornful and brutally honest lyrics. But one suspects there’s still a softie in there somewhere. She opens a wide window on her vulnerability on the wrenchingly painful "When You Go" and in the alcoholic haze of "High Enough." Throughout the album, Elvis’s little girl curls her lip as if to say "I’ve been through a lot of (expletive deleted), I can give as good as I get, and don’t you dare come too (expletive deleted) close!" But as "High Enough" secretly says, you know she hopes you’ll try. --Alanna Nash

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very strong sophomore album!, April 5, 2005

By 

Matthew G. Sherwin (last seen screaming at Amazon customer service) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Now What (Audio CD)

Lisa Marie Presley is a strong creative force on the music scene and we are better off for it! She is far more than just Elvis' daughter trying to scratch out a few tunes to put out a money maker album. Instead, this CD is an excellent example of her exceptional talent. This is also a great CD to start off with if you're not yet familiar with Lisa Marie's unusually strong talents. Why? First of all, this CD is full of songs Lisa Marie wrote herself. Also, Lisa Marie wears her heart on her sleeve. She exposes her raw emotions and honest feelings about media frenzy in her arrangement of "Dirty Laundry." (This song was originally performed by Don Henley.) Lisa has even been quoted as saying "Making music is a way for me to come to terms with a lot of things about myself," she says. "A lot of the songs have to do with the fact that I am not part of groups or scenes. I am who I am. I've realized I'm quite vulnerable, which is opposite of what I pretend to be." Actually, many of these songs deal with common human feelings at one point in life or another; this helps you identify with her and the experience of listening is even better for it.

The CD opens with the incredibly strong "I'll Figure It Out." The ending song is extremely well done, "Now What." Lisa also triumphs when collaborating with other artists. She and Pink work together to produce the great song "Shine," awesome! Linda Perry also contributed some to the writings of some of the lyrics. Lisa has a natural ability to be refreshingly candid and honest in all the songs on this new CD. Her open minded qualities combined with her natural talents produce a superior performance many other singers could only hope to equal. Her voice itself is a musical instrument; she has a broad vocal range and she even writes her own lyrics to ten of the songs here! Presley's style is sensuous and assertive-and this only serves to strengthen her performance even further. Indeed, her strong vocal presence demands attention; but this is not a bad thing because giving her your total attention is as easy as breathing!

The CD really rocks! Check out the song called "Idiot;" it's very, very good! I also loved the arrangement on the song "Raven." Lisa says she was motivated to write this when she thought about her mother. That makes the song all the more touching! The song entitled "Now What" is so thoughtful and well put together, too! A fantastic close-but look for an extra hidden track that just might be there!

Lisa Marie is aided well by her team. Steve Jones, the guitarist from the Sex Pistols plays on two tracks, the biting "Idiot" and the song "Here Today, Gone Tomorrow." Eric Rosse produced the CD. (He produced her debut album as well.)

Overall, this Presley CD is a strong performance and a great addition to your collection, not to mention a great way to introduce yourself to Lisa Marie's talent. I truly look forward to her next CD! SMILE

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Give us DIRTY LAUNDRY..., April 9, 2005

By 

Brett D. Cullum (Houston, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Now What (Audio CD)

Lisa Marie Presley seems to be putting herself out there with the frank lyrics and hard-edged arrangements of her deeply personal songs. Even the cover of "Dirty Laundry" sounds like she's whispering something private in your ear. She's a good singer and a great songwriter that knows how to write some great lyrics. Just for sake of comparison, she reminds me of a harder edged Sheryl Crow. Yeah, she's the daughter of the King of Rock N' Roll and was married to the King of Pop... but the amazing thing is she is nowhere near either of them in her style or singing. Elvis and Jackson were all about pop music and catchy dance moves; whereas, Lisa Marie is all about self confession.

Nearly all the tracks are stand-outs, but I really liked "Dirty Laundry" (nice new arrangement), "Idiot" (cool arrangement and Courtney Love lyrics) "When You Go" (a soaring chorus and guitar line), "Raven" (the song for her mom), and "I'll Figure it Out" (opens the album and sets the tone). You can't judge the singing, it's really all about the lyrics. It's a great CD for home or the car - like talking with an old friend and catching up on all her drama.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars After reading some the reviewers comments... I just had to write, January 12, 2007

By 

velvet envelope (New Orleans, LA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Now What (Audio CD)

After reading some of the reviewers comments....I just had to write one of my own. First, I must say, that if you like good, core-driven, soul-bearing music that exemplifies honesty at its best, you will not only embrace, but crave, Lisa Marie Presley's music. Despite the pathetic fact that many people feel that she's trailing on the fumes of her iconic father, no one can deny the fact that, for many years, she did have to struggle with the decision to release music commercially for that very reason.

This second effort release, to me, packed an even greater punch than the first. More heart-bearing, more soulful, more complex - several tracks brought forth many emotions with intense, bone-chilling guitar riffs and hard-hitting rhythms, and other selections are juxtaposed with intense (at times tearful) straight to the heart lyrics that really hit home on many levels. When I find good (no let's say great!) music, I like to share it with everyone. I've shared Lisa Marie's music with many, many people. No one has been disappointed. In fact, many times, I've just given people an untitled CD that I burned and asked them to listen to it. Later I've told them who it was.....most were amazed, because they too, had a pre-conceived notion of what "she would be trying to sound like".

Okay, so let's face it...like any music or anything else, for that matter...either you like it or you don't. But, in Lisa Marie Presley's case, a least give yourself a chance to like it (or hate it) before you slam her with unwarranted comments based on borderline prejudice? And better yet, give yourself a real treat and go see her at one of her shows. She's an honest performer with a no-frills, all music approach...and backed by a group of wonderfullly talented musicians, etc.

I look very much forward to her third release whenever that may be. She may not top the charts in sales, but that doesn't seem to matter, possibly because she's Elvis' daughter (just a bit of sarcasm there!). She makes music because it's part of who she is...not part of who she wants to be.