Search - Annie Lennox :: The Annie Lennox Collection (Deluxe Edition) (Incl. 2 CD's + DVD)

Such A Missed Opportunity

need coffee now! | Bay Area, CA, USA | 11/24/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"A Collection of her greatest input over the last twenty years was something I always wanted on cd and yet this collection is very disappointing, even over two cds and a dvd to boot.



The hits are here: WHY, NO MORE I LOVE YOUS, LOVE SONG FOR A VAMPIRE, PAVEMENT CRACKS, LITTLE BIRD etc but for two cds there is plenty of room for extra tracks like TRAIN IN VAIN, THIN LINE BETWEEN LOVE AND HATE, LEGEND IN MY OWN ROOM, MONEY CAN'T BUY IT, HONESTLY, BITTER PILL, ERASED, even PUT A LITTLE LOVE IN YOUR HEART with Al Green. Instead we get somewhat predictable and rather formulaic songs like A WHITER SHADE OF PALE, A THOUSAND BEAUTIFUL THINGS, PATTERN OF MY LIFE and SHINING lIGHT.



I do not know why MEDUSA and BARE are woefully under-represented especially as A WHITER SHADE OF PALE is the dullest track on the whole MEDUSA album. I CAN'T GET NEXT TO YOU, DON'T LET IT BRING YOU DOWN, DOWNTOWN LIGHTS, TRAIN IN VAIN, THIN LINE BETWEEN LOVE AND HATE are all amazing interpretations that have stood the test of time.



In fact THIN LINE... has to be, in my opinion on of the greatest cover versions I have ever heard: the close vocal really gives a sense of underlying menace to the song. And on BARE, why is HONESTLY not included? It has it all , melody, lyrics and a wonderful "contrapuntal" verse she sings in accompaniement to the main verse. Also I would have loved to see BITTER PILL and ERASED on the compilation to show the more ballsy side of Annie.



I really think Annie should release a more comprehensive album than this. there was plenty of room on Disc 2 for many more tracks. I know it consists of rarities and out-takes. But that voice of hers needs to be shown in all its glory



This is a very safe collection and rarely shows the daring groundbreaking Annie Lennox that we love"