Funky, Smoky, Retro and Sexy: Macy Gray's On How Life Is
Written: Aug 15 '02
Product Rating:
Pros: Amazing lyrics, songs, and vocals. Very appealing to all listeners.
Cons: A few not-quite-perfect tracks.
The Bottom Line: I can't help but to appreciate and love the lyrics, vocals, and melodies on this album. It's impressive and appealing to a very large audience.
lambchops's Full Review: On How Life Is by Macy Gray
After just two albums, it’s clear that classically trained pianist Macy Gray is an exceptional talent. Her vocals are unique, recalling a mix of Janis Joplin and Billie Holiday and throwing in her own panache for good measure. The Ohio-born Gray is an artist whose voice will never be perfectly refined. Rather, she is talented and lovely in all of her quirkiness.
I was first introduced to Gray in the same way as the rest of the world. I Try was all over top forty radio and MTV. But, it wasn’t until my sister told me that I must pick up On How Life Is that I really took notice of the singer. And immediately it became obvious that Gray is a rare bird. Her words and the music seamlessly blend. It’s almost as though producer Andrew Slater (The Wallflowers, Fiona Apple, The Vines) allowed her freedom to create whatever kind of music she so desired. And, in the case of the aforementioned On How Life Is this approach worked wonderfully.
It’s impossible to believe that Gray made her debut with this 1999 release. And it’s almost as improbable that Gray didn’t even pick up singing until she was in college. The main focus of the ten songs on On How Life Is happens to be that of relationships and sex. Not necessarily the most functional of either, but the ideas are nonetheless interesting. These themes are interwoven between funk, R&B, and rock and roll with ease. On How Life Is nears perfection. Gray fumbles here and there, but overall this is a very worthwhile album and an impressive first outing that appeals to R&B listeners and female vocalist fans alike.
The debut single, I Try is probably the calmest and most tender song on the album. Gray tends toward funk and freak on most of the other offerings. Not that this is a bad thing. Listeners were greeted with I Try because it is the most consumer friendly and thus the least abrasive introduction. As the fourth track, it’s nicely placed among her more typical offerings. Orchestral strings, a piano, and light percussion surround Gray’s smoky vocals and her ultimately infectiously stellar lyrics. You can’t help but hum and sing along to I Try. You know the words and melody…sing along:
I try to say goodbye and I choke
Try to walk away but I stumble
Though I try to hide it
It’s clear my world crumbles when you’re not here
Channeling the fiendish 1980’s version of Prince, Gray shines on the cool yet undeniably nasty Sex-o-Matic Venus Freak. No need to go into the details of this track. It should be enough to simply state that it’s about sex. Period. With that said, it’s a funky retro track with great guitars and a ton of energy. Can’t help but love this one.
I Can’t Wait To Meetchu is another brilliant track. It’s tender, and seems to recall the cool soul/funk of the 1970’s. The chorus that backs Gray shimmers while the singer’s vocals are just as distinctive and original as ever. She really does (whether you enjoy her or not) have something that few artists can lay claim to. She recalls other jazz, blues, and funk artists of long ago without exploiting their talents. Gray is talented in her own right.
With that said, my favorite song is probably Do Something. It reminds me of trip-hop with samples, great bass lines, and multiple layers. The track weaves smoothly through various influences and musical ideas. Considered as a whole, it’s beautiful and perfect. Yes, perfect. There I said it. Here’s a sample of the lyrics:
Get up, get out
And do somethin'
Don't let the days of your life pass you by
You got to
Get up, get out
And do somethin'
How will you make it if you never even try
Aside from those songs, you gotta really also appreciate Caligula. Again funky and fun, but this time also catchy and full of attitude the song is one of my other favorites. Other great tracks are Why Didn’t You Call Me and I’ve Committed Murder. There are but two tracks that don’t live up to the potential of the album. Don’t skip ‘em, but the less interesting tracks are Still, A Moment To Myself, and The Letter. The only qualm I have with them is that they don’t showcase Gray’s talent and that they sound too much like the other songs.
The thing about On How Life Is that most impresses me is that so many of the songs seem so well seasoned. It seems like no fewer than four of these tracks have been around for eons. That I’ve been hearing them for my entire life. This is what makes the album important and enduring. The fact that Macy Gray in 1999 put together an album that will never and can never be forgotten.
Considering the very few flaws, I can only give this album 4/5 stars. I hope that Gray can put together an even more perfect album in the future (the more recent The Id was not that kind of offering) and that more and more people will come to love On How Life Is. Keep in mind that I’m a fan of rock and roll. R&B isn’t my normal fare. Be a pal, check out Macy Gray.
Rating: 4/5 stars
Track Listing:
1. Why Didn’t You Call Me
2. Do Something
3. Caligula
4. I Try
5. Sex-o-Matic Venus Freak
6. I Can’t Wait to Meetchu
7. Still
8. I’ve Committed Murder
9. A Moment To Myself
10. The Letter
The voice of Macy Gray is a wondrous thing. It can be as intimate as the wee small hours or as exciting as a packed nightclub; disarmingly sweet on on...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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