Search - Paula Cole :: Amen

Paula Cole
Amen
Genres: Folk, Pop, Rock

Track Listings (9) - Disc #1
1. I Believe In Love
2. Amen - (with DJ Premier)
3. La Tonya
4. Pearl
5. Be Somebody - (with Tionne Watkins)
6. Rhythm Of Life
7. Free
8. Suwannee Jo
9. God Is Watching

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CD Details

All Artists: Paula Cole
Title: Amen
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 3
Label: Warner Bros / Wea
Original Release Date: 9/28/1999
Release Date: 9/28/1999
Genres: Folk, Pop, Rock
Styles: Adult Contemporary, Singer-Songwriters, Adult Alternative
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPCs: 093624749028, 603497174263

Synopsis

Amazon.com

Paula Cole's third release is a lesson in sticking to what you know. A trained jazz vocalist, Cole uses this studied vocal styling with great affect. Never overusing her vibrato, she breathes a unique and emotional character into each song with a well-placed whisper, unexpectedly powerful crescendo, or a desperate, aching wail. One moment she portrays a freestyling beat-poet rapper ("Rhythm of Life"), the next a tragically downtrodden blues mamma ("La Tonya"). She also knows how to produce a song. On "Free," sitar uncoils behind a scrim of dark ethereal notions. The title track has bright acoustic-guitar melodies dancing on shimmering synths that resonate like the rim of a crystal water glass caressed by a wet fingertip. Throughout, she builds a foundation of sprawling, blooming musicality adapted from her preceptor Peter Gabriel. But lyrically, Cole slips into her bad habit of harping on the obvious. On "Amen" a DJ's scratch flips a switch in the middle of the song where Cole begins spouting a list of notorious characters in need of repentance, citing Saddam Hussein, Jack Kevorkian, O.J. Simpson, and all Reagan-era republicans. Exhibiting a Jewel-esque naiveté on "Be Somebody," she advises, "In the face of totality, show the other cheek." The lyrics are trite, but after a few listens, they're a minor distraction from the mighty-fine body of music contained in this release. Amen to that. --Beth Massa

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Member CD Reviews

Mark P.
Reviewed on 6/19/2011...

Paula Cole is a great vocalist and I enjoyed her work with Peter Gabriel quite a lot. I thought that I would try this album but there was nothing in her song topics that gripped me in particular so I thought I would put it up for swap here. I also had a girlfriend in the 80s who dressed just like she did, whose name was Paula too! Memories, Alas!!!

CD Reviews

Feel My Wrath

S. Schell | Mason, OH United States | 01/24/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Okay, guys. I am about to totally bash one of the reviewers on this page. If you would like a reference, please look at "Paula ---What Happened To You?, A Music Fan From Chicago", submitted on September 29th, 1999. For those of you that are TRULY loyal fans, you will most definitely cheer me on when I say: First of all, Paula Cole, like any other musician, did not get in this business to write for you. She got into the music industry for HERSELF. Her lyrics are an expression of how SHE feels. If someone understands how she feels or is remotely able to relate to her, that's great. But music is all about SELF-expression, and I do stress the world self. Of course her lyrics are going to sound self-absorbed. They're about her. She's so filled with energy from her newly discovered peace of mind, that she's bursting with emotion. Some people shout out loud, they jump up and down, or they go tell someone how they feel. Turning it into a song and singing it to the world is her own personal way of expressing it. Now, would you bash everyone else for doing this? The reason why it's become the Paula Cole band is because she's giving her musicians the credit they deserve. Without her back-up, she's merely a voice. She's a great voice, but she can't survive in the music industry on her voice alone. Then she'd really be a folkie! And hey, after all, she's got a great band! She's trying to tell everyone, "Give us ALL a hand! They're a large part of this too!" (ex. Dave Matthews, where the hell would that guy be without his band? ) Lastly, there is nothing wrong with her. She's experimenting, as does every artist. Yeah, sure we all grow to like a specific sound, but we're not the ones who have to sing it. And how are they supposed to grow and try to appeal to others if they're always doing the same thing? They're losing money, and they're losing valuable and potential listeners. That's what the music industry is all about. So, before you change your mind about being a die-hard fan, why don't you think about all the reasons why they started in the first place and why they're still there?"

Surprising but inspiring shift in musical direction

Rashida | Pittsburg, Ca United States | 10/27/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This album is a reflection of Paula Cole's true transformation. I think her second album "This Fire" is about a woman coming to terms with her own fears, anger, desperation, and lost of faith. "Amen" is about a woman deciding to take a more spiritual path. I think the album is beautiful in its own right. Her vocals are breathtaking and the best songs on the album are "Pearl, Be Somebody, I believe in Love, and Rythym of life. I think she will recieve a lot of criticism for her move towards a more spiritual approach to life but I think that is part of being a true artist. I loved her rage and cynicism on "This Fire" but I must admit, I am really pleased to listen to songs filled with hope and vision. I could see her shifting into soulful music on tracks from "This Fire". One that comes to mind is "Feeling love". It shouldn't be such a surprise to everyone. Paula Cole has said in many interviews that her biggest influence is Aretha Franklin. It will take an open heart to understand Paula's message. It doesn't take a genuis to be angry and filled with rage but it truly takes a humble person to find the courage to sing about faith and love in a time of faithlessness. Cheers to Paula Cole!!!!"

Just not as good as previous efforts

Annaliese von Sieb | Midwestern U.S.A. | 12/10/2003

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Harbinger and This Fire are great- very original. The first time I listened to this CD, I realized that I had stopped listening after the 2nd or 3rd track. The songs were just not as distinct as those on her first two albums."

A very pleasant ride

M. J. Loux | Caribou, ME USA | 04/03/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I have listened to the album 3 times or so at the time of this review (track 3 is currently spinning in my PC), and so far have enjoyed it thoroughly. I was a bit taken aback by the occasional DJ scratching and Bone Thugs style rapping on track 6, but then again this IS Paula Cole we're talking about, who isn't afraid to try anything. Thank God she decided to forego the screaming route she went with 2 tracks off of This Fire. Musically, this album isn't quite as dynamic as This Fire; I would put it at about the same level as her first album, the extremely-underrated Harbringer. All in all, this is a very good album. My personal high points are the title track, which is simply beautiful (though a tad preachy), and Free, with its lovely combination of strings and sitar. Add to that a very throaty contralto and you've got some good listening. Nuff said."

Paula Cole Returned; But Her Work Didn't

Sean Mann | Ormond Beach, Florida USA | 05/07/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"First of all, I think "This Fire" is a brilliant album with it's thoughful, provocative lyrics and it's shattering, acoustic music and Paula's incredibly strong and lasting voice. That in my opinion is worthy of 5 stars (probably a 4 1/2). With much expectation to see what this album would be like as a follow-up I was dissappointed during the first listen, but like "This Fire" I had to listen to it several times to start to understand it. For one thing, Paula's strong excellent voice stays, as well as some of the nice, loud acoustic music (on some of the tracks) but the album has numerous faults. For one thing, the songwriting on the album isn't there with her past work as she says on one track where she falteringly attempts at rapping "To the critics and the cynics who don't understand the lyrics" and at the end of this track ("Rhythm Of Life" is the track) she says "All the world's a stage....". First of all, Paula, your breakthrough album didn't even hit platinum when you were nominated for 7 Grammy Awards including Album and Song of the year; believe me they understood your lyrics! The best music that remains on the album "Amen" is the passionate, loud music (Paula once again writes in the booklet of the album to turn the music up to get the experience, and she's right!) but she includes corny, R&B and soul-driven music as well. Hopefully, Paula won't look like a wonder and will come out with what "This Fire" had so she can get her career back.Rating: 3 1/2 stars out of 5"