Bare

Annie Lennox

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 10, 2003)
• Original Release Date: June 10, 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: J-Records
• ASIN: B000089RVU
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (302 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #5,285 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. A Thousand Beautiful Things

2. Pavement Cracks

3. The Hurting Time

4. Honestly

5. Wonderful

6. Bitter Pill

7. Loneliness

8. The Saddest Song I’ve Got

9. Erased

10. Twisted

11. Oh God (Prayer)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Annie Lennox's first album of original songs in 11 years on is a stylish tour de force that showcases the former Eurythmics chanteuse in all her chilly, shimmering splendor. Her formidable voice is still a supple and intriguing instrument, lithely shape-shifting between emotions, personas, and musical forms. Lennox moves effortlessly from the sparse and pristine lament of "A Thousand Beautiful Things" to the deceptively simple "Pavement Cracks," a solemn ballad that is transformed by electro dance beats that recall some of the best of the Eurythmics. But Lennox's quixotic voice is best utilized as an old-school soul instrument; she makes a metaphoric journey to Motown on "Hurting Time," a reflective ballad could have been lifted off a Miracles album. "Honesty," shows the Scottish diva at her well-mannered best, occupying the same sophisticated space formerly held by Carly Simon. --Jaan Uhelszki

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

98 of 108 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spellbinding, June 10, 2003

By A Customer

I've only recently gotten on an Annie Lennox kick and about the time I was becoming interested in her music her new CD comes out. It's fate I tell ya...

Anyway...what a sophisticated and brilliant work this is. From the liner notes (on the back cover so even if someone wasn't to buy the album they could still read Annie's words to her fans) which are compelling and honest to the pulsing beats and haunting vocals, this is a CD I won't be without for a long time.

Again about the notes on the back cover. In several short sentences she welcomes listeners new and old. Discussing her motivations from everything from lyrics to an in-depth explanation of the cover...it's clear this is an artist to be reckoned with.

I love Pavement Cracks (what a hook that song has), Bitter Pill, and Honesty. All the songs are easy on the ear and not only leave you humming the tune but also missing every minute you are away from them.

Throw away your teeny-bopper and boy band CD's, toss your British imports and bootlegs...this is THE CD to buy.

37 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The godess is back with her second pop masterpiece., June 10, 2003

By	"leopoldkessler" (Istanbul, Turkey) - See all my reviews

It wouldn't be realistic for anybody to claim not to listen to pop music at all. That's what makes it more difficult to produce a masterpiece-album in pop than in any other genre. In this sense , and in many others, Annie's 1992 album "Diva" was a true triumph in adult pop music. With this album she showed us her amazing capacity to blend different musical disciplines (soul , funk , rock , pure pop , electronic...) and an eclectic collection of arrangements; though creating a conceptually rigid album. The album was backed up with perfect production an excellent audio-visual "diva" concept (remember the album sleeve and the Grammy-winner video) which helped the album eventually become a cult artistic collection of words, music and images.
My devotion to "Diva" at first made it difficult for me to believe that she would ever be able to produce an album that good again. Having listened to "Bare", now I have second thoughts. Bare is a collection of beautiful and exquisite music and lyrics. The overall structure is consistent in musical , lyrical and conceptual preferences. "A Thousand Beautiful Things" is one of the best openings I've ever listened to. It's elegant , stylish , complex in vocal arrangements and thereby a perfect sample of what kind of songs we encounter in the rest of the album. "Pavement Cracks" is a catchy , beautiful electro - pop piece in the 80's, particularly Eurythmics style. I think it possesses the spirit to become a classic in the long run. My favourite piece is "The Hurting Time", a hypnotizing , charming ballad which extremely suits Annie's vocal characteristics , enables her and the musicians to improvise and add their emotions to the melodies. The successor to this masterpiece is another source of beauty; "Honestly". Two different but simultaneous lines of wonderful lyrics and melody, superb production and arrangement. This song deserves multiple listenings before coming to a conclusion about it. "Wonderful" is wonderful in its uplifting , stimulating and catchy soul spirit. Great chorus radiates Annie's passion and energy and pulls you deeper into the album. This is just the right moment to encounter "Bitter Pill"; a beautiful mix of soul , pop and dance tunes. "Loneliness" is another triumph in the album, with the best lyrics and an incredibly beautiful mixture of rock and pop sounds. "The Saddest Song I've Got" is classically Annie. Intimate , touching , perfectly performed , hypnotic. Could be a tear jerker. "Erased" is a strong , splendid , eclectic song containing sounds ranging from soul to rock, simple and beautiful synthesizer melodies , powerful drums and superb vocal arrangements. "Twisted" is a warm, charming, catchy pop piece which perfectly lets Annie use her voice in a relatively broad range. Perfect vocal arrangement at the ending. The album is closed with "Oh God", maybe the most intimate, sincere and emotive song of the album. Its sad but beautiful lyrics and Annie's fabulous interpretation (you get the impression that she was crying while singing the song) make you sit and rest for a while before doing anything else.
Human voice to me , is the most beautiful musical istrument. It's technically not capable of operating in an interval of frequencies as large as a piano maybe ; and it's also monophonic, but it's the most natural instrument. It also has the ability to let you express your emotions in the most pure and direct way if you know how to handle it.
Annie Lennox definetely knows how to handle her voice. Her singing style not only fulfills standard technical requirements for her to be considered a qualified singer, but it also enables her to interpret, deform and reform the lyrics she sings. She has a great capacity to put second, third meanings, subtexts between the lines of the lyrics she sings just by using her voice. Actually, I must admit that, I'm in love with this woman's voice. It's the best female voice I know in mainstream music. And in "Bare", she once again showes us that she has no limits in using her voice and producing great pop music.
"Bare" is a brilliant pop album with very high IQ and EQ. A must for every popular music listener.

32 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bare is absolutely beautiful, July 30, 2003

By	M. Regan (Kirkland, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This is Annie Lennox in her finest hour. Having just recently gone through the painful breakup of my own marriage, when I listen to this album it actually gives me peace. Her lyrics, the music, and her brilliant voice give me strength and hope. The first time I heard it in its entirety, I felt changed. The song "Hurting Time" is haunting, yet it has such a pretty melody, which she sings to perfection. You can really "feel" what Annie is singing about - which is rare in most popular music. She certainly conveys her sadness and anger, but what is most refreshing is that it's not about blaming "him" - it's compassionate and honest. She is truly an amazing artist. I've been a fan for many years, and between her "Diva" album and "Bare," I am getting the healing and inspiration that I need to move on. Some friends have questioned why I would listen to such a sad album...I tell them it's much more than sad - that it's cathartic for me to hear her and that she is courageous for creating something so beautiful out of her loss. It's actually quite uplifting. This CD contains the most meaningful music I've heard in a long time...