Big

Macy Gray

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 27, 2007)
• Original Release Date: March 27, 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Geffen Records
• ASIN: B000N8UYBO
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (54 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #10,212 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

For a while there, the helium-voiced Macy Gray seemed to be coasting instead of crashing down the walls between funk, rock, and R&B the way scads of breathless music pundits once said she would. That was before will.i.am and a handful of other skillful knob-twisters entered her life. Now, multi-genre destruction and utter domination once again seem possible: Big, as its title suggests, is a huge record--bold in all the right places and subdued where it needs to be; scruffy around the edges but slick below the surface; at once nonchalant and reckless to the bone. Gray, in her way, is a vocal Timbaland--it's tempting to think she's too imposing to make a random-seeming hook-up work, but she stretches her singular gift around pretty much any collaborator a producer can throw at her, and with style to burn. On Big, those tossed on for the challenge include Natalie Cole, who lights up opener "Finally Made Me Happy"; Nas, who gives up the grit likably on "Ghetto Love"; and Fergie, who coos efficiently throughout "Glad You're Here." As vibes go, the one given off here is cool, casual, and slightly crazy--all Macy, in other words. She does her thing up right, and she does it Big. --Tammy La Gorce

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars More Macy, April 9, 2007

By	Truth "Truth24-7" (DC) - See all my reviews

This is Macy's first album since 2003's "The Trouble With Being Myself", the release of a greatest hits compilation, and the supposed demise of her career. The collaborations with producer will.i.am may not be that different from her previous releases, but for Macy fans, more of the same is a good thing.

BIG consists of 12 new songs. Disc packaged in clear jewel case; total running time: 43:54. Booklet includes song lyrics, song credits, and several "Technicolor" photos of Macy (her Thanks includes a statement of support for Barack Obama).

Her "collaborations" are similar to those on "The id" - Natalie Cole and Fergie do little more than sing backing vocals; wil.i.am performs a short rap. I must admit the songs Justin Timberlake co-wrote and co-produced (4, 10) are some of the stronger tracks. The reported/rumored rap by Nas is not on "Ghetto Love".

Interestingly, the songwriting credits are given to Natalie Hinds - the civilian name of singer Macy Gray. The album packaging does not indicate "explicit lyrics" and listening to the album reveals no presence of anything truly explicit. Oddly, the printed lyrics include so-called profanity not heard on the disc.

This is a must-have for those of us who appreciate Macy's voice, enjoy Macy's music, and just dig Macy.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Deconstructing Macy Gray and Big, January 26, 2008

By	E. French "Blacksheep" (Baltimore!) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have to say that one thing that bothers me about the user reviews I'm seeing online is a complete lack of understanding of the history of Macy's music. I read one review where the user complained about The Id and The Trouble with Being Myself as being copies of each other, while inferior to On How Life Is.

There is one string of common truth throughout these reviews in that there are similarities between albums - but those conclusions are based on superficial observations.

If you deconstruct all of the albums, there are several long-running parallels - one of the major reasons that I'm so pleased with all of the albums. This is not a process of carbon copying - this is a process of creating and sustaining artistic motifs that are very unique and creative. These motifs comprise the qualities that distinguish Macy Gray from ALL of her contemporaries.

We have appearances of song types that become her motifs... for example, we have I've Committed Murder, Gimme all Your Lovin or I Will Kill You, My Fondest Childhood Memories, and Strange Behavior appearing on the four albums respectively. People - this is a motif - this is a consistent delivery from Macy to her listeners. This motif of killing folks as extreme acts of love and/or desperation is a comedic element - it's funny. It's not supposed to be taken literally (as was a critique from one reader on Strange Behavior).

We also have other such motifs as I Can't Wait to Meetchu, My Nutmeg Fantasy, Every Now and Then, and Everybody - across the four albums respectively. Listen to the songs... they all appeal to that same universal "I can jam to this" feeling. They generally have upbeat themes that are inspiring and make you feel good when you listen to them. Plus, the lyrics are all positive and about having a good time - and here's an important message from Macy - be yourself 

Other motifs include baladesque songs such as Still, Please Don't Come Around, She Ain't Right For You, and Glad You're Here. Not of the exact same message, but invoking sentimental emotions from the listener.

Now - in light of just these brief analogies, I want to emphasize the factors about what has happened to Macy Gray that really makes me sad as a devoted fan. I firmly believe that sales screeched to a halt because The Id was released one week after 9/11. If the first album had 3.5 million sales (no reference, I saw that on the web), and the Id had only .5 million sales, the 9/11 argument seems reasonable. After all, it's not like there weren't any hits off of The Id - it's just that the country was preoccupied. Time passed by, and the The Trouble with Being Myself, which was a perfectly brilliant album, chocked full of new material (very catchy, yet original - no good reason for insufficient marketing, airplay, etc.) was overshadowed by the hiatus between albums, and the declined sales from the The Id.

Flash forward to Big - another awesome album, somewhat subverted with all the collaborations which did nothing to help promote the album (evidently), and again, we have the problem of lousy marketing, NO airplay, no nothing. Why? I honestly don't get it... I can't help but track these recurring, unfounded gripes about The Id and The Trouble With Being Myself - almost as if to say that Big is a day late and a dollar short, albeit Macy's "best work to date."

I would agree that Big has many awesome qualities and is a terrific album, especially if you compare it to other modern releases... but I don't think it's the best work to date, and I think all of her "fans" and collaborating artists have abandoned her. I think it's mostly a lack of effort more than anything - effort to look out for concert dates (and buy tickets to them), effort to peek in for new releases, effort to look for her in the box office (she's a great actor and should be in more movies), and so on. I don't think that some of the Big collaborations necessarily hurt the quality of each song, but I do think that those appearances were made in order for her record label to better market the material, emphasizing will.i.am, Timberlake, Nas, Fergie, etc.... But I have not seen those individuals in the maintstream talking about the album, promoting sales, or even doing inclusive tours - why? I don't know... maybe they don't want to get too original, floating off into music "Oblivion." Maybe those cuts are too far away from cookie cutter... It's just really strange.

So rather than post garbage about comparisons to previous albums (really just showing a lack of artistic/creative understanding), why not make more effort to support an artist who we all love? I saw the Big concert when it toured through Baltimore - it was awesome, as were the Brand New Heavies, the opening act (another underrated talent). My only complaint about the show was that more people should have been there. And they would have been if even one local station played just one of the singles released - Finally Made Me Happy on the airwaves for a couple weeks would have been sufficient to pack the house.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great CD, really worth 4.5 stars, May 16, 2007

By	Shanette Taylor (San Francisco Bay Area) - See all my reviews

In my humble opinion, the first five songs and the ninth song on this CD have the potential to become classics. ! (That is, if radio weren't in the dire--recycled, bubble gum music--state that it is in...). These tracks are absolutely fabulous! The only reason that I didn't give the CD the full five stars is that the remaining songs are a bit bizarre to me. Perhaps they'll grow on me. But the tracks that are good put this CD on top and make it well worth your buy. And the duet with Natalie Cole is a pure treat. Trust me, this CD will NOT disappoint. Macy IS back!