tjhassecrets's Full Review: Another Side * by John Barrowman
There are a lot of vocalists out there, but there's quite a gigantic ocean filled of those who lack personalities. Being a crooning and such, I find it rather difficult to get into artists like Mariah Carey, who are nothing but a voice-- I need to have life, some relevance, that spark. It's like meeting a really great guy and finding out that you just like him for his car. As much as I like female bubblegum pop, I have a soft spot for those who can belt out a tune and make it their own: Frank Sinatra for instance, who brought raw charisma and injected it to every track he song; Michael Buble, who is just an absolute sweetheart who is as sexual as he is adorable; Cyndi Lauper, who can take any song she gets, make it sugary sweet, and then turn it upside down/inside out and drop it on its head. Unfortunately, there are a lot of two-bit acts who don't hold a candle to those three. But if take your eyes off of the US Billboard charts and look at what our brothers and sisters are loving across the pond, you'd be amazed at how much of their music never makes the trip across the Atlantic. One of them is popular entertain John Barrowman, a renaissance man from Scotland who is best known for his role on the UK-based series Torchwood. He's a theater buff, he's a successful singer, and he's a hot topic for daytime talk shows, charity benefits, and just about anything that has to do with art. While Mr. Barrowman is not a songwriter, he does have a shockingly cool voice that is as gentle as it is powerful, all the while staying completely relevant. What I enjoy most about his music, is that it truly is his music, making all the songs his own in his own unique way-- he sounds like he's your lover, your best friend, your brother, etc. He's just got that magic in his voice.
After a slew of Broadway albums and cast recordings, John finally released 2007's Another Side, his debut pop record that features cover songs from some of the best and the worst in the genre. But what makes this record worth the listen for me is how he takes songs I never liked and makes them really, really fresh and modern. John's flair for theatrics and drama are evident throughout this album, and that makes Air Supply's All Out of Love sound..well..great. Air Supply is one of my least favorite musical groups for staying consistently flat and dull, but John's versions version some impassioned lyrics and strong classical instrumentation. Air Supply's song was based on a lot of the same ol' same ol' flatlining sound that made them popular; John makes it an actual song. When I first got my copy shortly after it came out, I was a little embarrassed to love it. I still cringe when I hear Air Supply's version, but I'll give John massive props for taking a turd and turning it into solid gold. Some of the better songwriters represented hear include The Police with a fun mix of Every Little Thing She Does is Magic, and a classic version of Billy Joel's She's Always a Woman. These two are tricky because I love the originals a lot, but John holds his own, specifically on the latter track. Though not wandering away from the original arrangement, John brings new life into this track the same way Billy does when he's live. If you can stand up to Billy Joel and not get knocked on your ass, that's like a musical badge of honor. Of course, Mr. Joel gets credit for giving us this classic piano song, and his playfully haunting melody is in very good hands.
As previously mentioned, I'm a huge Cyndi Lauper fan, so when I saw Time After Time listed on the album's list, I was drawn to it. I mean, it's another cover of this pop standard, but if it's as good as the original, then I can listen to it. It's a classic and timeless pop ballad that John, of course, does justice. With a voice like his, singing at consistent middle register, you really can't do this song wrong. Though none of the covers I have heard have come close to Cyndi's (even some of her own rearrangings), John comes pretty damn close: "Lyin' in my bed, I hear the clock tick and think of you." There are also some nice versions of Elton John's Your Song and a starkly sad version of Heaven by Bryan Adams, but one of the real stars of Another Side comes in the form of country-pop track by the name of Please Remember Me. Popularized by the very talented Tim McGraw, this song is a dark and powerful mid-tempo ballad that features some classy and smart production behind an absolutely gorgeous vocal treatment. If I didn't like Barrowman's voice before, I certainly love it here with all its urgent energy and sexy prowess. Listen to it, and you will see him out in the rain, calling out in the middle of an empty field. For an Broadway actor, he certainly does let me get lost in the music, which I find is a little rare. Actors on Broadway always have such a campiness about that, that it can get very difficult for me to believe them. But when I listen to the songs on this record, there are as if John wrote them himself. He gets catty on Carly Simon's You're So Vain, then gets hopeless on All By Myself. Where did this record come from, and why isn't John big in the US. Oh, well. He's got a sci-fi cult following here, but I dunno how keen they are on his pop music.
VERDICT This record can be seen as a beautiful debut that features some amazing pop music. John's voice is the star, and though it's a covers album, it takes the dust off of some really terrible songs and makes them complete ear candy. People, he made Air Supply sound good! That's just raw talent and skill right there.
01. All Out of Love [5 Stars] 02. You're So Vain [5 Stars] 03. She's Always a Woman [5 Stars] 04. Time After Time [4.5 Stars] 05. Weekend in New England [4 Stars] 06. Every Little Thing She Does is Magic [4 Stars] 07. If You Leave Me Now [4 Stars] 08. Your Song [5 Stars] 09. Please Remember Me [5 Stars] 10. Heaven [4.5 Stars] 11. Being Alive [4 Stars] 12. Feeling Good [4.5 Stars] 13. All By Myself [5 Stars]
Best: Please Remember Me Worst: Weekend in New England, but just because the song sucks.
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