Music Reviews
Album Review: Annie Lennox – ‘Songs of Mass Destruction’
By Jeff Swindoll Oct 17, 2007, 11:33 GMT
Menacing as they sound, the songs of mass destruction gathered on Annie Lennox\'s fifth solo disc don\'t manage to so much as nick the gorgeous instrument she\'s built her career on. Weaving artfully as ever around the contours of songs that suggest the worst--Lennox is world-wise and therefore maybe inevitably world-weary--she imparts gravity and grace in a voice as cloudless and surface-smooth as just-brewed mint tea; from the tentative beginnings ...more
Annie Lennox has always been somewhat of an enigma, a voice like an angel but one that’s been known to hang out in smoke-filled nightclubs and not adverse to a drink. Her stylized look has been know to appear that she’s an angel, but one from “down under” where the temperatures are rather hot.
But I digress… with her latest solo effort; she strives to address some of the issues of our time. To that end the album has a very dark quality since Lennox obviously sees the world that way. I’m pretty pessimistic as well, but even with the pessimism the songs still have an uplifting quality to them.
Actually, that may be more from the first track Dark Road’s lyrics (and others as well), but they all still have a beat that’s hard to get depressed to. So there may be hope for us all yet. The song that might be the most press is “Sing” with a chorus of 23 fellow female artists (including Madonna, Faith Hill, KT Tunstall, Celine Dion, and many more) and is done to bring attention to the AIDS/HIV crisis.
She uses her vocal instrument well and adds a great bluesy, smoky quality to all the songs and they range from gospel to rock. Even if the world is a dark place, the album is a bright shining light and well worth having.
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A joyous listenOct 26th, 2007 - 19:57:54
Songs of mass destruction
Has it been a dark road that has carried Annie Lennox all the way from the new wave pop of the 80s Eurythmics to a stellar solo career? Well there may have been some somber moments and dark corners but Songs of Mass Destruction (SOMD) in spite of its somewhat depressing and prophetic title, offers a lot of variety, the whole encapsulated in Lennox’s beautiful, soaring voice. Many commentators rightly state that this is the best instrument in the piece.
SOMD opens with the single, Dark Road, which amply demonstrates Annie’s range. It is dark but at the same time rich in tonal quality and provides the listener with an indication of the quality still to come. If you love Annie’s voice, you will love Dark Road and Through the glass darkly.
Next comes Love is Blind a joyous piece of pop that Annie belts out and which also includes a very enjoyable rap.
Then, getting a little deeper into the tangled and powerful emotions that surround a breakup comes the slow burner “Smithereens.” At first it seems like a less interesting track but then begins to grow on the listener with repeated listens. It is now a favourite.
Ghosts in my machine kicks the tempo back up again and has an infectious chorus that the listener wants to sing along to, addresses imperfect humanity, which is a general theme of the album overall and leads to Womankind which flies the feminist banner high, again offers a slice of rap and is something that you will want to or can’t help singing along to, whether man or woman!
Through the glass darkly is a soaring ballad that underlines the pain of emotional despair and fully showcases Annie’s wonderful voice. Many have said that the album is worth its price for this track alone. Lost is also powerfully sung and has become one of my favourites on the disc. I love the layered vocals and the high notes that Annie reaches.
Sing is OK and is similar to a chant with African accents and an announcement at its start that the song has been created to support a charity trying to prevent Mother-Child transmission of AIDS/HIV, a worthwhile cause to support. Annie’s voice outshines and outpowers the chorus of “equals.”
Big Sky is a big interesting ballad and Fingernail Moon rounds the set off in a reflective frame of mind having a very relaxing feel to it and adventuresome lyrics.
Annie has done a good job in SOMD and I am looking forward to her next.
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