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Suzanne Palmer delivers the goods!

J. Ahern | Gainesville, FL United States | 07/16/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"First off, let me list the CORRECT track listing:



1- Sound of the Drum (6:58)

2- Free My Love (6:29)

3- Fascinated (5:10)

4- Seperate Ways (3:13)

5- Luv 2 Luv (4:41)

6- Keep The Faith (5:35)

7- I Want You (7:27)

8- Eye Can See U (7:32)

9- Home (4:30)

10- The Days (5:24)

11- Show Me (6:01)

12- Come Getcha Love (4:47)

13- Luv Drug (6:14)

14- One Day (3:47)



Now for the review. Suzanne Palmer has been an underground club music vocalist for years, and has released a handful of maxi-singles for indie dance labels. With one year of delays for releasing the album, Star 69 finally unshelved the project and put it out after releasing three singles.



The entire album contains dance-oriented material. I was expecting a ballad or two to 'filler' the album- not one! Still, this does not stop Suze from demonstrating those smooth, sweet vocals. All tracks are pretty good...there isn't one that I do not like. Stand out tracks are:



"Fascinated" (potential for maxi-single release)

"Keep The Faith" (a very gay housy hit- reminds me of something from a Club 69 album)

"Sound of the Drum"

"Home"

"Eye Can See U"

"I Want You"



Suzanne wrote/co-wrote four songs on this album. The artwork/photos are very original, though you don't see a clear shot of Suzanne's face at all...and what's up with that blonde wig??? Hmmmmmm. Nevertheless, an excellent release for a long-awaited debut album...it's about time Star 69!!! Shame shame shame for prolonging this. Very good album!

[...]"

Home Is Where the Heart Is

E. Green | Washington DC | 07/31/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Being one of the very few who haphazardly (but luckily nonetheless) received a promo copy of Suzanne Palmer's first, unreleased 1999 album titled "Suzanne Palmer," I can assert this woman is unstoppable. "Suzanne Palmer," the album, recorded after her brief stint as front-woman of The Absolute, was filled with gospel-infused, wailing ballads, some mid-tempo pop numbers, and of course, the ubiquitous dance artist "disco" tracks. Twisted Records unfortunately went bankrupt before releasing this daring, organic first solo outing for Palmer. Then after the typical "token" club success with songs under the guise "Club 69," people starting noticing Palmer in the circuit world. I can remember her solid performance of the Razor-n-Guido mix to "It's Alright" at Club Fusion in Atlanta back in 1998: the boys went wild. I looked around the smoky dance floor and watched the crowd's face in shock that this power-house vocal performance was coming from a small-framed white woman. Even I, who followed the club music scene closely back in the late 90s assumed Palmer was a big, or should I say "healthy," black woman. Why all these way-off assumptions? Pick up her new record "Home," and you'll find out for yourself. It's her voice. This white girl can sang.

So, fast forward to 2005 and Star 69 Records' released a new full-length album by Palmer titled "Home" (after a year of what came to be annoying delays for anxious circuit boys who were `livin' for its eventual release). I'm fascinated by this album. Period. Suzanne's voice is the key ingredient, unlike some dance artists who unfortunately thrive only because of highly-skilled producers and voice filters. This woman exudes an innate, raw sex appeal through every inflection, every falsetto and every gentle whisper (and that's saying a lot coming from a gay male who's never used the words `sex' and `woman' in the same sentence until now!). The magical, almost mythological quality about Palmer's voice is that she delivers her anthems with a precision that seems to be completely effortless, yet it uplifts you and you begin identifying and reconnecting to parts of your musical past that you had subconsciously forgotten. She has an amazing arsenal of vocal tools that she taps into at any moment, forever surprising the listener with those uniquely powerful explosions of emotion. Suzanne Palmer is to the circuit anthem, as Whitney Houston is to the pop-ballad, as Linda Eder is to the broadway tune, as Kathleen Battle is to Puccini. Listen to the title track, "Home;" and when she belts out, "Sound of your voice says/ You're not alone/Gives me the strength I need/To bring me home," you will have heard the genius and magnificence of the modern circuit anthem that Palmer so lustfully recapitulates and reinvents song after song.



A huge part of Palmer's allure is showcased on this new record. Anastacia and Taylor Dayne do similar vocal riffs, but Palmer's remain clear, crisp, and she seduces you with her vocal prowess (never overblowing or grandstanding for a temporal shot at pop fame). In my opinion, Palmer triumphs on the album for one reason: the emotions that lie behind every lyric. Peter Rauhofer, her long-time artistic collaborator, was very wise to assemble such an elite troop of current, cutting-edge dance producers for this album. Everyone is here, from Jorio to Eric Kupper. While listening to the Dezrok-pinned track, "One Day," I can't help but feel the nostalgia. Those "ole skool" memories from back in 2001 when Palmer released "Hide U." You all remember those days- "I'd keep you in safety/Forever protect you/I'd hide you away from the world you rejected/I'd hide you." Well, Palmer has gone from hiding to standing out in front and shining like never before. Other tracks like the previously released Cevin Fisher track "Luv to Luv" contain Suzanne's blazingly refreshing falsetto, as her voice oozes a seductive quality while murmuring, "I want you/Yes I need you." The closest thing to mainstream dance-fame Palmer could possibly come to on "Home" has to be "Fascinated." Again, Palmer's vocal acrobats take the mildly successful 80's pop song and turn it into a hit, as only Palmer can. Another stellar edition to this replete package is Palmer's second collaboration with Cevin Fisher, "Eye Can See U." I can only say this in an absolute positive, excitable way: "Eye" is hauntingly reminiscent of the old Thunderpuss days, except with an updated, Star 69-sounding twist. Fisher and Palmer truly bring out some of the more memorable moments on the album.

My only criticism of the album is that Rauhofer did not include a mid-tempo or slower number. His original version of "Show Me" sounds somewhat dated and misplaced in the album's sequence. I think a ballad or acoustic version of "Show Me" would have been an interesting addition. And where is her biggest anthem to date, "Hide U"? Outside the esoteric electronica world of DJs and the few circuit elite, most dance enthusiasts are unfamiliar with most of Palmer's work, unless you mention "Hide U." And then the boys start irrepressibly singing, "If you were in my heart..." An interesting omission indeed.

It's been a couple of years, at least, since I've been mesmerized by a `dance' artist's album. I remember feeling those pre-euphoric feelings before Tina Ann and Becky Baeling released their respective solo projects, only to feel terribly dysphoric because of them both falling flat (think Monday-morning-blues after a circuit party weekend). The last time the music made me smile was Kristine W's exceptional and acclaimed album "Fly Again." Palmer easily picks up where Kristine left off in the circuit world, demanding our attention, seducing our inhibitions and leaving us completely contained within her musical canopy. Hear it for yourself. Palmer's voice will take you back to that safe place in electronica where music transcends the pettiness of our daily lives and we feel liberated- all the way back home.



(...)"

Star 69- I hope you're listening.....

L.A.R. | New York | 10/30/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I just got the news that after waiting months for the release of this album, Star 69 has decided to "shelve" the project in favor of an unyet decided 2005 date. WHY??? 3 of the songs have already been singles with little or no promotion from Star 69, and "Sound of the Drum" is already getting the remix treatment and being released on the upcoming Live at Roxy volume whatever. It is beyond me why a singer with so much talent gets so little recognition from the label that claims to care about her. This all seems a little too familiar. Does anyone remember back in 1999 when Twisted Records was supposed to release her debut album. It got shelved much in this same fashion. I guess her fans can only hope that a promotional copy gets leaked, just like her last album. Please release this album and stop fooling yourselves into believing that a delayed release will garner more sales....just release it."