|
 |
|||
Susan Boyle It has to be a miracle to hear the news of Susan Boyle, a UK freshman from the reality-TV show X-Factor, dominated the top spot of the U.S. pop charts. Not that our Trans-Atlantic neighbors aren’t fit to establish such prominence in the States, but the miracle resides in Boyle’s style, her homely appearance and her Streisand-peppered, almost operatic-vocal pipes. Comparisons to Celine Dion aren’t even remotely possible since Boyle hits a serene timbre, a peaceful and meditative zone that almost feels like a heavenly graced gospel singer. I Dreamed a Dream, her debut, was released in time for the ‘09 holiday season and did what Josh Groban did a year earlier with his seasonal effort Noel; that was to secure the #1 spot for a number of weeks. A feat so incredible that it even caused two queens of R&B, both Mary J. Blige and Alicia Keys, to bow down to her royal greatness. Her album isn’t all that great though; mostly cover tunes splashed with never-ending harps and strings. She dances over gospel hymns like “Amazing Grace,” “How Great Thou Art” and “Silent Night” like a mellow Sandi Patty. But she does a great job inserting her angelic pipes into largely-orchestrated tracks that compliment her television persona. The signature Les Misérables title track, embossed with a louder instrumentation than the show’s pre-recorded version, and her bluesy Sinatra take on “Cry Me a River” gives the album a posh attitude while sweeping Boyle deeper into the AC market. There’s nothing really upbeat here, even though her fan base should have easily predicted such a reality for her debut. It’s still quite disappointing since an album full of calm ballads usually merit nothing but a cozy therapeutic nap. A holiday album may just be in the works for a follow-up.
|
