Shaken Not Stirred

Phil Vassar

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 28, 2004)
• Original Release Date: September 28, 2004
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Arista
• ASIN: B0002X7C2Y
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #75,700 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
On his third album, singer-piano thumper Phil Vassar has made a couple of wise choices. He brought his own band into the studio while spending more of his own studio time tickling the ivories. With entertaining and insightful piano ballads like "Gone by Dawn," "Amazing Grace," and the stirring personal anthem "Black and Whites," Vassar emerges as something of a contemporary country-pop answer to Billy Joel. He's a little less convincing on evanescent chart fodder like "What Happens in Vegas" and the lusty "I'll Take That as a Yes," but when he lets his obvious pop-rock influences roam free on the keyboard he sounds masterful and built to last. --Bob Allen

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Phil is Phenominal!!, October 4, 2004

By	Doc Stew (Schaumburg, IL) - See all my reviews

Ok, so I am a HUGE Phil fan, so my review may be biased. He is probably the most talented singer/songwriter today, who writes such prolific songs that remind you of yesterdays. This album is full of amazing talent, and doesn't have a bad song on it. You can tell Phil is really focusing on vocals here, as his voice seems more fine tuned than his previous works. "Amazing Grace" is by far the best song on the album; nostalgic, poignant, sweet. Most of the songs here are like that, which makes it so easy to listen to. Just pop the CD in and drive down a country road as the sun is setting...it will blow your mind. And if you've never seen Phil live, you are missing a completely amazing performance!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One of today's better singer/songwriters, December 30, 2004

By	DanD - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Phil Vassar has a baritone that contains a rare mixture of grit and sensitivity. His first two studio albums, however, didn't display that voice well-enough; their highly-polished sound made listeners wince at times. And while SHAKEN NOT STIRRED doesn't quite escape that popish sound, it does have more grit and heart than Vassar's previous albums--making it his career best so far, and one of 2004's better releases.

Ballads such as "Amazing Grace," "Erase," "What Happens In Vegas," the stone-cold-country "Nobody Knows Me Like You," and especially the autobiographical "Black and Whites" all display Vassar's rich voice singing from the heart. And yet, such upbeat romps like "Good Ol Days," "In a Real Love," the gritty "I'll Take That As a Yes," "Here to Forget," and "Gone By Dawn" are irrisistable. What that leaves you is this: Phil Vassar's SHAKEN NOT STIRRED, a contemporary country album that has its highs and lows (mostly highs, though), by a singer/songwriter who has few peers on radio today.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good cd, October 14, 2004

By	Patty (Ohio) - See all my reviews

I think this cd is Phil's best yet. He really explores his sensitive side. I like the maturity that he demonstrates in his writing too. I noticed the sweet whistful tone to his lyrics and voice. You can almost picture the fun memories that he sings about. I'm so glad that he went back to bringing the piano to the forefront too. That is what makes Phil unique in the genre. Great cd!