Grammy-nominated Maura O'Connell worked with co-producer Gary Paczosa on a concept she's carried in her heart for quite some time: an a capella album. "I've gathered the consciousness that singing should be just fine, tha... more »t it is a viable talent on its own," the singer says of the 13-song collection. Widely acclaimed throughout her career as a vocalist and interpreter of utmost grace and insight, Maura O'Connell's latest album is a defiant, boldly undiluted statement on art of singing. Naked With Friends consists of thirteen tracks of singing-and nothing more-and is decisive evidence that singing is more than enough.« less
Grammy-nominated Maura O'Connell worked with co-producer Gary Paczosa on a concept she's carried in her heart for quite some time: an a capella album. "I've gathered the consciousness that singing should be just fine, that it is a viable talent on its own," the singer says of the 13-song collection. Widely acclaimed throughout her career as a vocalist and interpreter of utmost grace and insight, Maura O'Connell's latest album is a defiant, boldly undiluted statement on art of singing. Naked With Friends consists of thirteen tracks of singing-and nothing more-and is decisive evidence that singing is more than enough.
CD Reviews
Naked EnCHANTress Casts a Spell on the Ears
Despina Yeargin | Greenwood, South Carolina | 06/02/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Maura O'Connell, a brilliant singer, has always had a strong voice and a skilled delivery. Her new CD, Naked With Friends, brings to the ears of a modern, fast-paced and high-tech world the simplicity and beauty of old-world music--singing without musical accompaniment. Maura gives us the luxury of listening to the naked voice, in the way of the chants of early church music; with the A-list of accompanying guest voices that she's assembled, Maura O'Connell enCHANTs the listener placing the focus on the naked voice and beautiful words of the 13 songs, from Janis Ian's "Some People's Lives" to the traditional "Ae Fond Kiss" by Robert Burns. Among the notable voices are Dolly Parton, Alison Krauss, Tim O'Brien, Mary Black, Moya Brennan and dobro-wizard Jerry Douglas. If you don't shed a genuine tear after some of these songs, you need to take a long break by the lake. Sit on the grass under a tree, close your eyes and pay attention!
In the early 80s, Gregorian chant reached an impressive popularity. It was during that time, that I heard about Hildegard of Bingen, a nun, mystic and composer of music for the early church. Hildegard described herself as "a feather on the breath of God" A Feather on the Breath of God. Surely, Maura O'Connel's voice on this new recording has been guided along as a feather on the breath of God!
When a singer has a beautiful voice; when a talented singer knows HOW to sing, being unbound by the adornments of instruments and such, there appears a sparkling light in the sound, that we cannot hear at any other time.
Congratulations to Maura on a dream realized, and on a job beautifully and done. The woman who's always described herself as "just a singer" should be standing tall and proud now, just an amazingly wonderful singer."
Any Work By Maura O'Connell Worth A Listen
D. Corbishley | Skillman, NJ USA | 06/26/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"She is SO good and does not release new recordings very frequently, so anything she does is worth a listen. After 1 listen, Danny Boy in Celtic was the song I remember most, because I had never heard it performed that way before. Great to hear her work with Mary Black, another favorite."
A capella magic
Michael P. Baker | West, by God | 01/07/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Maura gave a taste of this new album to her audiences when she toured in '09 and I was lucky enough to catch her when she graced the stage of Arlington's Birchmere. If you love her voice when it's surrounded by orchestration, you're in for a treat when she's stripped down bare and relying on the beauty of her voice (with the occasional blending of her friends' voices). The only thing missing is her on stage, "take no prisoners", funny - sometimes bawdy - diva persona. Can hardly wait until she's traveling through my neighborhood again this spring."
The right name for a lovely CD
Joseph Vincenza | Pensacola, FL | 09/18/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"If you know her, you know that Maura O'Connell has spent decades singing music with warmth and depth. Usually as of late, this has been with the best Nashville (and other locations) has to offer in the way of musicianship & production. "Naked with Friends" is just that, a CD focusing on Maura's lovely voice, paired with other voices. Can she carry this off? Oh yeah, she can. Her voice is still lovely, her choice of tunes and companions work just fine. There is a certain "sameness" to all the songs, as one might expect. So, listening to it straight through may not be as enjoyable as putting it randomly in your mix, and having any one of these gems pop out and dazzle you from time to time."
...simply perfect...
rocky-o | 04/27/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"if ever there was a voice made for an album like this, it is the beautifully angelic voice of maura o'connell...
she is breathtaking in her confidence, as she takes the very artifice of david and his psalms, along with a voice to carry lyrics straight to the ear of God...
this should be the very first album ears should hear...to understand, to listen, the way songs were meant to be...
Track Listings (13) - Disc #1