|
|
 - MemoriesThese bring back some fine times, a great Artist! With 20 tracks a nice deal. Rating:  - Great CD - Carly Simon's ReflectionsI really like this CD - it had me dancing around the house the first time I played it. Bought it for "Let the River Run" and "Mockingbird" (with James Taylor). But it has many other great Carly Simon hits on it and some others that I had never heard before. Rating: - A fun trip down memory laneThis is a good representative group of songs from her career beginnings to fairly recent. I found myself singing along in my car at the top of my lungs, surely amusing other drivers on the road! If you want a small sampler of Carly's hits, this would be it. Rating: - carley simonshes at her best on this cd and the wife thought it was so romantic Rating: - Reflective On Reflections.......... ;)Well, well. Yes,yes. Just for the record, your beloved Seer did an interview many years ago for Seering Stone magazine. Most of you probably don't remember it. That's o.k. I barely do. I do recall the writing staff looking stunned as I walked into their offices with my Seer's hat dipped below my third eye and wearing an apricot scarf. And when they asked about my travels and I told them I just took my carpet up to Nova Scotia, all pandemonium broke loose. They all ran to the phones to contact Carly Simon to come in and interview with me. I suppose this will always be a mystery to me. ;) But, what about Carly and the selection here? Well, I will tell you that for years I have always enjoyed her music. And she's had so many hits and good tunes that I wondered why I couldn't get all that on one release? Very frustrating to a Seer who holds no sway with music executives. However, good fortune finally came around and they released this excellent compilation "Reflections". Carly came up with the confessional singer-songwriters in the 70's. Mega-talented, she wooed her lover (and us) with that beautiful angelic voice. She inhabited the landscape of vulnerable, independent women whose quest was always for finding that ideal love. Despite the disappointments and illusions, she continued to learn about life and relate her lessons back to us. I think that is one aspect about her music that always rings true. She paints the gems here with eloquent, lyrical finesse and genius. The compositions are always measured and arranged with melodic enjoyment as first and foremost. This c.d. is pure pleasure from the first til the last. In "That's the Way I've Always Heard It Should Be" she's afraid of losing herself in expectations and conventions. With "Anticipation" she questions the unknown future and how things can change the way she is feeling at the moment. Her classic line "These are the good old days" relates to the now. The good old days are at this moment. Need I explain the irony of "You're So Vain"? The kicker is that of course the song is about him. Very clever put down. The theme from The Spy Who Loved Me, "Nobody Does It Better" is genius because of it's universal appeal. Each and every song here reveals an emotion, a thought, a yearning in the most equisite terms. Carly employs some of the finest musicians for accompaniment. She plays piano or guitar on the cuts. But, also assembled here are some of the best session players on bass, drums, lead guitar and sax. No folks, there is not a false note and they all exude the highest professionalism bringing these songs to life. I will also mention that James Taylor even makes an appearance here and there. But, you knew that. Before I go, I should mention a song that awes me time and time again. That would be "Like a River", a lush and resplendent ode to her mother. Never slipping into the maudlin, it is sentimental with the joy of memory. Which is exactly how we should feel about loved ones who are gone. In closing, this is a sure winner. Easy listening but done with such class and expertise. A real joy. Seriously. I am glad that someone had brains in that ivory tower. Now folks, forgive me but I must leave. I have a meeting this afternoon with a little filly in Saratoga. ;) Coming Around Again --- Metamorpho
|
