Relish by Joan Osborne

Pros: The Occasional Lyric
Cons: Most of the Lyrics, Overall Sound, Themes

I recall when Joan Osborne's single "One of Us" was racing up the charts, I was in college and I had a friend who was a Christian fundamentalist. We both hated the song. She hated it because she felt it cheapened God. I think her exact hatred ...

Pros: Interesting mix of textures and tones; sharp backup band.
Cons: A couple weak songs.

Close your eyes, and tell me if this chameleon chanteuse's many voices don't bring to mind a whole slew of top notch female vocalists, from Bonnie Raitt, to Melissa Etheridge and Sheryl Crow.

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery,...

Pros: excellent storytelling. fun music
Cons: she doesn't release enough albums

Is Joan Osborne just suffering from writer's block? Where the hell has she been the last 4 years?

Not quite her debut, but still her main introduction to the masses, Osburne's "Relish" can best be described as robust, blue-eyed,...

Pros: Great musicianship, insightful lyrics
Cons: Won't appeal to N'Sync fans

As I get older, I find myself getting more and more cranky and critical of the music I hear. My first introduction to Joan Osborne was "One of Us," which I immediately wrote off as a nauseating little exercise in minimalism, packaged and...

Pros: Beautiful, bluesy voice
Cons: Too good for the average consumer

I love this album! Joan Osborne has a unique voice, to say the least. Its raw, its sexy, and it works with these songs.
I've always loved blues-inspired music and this is one of those albums. I've listened to this album for years and have yet to...

Pros: Her music is brilliant and touching
Cons: It isn't at all what you expect

I bought this album after falling head over heels in love with Osborne's "St. Teresa" and "One of Us," but I have to say that I didn't "click" as well with the rest of the album. It's not that Osborne is a bad musician, or...

Pros: The powerful voice and bluesy feeling injected into every song
Cons: None

The first compact disc I ever purchased, I unwrapped Relish expecting twelve "One of Us"'s. To my delight, it was anything but - and it amazes me that her fame diminished so quickly with such a powerful, soulful voice. Osborne's spirit oozes from her lyrics, which can especially be found on the fourth track, "Pensacola". Other standout songs are "St. Teresa", "Ladder", and "Spiderweb". Overall, a fantastic, unique album which deserved much more critical acclaim that it received. Relish is a hidden gem, a pleasant discovery for anyone who is willing to listen.