Album Review: Macy Gray – ‘Big’

By Jeff Swindoll Apr 13, 2007, 14:14 GMT

The woman with the most distinctive voice in music is back with a dynamic new effort that spotlights her classic pipes in a variety of soulful and stylistic settings.

Grammy winner Macy Gray returns four years later and does it in fine style with a little help from her friends.  Her last album was 2003’s ‘The Trouble with Being Myself.’  Two albums followed but were a “best of” and a live Vegas show. 

The raspy voiced singer stepped back into the studio with the help of executive producers will.i.am (this album appears on his record label) and Ron Fair.  However, she also brought along Natalie Cole, Fergie, Justin Timberlake, and will.i.am lends some vocal support as well.  The twelve track ‘Big’ features sounds that I equate more with Natalie Cole or Aretha Franklin.  However, those expecting the guest vocalists to play a large part in the songs will be disappointed. 

I expected Natalie Cole to have a solo, but she only contributes back up vocals and it wasn’t until I listened several times that I could pick her out.  Timberlake is not even mentioned on the back of the case and only appears in the credits in the liner notes.  Perhaps, that’s being unfair since it’s Gray’s album. 

The album is a welcome return and features some good songs.  My favorite is the funny and dark “Strange Behavior” which is about a man wanting to shoot his woman down for the insurance money, but she turns the tables on him (reminded me of something Johnny Cash might’ve written – which is never a bad thing to me). 

The album has some good songs on there and if you like R&B and soul then there’s something on there for you.

‘Big’ is now available at Amazon. Visit the music database for more information and a complete track listing.