Corinne Bailey Rae

Put Your Records On
$0.99

Corinne Bailey Rae
$40.98
I've been a fan of Corinne Bailey Rae for years now, ever since her original album was released in the states a few years ago. I'd never owned my own copy because my mother's copy was on my computer (and therefore on my iPod), so when I did decide to buy one for myself, I shelled out a few extra dollars to get the import 2-CD deluxe edition for all the bonus tracks. I'll do a quick review of both discs here:

The initial album, the self-titled "Corinne Bailey Rae," is a stupendous feat of both songwriting and originality. It's simple to call Rae a soul singer; the truth is she's infused soul and jazz and and pop and even a little funk to create a style all her own to match her singularly unique vocals. From the opening guitar strings of the sweetly innocent "Like a Star" through to the complex "Seasons Change," there is not a song on the album that isn't a sultry, sweet joy to listen to.

Rae was the lead songwriter on this effort and her strength in lyrics and prose shows through on the shimmeringly emotive tracks "Enchantment" and "Breathless," as well as the uplifting fun of "Put Your Records On" and "I'd Like To." The few slow ballads aren't at all gloomy; indeed, there's a relaxing quality to the entire tone of the album that's as soothing as it is uplifting; one could listen to it falling to sleep or during a summer block party and get the same experience.

In the deluxe edition, we recieve an all-new second disc with ten all-new tracks. I'll start this off by saying that the second disc was a slight disappointment; the few new original songs by Rae weren't anywhere near as good as the stuff of the original album and one can immediately see why each track was left off of her debut. That's not to say that each one isn't immensely enjoyable, however.

Rae gives us four new original tracks, and immediate standouts are the lovely electronic rhythms of "Emeraldine" and the soft strains "Since I've Been Loving You." Fans of simple mixes will get a kick out of the alternate versions of "Enchantment [Amp Fiddler Remix]" and "I'd Like To [Weekender Remix]." Rae also covers Bjork's "Venus as a Boy" and Aretha Franklin's "Daydreaming" to great effect, paying credit to two of her many inspirations.

Ultimately, the deluxe edition is a great addition to any large fan of Rae's library, but the initial debut album is all that's really needed. No matter which you choose for yourself, I can guarantee that the listening experience will be one of the most satisfying and original musical experiences that's come out these past few years. Now that Rae has stated that she will soon be releasing her second album, I can hardly wait!

Five out of five stars.

Also recommended: Joss Stone, Sam & Ruby, Ani DiFranco, Jack Johnson

Corinne Bailey Rae (Dlx- 2CDs)
$21.94
You may not remember her name as easy as you will remember her Music....
Corinne Bailey Rae has a unique mesmerizing sound that puts you in another state of mind. I highly recommend her CD guaranteed not to be disappointing.

Corinne Bailey Rae
$11.94
I was introduced to Ms Rae's music by the movie "Venus". I thought my daughter would like it and bought it for her. Unfortunately, my daughter already had this CD. Or maybe fortunately, because I'm getting to like it myself. She has an interesting voice and the arrangements are likewise interesting.