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18 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Wish I could make it all a lie, August 16, 2006
Let's not glorify Joanna's music. It's pop, not too much more. If you like pop along the lines of Kelly Clarkson, you'll probably end up liking This Crazy Life. Joanna has a strong voice but I'm sure that'll end up getting clouded over by her looks, which is sad, because as good as she looks, her voice is stronger than a considerable amount of people getting a ton more attention than she is. However, now that you know that, I hope that you'll buy this before the label jacks up the price when she gets popular (which I'm sure will happen).
Song-wise, This Crazy Life is full of great vocals, catchy beats, and pretty good lyrics. I'm disappointed that Joanna didn't write all the songs but with a label like Geffen, I'm sure they're not taking any chances. Personally, I think Joanna's voice sounds better fronting a rock beat, like that of the chorus on the opening track, Let It Slide. But then again, she's not too shabby on a piano-laden track, such as the gorgeous 4th Of July. Her outright pop tunes I don't feel show her potential as much as the afforementioned types of songs. That's me though.
In an endlessly growing sea of pop singers, Joanna properly shows she's better than a lot of those out there. Need proof? Listen to the title track, This Crazy Life, and try not to say this girl is talented. How many singers tackle topics like that in a song? Her delivery is eerily effective and the increasingly distorted background music (think pop-oriented industrial) is just perfect. Not to mention the variety included, it's not that unusual anymore but heck, it makes for an entertaining listen.
My favorite songs are Ultraviolet, Broken, 4th Of July, This Crazy Life, and Your Obsession. Joanna's This Crazy Life isn't perfect, but for a pop CD, you gotta give her credit. There's not a lot left that hasn't been tried before in this genre, but somehow Joanna made a CD full of fresh sounding songs complete with a voice that won't easily be forgotten. This Crazy Life is highly recommended.
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Philly native has lots of potential, August 21, 2006
With This Crazy Life, Joanna shows that her singing career will likely not go the way her acting career did. Joanna's voice is incredibly versatile - sometimes she sounds like a higher-pitched and purer Mariah Carey, sometimes a bit like Kelly Clarkson, and even a bit like singer Abra Moore on the spine-tingling ballad "This Crazy Life." The song "Let It Slide" has a smooth, non-glossy feel that maybe should be found more on the album. She also sounds very strong on the rocker "Drifter." The other songs are pleasant and Joanna displays very good songwriting ability. The songs she picked by other writers are also solidly written. Diane Warren is a hit and miss songwriter, but her "Your Obsession" is sexy. I think on Joanna's next album, her style will grow, and her songs will stand out more. It's good if songs don't tire you out with their catchiness, but you need to be able to really remember a CD for it to be great.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
So much potential, such little leeway, November 16, 2006
Joanna's voice is so far above all of the other pop singers out there. However, I feel like many of her songs have a bubble-gum undertone to them which is a shame with all of the potential she has as a ballad singer. Her voice is so powerful and fervent, and to see her perform live just further proves her talent as a singer. She literally stopped shoppers in their tracks when she performed over the summer at Roosevelt Field Mall in NY for an autism benifit.
My only complaint that I have with Joanna's debut album is that I feel it is not truly her own. Which seems to be evident with about 99% of the teen pop idols who sign their lives over to a record label. They lose the ability to think for themselves. To write songs they would want to listen to. To be who they are.
On a positive note, her piano solo titled "4th of July" truly encompasses her raw talent. Just slightly cheesy, but just wait until you're half-way through the song, and I guarantee it will bring a tear to your eye. And the more popular release "Let It Slide" while it is a typical pop release, it is still a very catchy song.
Also, some light should be shed on the lyrics in the songs that Joanna wrote herself. She writes with so much experience in life, that it is a wonder she is only 21 years old. A true songwriter is equally as impressive as a strong vocalist, and Joanna has successfully done both on this cd.
As for as the production goes, I wish I could say Joanna's album is edgy, something new to add to the pop world, a breakthrough, but then I would be lying. Perhaps it can serve only as a staple for her career, and what is to come. I am definitely curious to hear what she will release next, as her voice is that addicting.
I give this album 4 stars, simply because a voice like hers deserves ample recognition.
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