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Elly Roberts reviews
Reprise Records
- April 2007
- Rating: 8/10
On his third and latest album,Canadian Michael Buble spans the decades, from 1988 to 1944,adding two of his own most recent songs.
Despite having already amassed 12 million sales to date, Buble, in myopinion, wasnt cutting the mustard in this market. He is finally gettingbetter, though I still question his live performances.
Sometimes, its hard shaking-off Harry Connick Jrs immense talents asshowman, arranger and composer. Having seen him live at Manchester Apolloin 1992, Buble was always going to be up against it. Nevertheless, this isa broadly appealing album, and far better than previous Its Time,however, its still not challenging enough for my personal taste, renderingit to be yet another coffee table the mums have it niche.
Maybe, Im being churlish, but I know what I like and what I hear in thistype of music, and it still leaves me wanting, probably due to hislightweight crooning style.
To his credit, his choice of songs is very good, by composers by LeonardCohen, Eric Clapton, Huff-Gamble-Gilbert, and he handles them well enough.
Adopting a Sinatra (his hero) style intro, its smoothness personified, andmaybe, just maybe, there really is more to this song, as he stresses TheBest Is Yet To Come, which I believe, there is.
Going all Latino, Mancinis It Had Better Be Tonight is shimmeringwith full-blooded intent, whereas Billy Pauls hit is given the silkytreatment, backed by neat vocals from Emily Blunt.
Cohen did Im Your Man in a Jazz style, so Buble keeps with it, and doesit justice with appropriate gusto when called for, though the vocalscouldnt be more polarised. Boyz11men add some sparkling backups on apacey cover of Dorough-Tuckers 1962 gem.
Back to swing, the title track offers nothing new, though ClaptonsWonderful Tonight has all the trademarks of a gentle Bond feel asthe strings sway away. Willie Nelsons Always On My Mind, andstandard Thats Life dont work due to their blandness.
As for his own songs Lost and Everything, both fit hiscrooning perfectly.
Weblinks:michaelbuble.com /bungalow-b.com /repriserecords.com
The full list of tracks included are :
1. The Best Is Yet To Come [1964]
2. It Had better Be Tonight (Meglio Stasera) [1963]
3. Me And Mrs. Jones [1972]
4. Im Your Man [1988]
5. Comin Home Baby (duet with Boyz II Men) [1962]
6. Lost [2007]
7. Call Me Irresponsible [1963]
8. Wonderful Tonight (duet with Ivan Lins) [1977]
9. Everything [2007]
10. Ive Got The world On A String [1932]
11. Always On My Mind [1971]
12. Thats Life [1964]
13. Dream [1944]
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.