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It's difficult to fathom the thinking behind this overview of VH1's popular
Storytellers series. Begin with the fact that the actual stories are expunged from the recording. If you want the tales behind the songs, you'll have to read the booklet. So the music is left to stand on its own, but with each of the 15 artists allowed one selection to make their mark, even those that stand tall don't stand for long.
David Bowie brings a tremendous focus to "China Girl";
Sheryl Crow and
Stevie Nicks mix their voices in "Strong Enough" to striking effect; and the
Eurythmics's "Here Comes the Rain Again" improves upon the hit original. On the downside,
Jewel's caterwauling in "Who Will Save Your Soul" (the singer gets tangled up in a ball of yarn as she meows into the mic) makes one want to use "scat" in the feline rather than the
Fitzgerald sense of the term.
--Steven Stolder