World Outside My Window

Glenn Lewis | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 16, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2002
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Epic
• ASIN: B000062T53
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (102 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,676 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

If the Canadian music industry took its time waking up to hip-hop, it's still in a deep sleep when it comes to homegrown R&B. Crooner Glenn Lewis banged his head against the wall for years in his home town of Toronto without a hint of recognition before finally decamping to Philadelphia and promptly signing a major-label deal. Lewis's debut, 2002's World Outside My Window, is a big-budget epic that bridges the gap between gooey R&B and the neo-soul of D'Angelo and Maxwell. Drenched in strings and warm, elaborate production, tracks like "Don't You Forget It," "Simple Things," and "It's Not Fair" eschew worn-out R&B clichés while still drawing on the soulful roots of the genre. Nowhere is this heard better than in Lewis's own voice, a smooth Stevie Wonder sound-alike that's already got the nod from the man himself. Now if Lewis could only get that respect in Canada. --Matt Galloway

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The R&B album to beat, March 19, 2002

By 

Scott Woods (Columbus, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: World Outside My Window (Audio CD)

This album exceeded my expectations for Lewis's oft-pushed back debut, and my expectations were extremely high. The single, "Don't You Forget It", was so super-hot and intricately arranged that I just knew the full-length would be great. And it is, period.

The guy has Stevie Wonder's vocal chords, no doubt, but takes them in some original corners and gives us a 100% solid record that you imagine Stevie himself might have put out if he were still the Stevie we knew and loved 15 years ago. Don't let the comparisons fool you, though: Lewis is all himself, and the songs (produced by the team that gave us the great Jill Scott records throughout) are a testimony to his values and the age in which he exists. His songs are current and his music incredibly played and tightened.

To top it off, he likes to take his songs' stories (the fact that he has stories at all instead of the regular chant-smashing, party-calling we've been subjected to lately is refreshing in and of itself) and twist them a bit, not ending up where you think the tone or the first lyric might suggest. Simply put, it's the most completey intelligent R&B record to come down the pike in two years, and is the record - R&B or otherwise - to beat this year.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's "Never Too Late", don't wait, before we lose it all...., March 20, 2002

By 

J. Highsmith (Mitchellville, Maryland United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: World Outside My Window (Audio CD)

I first heard "Don't You Forget It" on a CD that I had purchased called "Red Star Sounds Volume 1: Soul Searching". The CD featured various songs that included Jill Scott's "Long Walk" (Remix), India Arie's "Butterfly" and Erykah Badu's "Today". For some reason, even with the well known artists on the CD, "Don't You Forget It" stood out amongst the songs. I caught the video on BET's "Midnight Love" and I knew that once his CD came out I would definitely purchase it. "World Outside My Window" is an excellent debut CD from the artist from Canada. You will never be able to classify Glenn Lewis as a one hit wonder. The production is handled by Andre Harris and Vidal Davis from A Touch Of Jazz Productions. The same people that were behind Jill Scott's and Musiq Soulchild's debut CDs. As far as Glenn Lewis' voice is concerned, he sounds very similar to Stevie Wonder, and that is clearly the case on several songs on this CD. However, that does not take anything away from the quality of music and songs that we are presented with on "World Outside My Window". Continuing in the footsteps of the growing roster of Neo Soul artists like Maxwell, D'Angelo, Angie Stone, Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, Amel Larrieux, Jazzyfatnastees, Musiq Soulchild and Jaguar Wright, Glenn Lewis demonstrates that he belongs in this category. On "Simple Things", Glenn Lewis lets us know about how we should appreciate just being able to be involved in everyday life and not taking things for grantite, on "Lonely", Glenn talks about a woman that he was involved with and had a friendship with that decides to leave him. In the song, he's telling her how she will regret leaving him more than he will regret losing her, so she should think twice about what she is doing. It's a very nice uptempo song. "Never Too Late" follows a similar theme. In this song, he is telling the woman eventhough we may not be together and she has moved on to be in another situation that she can always come back to what she had. Sure these topics have been covered before, but it's all about the presentation of each track. My favorite song has to be what I hope will be the next single, "This Love". If you don't see Glenn's talent after this nice slow jam then I suggest that you get some help for real. This song summarizes Glenn's opinion of a relationship that he may have been in and he's trying to realize what happened between their love. Other noteworthy songs include, "It's Not Fair", "Something To See", "Dream", and "Take You High". There is a little bit of everything on "World Outside My Window". You get a fair share of uptempo, midtempo and slow songs. The fast forward or skip track button will not be necessary for this CD. You can listen to this Cd in its entirety. I am thoroughly impressed with Glenn Lewis and his talent. He has a very bright future ahead of him. I recommend this CD to anyone that likes good r&b or Neo Soul music.

James' Top 5

1. This Love
2. Don't You Forget It
3. Never Too Late
4. Lonely
5. Simple Things

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stevie plus Musiq... shake then stir..., March 19, 2002

By 

Thaddeus johnson (Detroit, MI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: World Outside My Window (Audio CD)

This brotha has a melodic flow that makes his album amazing. It captivates you and puts you in a relaxed mood that makes things OK. It is so nice to hear positive lyrics in this day in age. I recommend everyone purchase this, because this is definitely the start of something wonderful.

Track to Listen to:

Beautiful Eyes
This Love
Simple Things

Many More....