Patience [EXPLICIT LYRICS] [EXTRA TRACKS] [IMPORT]

George Michael

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 30, 2004)
• Original Release Date: March 16, 2004
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Explicit Lyrics, Extra tracks, Import
• Label: Sbme Import
• ASIN: B0001FLW60
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (101 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #137,314 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
It must be hard being a George Michael fan. Patience is only his fourth studio effort in the 18 years since Wham! split, so its release must be some cause for celebration. There always seems to have been something preventing him from releasing a new album--from arrests for lewd behavior, protracted battles with record companies, or prolonged periods of grieving for departed family and friends. Thankfully, Patience is pretty good.

Flitting between fraught ballads and up-tempo adult pop (the misguided sample-laden singles "Freeek!" and "Shoot the Dog" being the unnecessary exceptions), George here returns to the structure and mood of 1990s Listen Without Prejudice, Vol. 1. Patience is at its most delicate and moving with its title track, the intense, tabloid-attacking "Through" and the painful family memories of "My Mother Had a Brother." To balance this, hearts will be raised by "Amazing," with its echoes of the Bee Gees, "Round Here," in which George remembers his early days scampering around Bushey with Andrew Ridgley, and "Cars and Trains," which celebrates the kind of lifestyle that so riled the LAPD back in 1998. That's the thing about George Michael these days. Love him or loathe him, he is unapologetically himself. And fans should be very grateful for that. --Dominic Wills

Product Description
George Michael buries the hatchet with his former employers & returns to Sony with his first album of new material since 1996. This Japanese version of his 2004 album includes an exclusive (and beautiful) bonus track, 'Please Send Me Someone (Anselmo's Song)' (Alternate Version) which is unavailable anywhere else along with two more tracks that were left off the US version, 'Shoot the Dog' and 'Patience Pt. 2'. 15 tracks in all including the lead off single, 'Amazing' and the follow-up, 'Flawless'. The album also includes the tribute, 'John & Elvis', which was composed on John Lennon's piano. Epic. 2004. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

79 of 82 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Patience pays off, March 20, 2004

By	C. DeMario "crystalg75" (Drexel Hill,PA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

My review may be a bit biased being a fan since the early days of Wham!. With his newest release "Patience" fans and listeners get to see a rounded out George, complete with dance hits and introspective ballads. "Amazing" & "Flawless" are sure to get your toes tapping, and "Amazing" already boasts dance mixes that are snappy. "Shoot the Dog" and "Freeek" were released as singles, and although I scooped them up, didn't appreciate them as much as I do now. If you can get past the controversy of "Shoot the Dog" you just might find yourself enjoying this song.

"Patience" is almost a biographical tour de force of George's life, ranging from family death ("My Mother had a Brother), George's life in London ("Round Here), an homage to his departed partner ("Please send me someone--Anselmo's Song) and a thank you to his Texan Partner ("American Angel"). Of the ballads "Precious Box", "American Angel" and "Please send me Someone" really struck home and I found myself truly listening to not just the song itself but the words behind it. As an aside "Please send me Someone" is brilliantly arranged, without a hint of sappiness that could have made this song heavy.

One of the dedications of this album is to the patient fans who waited many long years for this solo release. George Michael's releases have been few and far between, but I'd rather them be solid memorable albums such as these, than a forgettable flash in the pan.

I hope that listeners will look beyond the pop 80's star with a checkered history and rediscover an artist.

26 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars George Michael, March 17, 2004

By	Ioannis (UK) - See all my reviews

This album is an interesting one. I have listened to George Michael ever since he first sang Wham Rap! and I must say that this ablum is one of the most interesting he has written. In this album I think the lyrical content is maybe not as strong as his ealier album Older or even some of the tracks on Listen without Prejudice. However I still love this album. It has a fantastic track that is just awesome in "Amazing", along with many beautiful ballads that need repetitive listening before you understand where they are coming from.

The weakest song is "Shoot the Dog", which is not bad but in this company it looks somewhat out of place. If you are new to George Michael I would say try Listen Without Prejusice, Older and then listen to Patience. It will make more sense that way, as you will see the maturity and progression in his music...

All in all 4.5 out of 5..A great last album.. One not to be missed!!!

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars OOH, WE'VE OBVIOUSLY MOVED ALONG!, May 14, 2004

By	Shashank Tripathi (Gadabout) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

The sheer variety of numbers on this new album makes it a very worthy purchase.

Want disco-ish pace with maverick lyrics? You've got it (Flawless, Freek).

Want heart-rending ballads that GM is a master of? Sure (Patience, My Mother had a Brother, Through).

The arrangements are modern, the sounds contemporary, the themes pithy (Shoot the Dog, John and Elvis are Dead), and the silky voice of GM very much in the vintage first-rate flair.

While this is not George's pinnacle, and I surely hope there's a lot more to come from this star of our generation, this album delivers the soft-yet-thumpy pizzazz you've come to expect from him.

Crisp, clean, immaculate, highly recommended.