Bravebird

Amel Larrieux

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 20, 2004)
• Original Release Date: January 20, 2004
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Bliss Life
• ASIN: B00015YW8U
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (108 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #63,580 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. For Real

2. Bravebird

3. New

4. Dear To Me

5. Beyond

6. Giving Something Up

7. Your Eyes

8. Get To

9. Every Second

10. Sacred

11. All I Got

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

A 9-year veteran of the indie R&B circuit, Amel Larrieux stretches her vocal wings on the stellar, yet painfully overlooked "Bravebird." Serving as her solo sophomore set, the New York-based singer/songwriter has crafted a disc that mixes midtempo melodies with beautiful and lush lyrics. Lead single "For Real," written by Larrieux and her husband Laru Larrieux, opens with a serene piano solo that is accented by the voice of a young baby cooing. Backed by an infectious, handclap-accented groove, Larrieux sings about "real love"--the kind of love that makes you a better person. Larrieux can also rock out and does just that on the funk-fueled "All I Got." The result is a bass-heavy affair that is accented by an electric guitar wah-wah and some impressive improvisation. However, it's on the heartbreaking "Beyond" that Larrieux truly shines. Backed by an acoustic guitar and quiet string section, Larrieux's lyrics of everlasting love make you want to believe in something more.

Like fellow soulsters Anthony Hamilton and Goapele, Larrieux, who began her career as one-half of the R&B duo Groove Theory, sings with an ease that is rare in many of today's R&B artists. Her voice is natural and engaging, and that's what makes Bravebird truly soar. --Rashaun Hall

Product Description

This singer/songwriter's sophomore solo effort fuses R&B, soul, hip-hop, jazz, and folk, defying pigeonholing. Larrieux continues to captivate, soaring with confidence and courage, especially in her explorations of love.

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars She's "Got" Substance, April 6, 2004

By	Andrew Jacob (Brooklyn, New York) - See all my reviews

"Amel Who?" "Brave what?" "Who That?" These are the most common phrases I hear when mentioning Amel Larrieux's sophomore album "Bravebird". It's musical-injustice when an artist with so much talent gets ignored, settling for the title of "underrated-artist". On this album, instead of just the lone R&B/Soul/Jazz, Amel Larrieux this time around explores unconventional and different sounds, the result being a hybrid of innovation & beauty. Amongst the standout tracks is the Alanis Morissette "Hand In My Pocket"-esque "All I Got" in which Amel uses one line to contradict the next. In this song, Amel states she's not perfect but then depicts a message about acceptance of one's self:

Got these feet in these shoes
They walked a mile or two
Got these legs, they've done work
That's left them black and blue
Got these hips, they are wide
But they know how to move
Got these hands to lift the weak
And smack down a racist fool

...Got these pockets, they ain't full-grown
But I won't steal from no one
Got this heart, well it's been broke
But it's still beating strong...

Other standout tracks include the slap-back flow of "For Real", the aching-heart ballad "Beyond", the mellow-disco flavored "Bravebird", the high-pitched trumpet assisted "Say You Want It All", and the yearning for redemption in "We Can Be New". But above it all, my favorite track on the album is "Congo", with its hypnotic vocals and hook, addictive beat, and conscious lyrics about the Congo Square, it immediately appealed to me. The only problems I have with the album are minor; the beat to "Your Eyes" is rather too simplistic and very repetitive while "Sacred" tends to come off as "preachy". Other than that, this album is very consistent. The majority of the songs on the album are brilliantly written, very appealing and easy to listen to (the hip-hop flavored remix "All I Got2" will appeal to many people). Amel Larrieux proves once again that she is "beyond" the contemporaries.

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WARNING! DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME ON THIS ONE!, December 3, 2004

By	D. Myatt "The Musick Critic" (Hollywood, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I mean it -- don't waste your time on this CD. There ain't nothing typical, predictable or fluffy about Bravebird. And let's face it, that's what we really want, right? The instantly catchy tunes that take a backseat to the beats! And boy, we must admit, we love beats, don't we? Bravebird is, perhaps, like nothing you've ever heard before; it's really original in its sound and substance. And that's the root of the problem: its original sound and its substance. Apparently, Amel doesn't follow popular musical trends, doesn't rely on cliche-based lyrics, feels she doesn't need studio tricks and programmed beats. This girl clearly appreciates real music and musicianship -- and being over the age of 30, I can vaguely remember when such a thing actually got radio play. But not anymore. In this age of Usher, who needs real music, and life-changing lyrics, introspection, artistic integrity, real soul--and spirit? Yeah, Amel's surely gifted, has a great voice, exceptional even, but she wastes it singing about deeper, genuine, lasting and more meaningful things. She doesn't dedicate a single song to the subject of attaining material things (no bling-bling, Moet, furs, not even a token spinning rim on a boyfriend's ride!). She wastes no time musically exploring the well-worn R&B premise of shallow relationships and their related drama. Musically, Amel takes a higher road! And such a visionary approach is bound to cost her: stunted sales, limited or no play and exposure on most stations, people sleeping on her talents. Ashanti she ain't! Amel has chosen to do her own thing. So be warned! This cd contains real music. Real and true!

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Infinite Talent, May 25, 2004

By	Ladonna Smith (Blackhaven) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have been a fan of Amel Larrieux since the Groove Theory days. Even then ,she had too much power to be pidgeonheld by the standards of R&B. This girl has the power to blur all genres of music and make it her own. To classfy her as neo is a insult. Her brand of music doesn't have a name yet. She is and always will be light years ahead of her time. I got Bravebird and all my peeps followed suit. And the ones who haven't gotten it, is in the process of getting it. Amel is the truth. The anti-Beyonce. So beautiful on the outside, with enough nerve and confidence in her art ,not to flaunt her outer beauty. I can't say enough about this album. This is the best in my collection and believe me, she is among a few gems.

My Favorite Tracks

Say You Want It All
Dear To Me
For Real
Bravebird
Congo
All I Got 1&2

damm you might as well say the whole album

To the reviewers who say she runs out of gas on a few notes.
Don't sleep, that's when her angelic voice is at it's most powerful. For any person who craves real music must have this album. She got a lot of lush hip-hop undertones on this album. The keen ear will pick up on them instantly.

Peace