CD Review:
I, like most others, came by this album through listening to Tears for Fear's Seeds of Love album from 1989. She was the shining star (for vocal majesty) on that album. Through that album, Oleta gained recognition and because of it Roland Orzabal and Seeds of Love producer Dave Bascombe worked with her to release the soulful 1990 debut Circle of One.
Where Oleta let it all hang out on Seeds of Love, she seemed restrained on her debut. She wrote 5 of the 9 songs but only the first single (and track) "Rhythm of Life" matched the enthusiasm felt on her Seeds of Love vocals. This album is a straight forward R&B release that doesn't inspire much reaction in the listener. You are surprised and disappointed that it didn't live up to previous collaboration with Orzabal.
Coming from gospel and the church, as so many great female voices in R&B, Jazz and Pop do, you would think she would have had much greater success than she did. As to the mainstream, she barely broke through. In fact, her main brush with entertainment audiences over the last 15 years has been through another singer: Justin Guarini. He showcased her song, "Get Here" (also a very good song off Circle of One) on American Idol (according to allmusic.com).
Other than the interest driven from the Tears For Fears appearance, this album has little to offer in unique stylings or vocal greatness. You can receive more enjoyment by listening to the better known R&B singers of the last 15 years.
Full Spectrum Staff
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| Band |
Tom Glenne 5.5 |
| Album Title |
Free Rock |
| Date Of Release |
2006 |
| Genre |
Rock |
| Official Website |
None |
| |
CD Review:
Tom Glenne, like Tom Waits, suffers from the lack of a singing voice. Because Waits compensates with interesting, eclectic and weird musical arrangements and a brilliant knack for song-craft, he is considered a great musician and artist. Glenne doesn't take his band into the world of Tom Waits, he lives in a stoner/psychedelic rock world where his guitar (and the band's other instruments) lessen the impact of his voice. Glenne writes a good song and with Betty Dimo's guitar, Todd Harrison's bass, and Paul Kolinski's drums, the band has two of the three elements that make for a great rock album; it's too bad Glenne doesn't have a voice similar to David Gilmour as it will be a tough road to ever reach the status of Waits.
Scott D. Brown
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