Search - Joan Armatrading :: This Charming Life

"CHARMING?" Without A Doubt!

Jef Fazekas | Newport Beach, California United States | 06/29/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"A couple of things become very clear after your first listen (or two!) of Joan Armatrading's new CD, the beguiling THIS CHARMING LIFE. First, this is her loosest, most varied album since much of her sterling early 80's work (Think WALK UNDER LADDERS and THE KEY!). Next, while 2007's equally mesmerizing INTO THE BLUES could be thought of as her premiere guitar album, the one where she REALLY came into her own as a fret master, THIS CHARMING LIFE is her bass album...her stunning riffs solidly anchor the CD, but they're never top-heavy. Finally, Armatrading has rarely been this open; all the guards are down, a real first for her. And, believe me, it pays off!

Opening up the disc is the, well, charming title track. Bopping along, Armatrading's lead vocal is both vulnerable and touching...she's really laying it on the line here. When she sings the lines "It sounds so corny/Yes I know it does/But truth is the shade/That I choose to wear" you know it's real...this is straight from the heart. Toss in an arrangement that fully supports said lyrics and we're off to a killer start!

Next up is the percolating "Love Love Love." An edgy amalgamation of jazz, power pop and adult contemporary, Armatrading's iead vocal swoops and soars, floating here, dipping down there. It's almost as if it were playing tag with those spirited bass lines! The upbeat arrangement also perfectly balances the somewhat darker lyrics ("Like a fool I thought the oceans/Divided the continent/But not a faithful heart"). Another winner!

Things are even better on the slinky "People Who Win." Armatrading's vocal runs the gamut from light and airy to gutsy and hardcore, while the instrumentation is economical, yet solid. And, once again, those bass riffs fill..things...in...just...right! This is the sort of song that gets in your head...and stays there! One of my favorite cuts!

Things take a step backwards ~ but only slightly! ~ with "Two Tears." It's not that this is a bad song..it's just that the first three are so good! Pulsating along, the track is full of a real yin/yang vibe; it's both structured AND relaxed. The lead vocal is both joyous and unrestrained, while the instrumentation is crisp and catchy. Mark my word, this song will be GREAT live!

"Heading Back To New York City" might initially have some people scratching their heads and writing it off as some latter day arena rocker wannabe, but that's part of it's charm. With it's blistering guitar chords and supple, yet meaty, bass lines, this song is all about ATTITUDE. A personal ode to one of the world's most magical cities, Armatrading pulls it off without a hitch.

Things do a total 180 with the delicate "Goddess Of Change." A smooth lead vocal is perfectly supported by an absolutely effervescent arrangement. Add some thoughtful lyrics to the mix ("It's funny/How things turn out fine/Worries/They always seem/Much worse at night") and you have a track that is both sweet and soulful, deep and delightful.

Next up is one of my two favorite songs on TCL, the sultry "Diamond." Armatrading practically purrs the lyrics, and there's a velvety allure to the performance that's downright captivating. Combine this with an arrangement that is sheer pop perfection and you're once again reminded of one of Armatrading's strongest suits ~ the ability to effortlessly (and successfully) blend numerous styles and sounds. Simple, but so, SO good!

It's at this point that things sag a bit. Much like with "Two Tears", most of the last quarter of THIS CHARMING LIFE isn't bad, it's just that the rest of the album is so good! "Promises" is nice enough, but there's a "been there, done that" feel to the cut..Armatrading has done a version of this song on pretty much every one of her records, and, in pretty much every other case, to better effect. Still, a nice lead vocal and strong. albeit short, guitar solo.

"Virtual Reality" lopes along at a energetic pace, but it almost sounds as if Armatrading is trying too hard..she's "saying something" here, trying to be "profound", "deep" and "clever." Armatrading's too good a writer to have to "try" to do anything: to answer her own question of "who can say the most with less"...you can, Joan!

The disc rebounds with the powerful "Best Dress On", THIS CHARMING LIFE's most rocking track. My other favorite cut, there's just something vibrant and fun about the track...the lead vocal is gutsy and forceful, the chorus catchy as hell, the backing vocals infectious and perky (LOVE the "Shoop, shoop!"). Add some cranking guitar work and a silky bridge to the mix and you have a total gem! In a just world this would be a massive hit single!

Things wrap up with the nice enough ballad "Cry." There's a sweet tenderness to the song, but I wish Armatrading had gone with a lower register when she hits the word "cry"...the current higher one is like nails on a chalkboard! Like I said, a nice enough cut, but I wish things had ended on a stronger note!

But that's just a minor complaint. The fact of the matter is, THIS CHARMING LIFE is one of Joan Armatrading's strongest releases to date, and a welcomed addition to an already incredibly impressive catalog. After some hit and miss releases in the mid-to-late '80's and an extended absence through much of the '90's, Armatrading has come roaring back, first with 2003's LOVERS SPEAK, then with the aforementioned INTO THE BLUES, and now with THIS CHARMING LIFE. Here's to many more CHARMING releases! (As with all my reviews, I'm giving the disc an extra half a star for including the lyrics)."

Joan Does Rock

Mad | 05/28/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Every Genre this artist does, she does to Perfection! Her last CD focused on the Blues.... Also Perfect. Hopefully Ms Armatrading's next CD brings her back to Jazz. Joan's ability to create music in different genre's clearly shows the depth of her talent. Anytime I listen to this CD I have her music in my head all day. Heading back to New York City, Goddess Of Change and This Charming Life are my favorite songs on this CD."

"Goddess Of Change",a new album by Joan Armatrading.

M. Mariba | south africa | 07/22/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is an interesting & enjoyable release "This Charming Life" by the legendary Joan Armatrading. It's different from her last two albums releases ("Into The Blues" & "Lovers'Speak"),as it's a laid back album with a "folk rock feel" but in a good way.Solid strong songs in this album include "This Charming Life" (title track), "Love Love Love", "Two Tears", "Promises","Best Dress On","Cry" & my favourite of the bunch "Goddess Of Change",hence the title of my review. That's seven solid tracks out of eleven,great for an album : I give the album four stars as I would have preferred an up tempo feel/sound of songs like in "Lovers' Speak" but a change by this "Goddess Of Change" in sound is welcome, solid release indeed from this legendary singer-songwriter. This album will please Joan Armatrading fans while finding new ones as well!"