Category: Music & Radio Shows

SUMMARY:              APPROX. RUNNING TIME: 62:00 Min.

Tina Turner’s ninth studio album, Wildest Dreams, was released in 1996 by Virgin Records for its U.S. version.  In terms of public response, it appears the album (or one version of it) was widely popular overseas, but the U.S. sales were lukewarm. 

Turner, meanwhile, embarked on a world tour to promote Wildest Dreams, which would include 1996’s recorded Live in Amsterdam concert DVD.    

The U.S. album’s thirteen tracks are as follows:

1. “Missing You”   (4:36)   Note: It’s a cover of John Waite’s 1984 original tune.
2. “In Your Wildest Dreams” (5:33)   Note: This duet with Barry White appears on the U.S. version only.  Evidently. Antonio Banderas dueted with Turner in the tune’s international version.
3. “Whatever You Want”   (4:52)
4. “Do What You Do” (4:23)   
5. “Thief of Hearts”   (4:05)
6. “On Silent Wings”    (6:12)  Note: It’s a duet with Sting.
7. “Something Beautiful Remains”   (4:20)
8. “Confidential”   (4:39)
9. “The Difference Between Us”  (4:32)
10. “All Kinds of People”  (4:43)    Note: Sheryl Crow is among the song’s co-writers. 
11. “Unfinished Sympathy”  (4:30) 
12. “Goldeneye”  (3:27 – single version)  Note: This 1995 James Bond theme song was co-written by U2’s Bono and The Edge.
13. “Dancing In My Dreams”  (6:45).

Note: This title is also available digitally.  It was previously released in audio cassette (and apparently vinyl overseas).

REVIEW:

It’s unrealistic to expect Tina Turner’s Wildest Dreams to equal, let alone surpass, her iconic 1984 album, Private Dancer. 

In that sense, they are perhaps too few radio-friendly gems present.  Still, Wildest Dreams’ sophisticated R&B proves more than sufficient.  The album’s thoughtfully mature tone concocts a series of effervescent ballads that showcases Turner at (or at least near) the top of her vocal game. 

With the exception of the sultry and ultra-commercial “Goldeneye” (Track # 12), central themes of romantic moodiness and a relatable sense of poignancy pervade Wildest Dreams.  Though such sentiments are wonderfully played, they do occasionally overstay their welcome (i.e. Tracks # 6 and # 13).  The same applies to the album’s mellow and consistently slower tempo – hence, “Goldeneye” and Turner’s cover of “Missing You” (Track # 1) supply welcome exceptions towards an upbeat dance vibe.   

Impressively, none of these thirteen tunes far surpass others, as far as relegating them to mere filler.  Backed by consistently appealing (and often low-key) melodies, Wildest Dreams instead conveys a complete R&B package.  More so, Turner convincingly demonstrates her vocal prime wasn’t over yet. 

If anything, the classy Wildest Dreams merits re-discovery, as it’s likely Turner’s most underrated contemporary album. 

PACKAGING:

Apart from omitting the tracks’ running times, everything else is as advertised.  The classy black-and-white insert provides song credits; technical credits; and thank-you’s.  Predictably, a few terrific photos of Turner are also included. 

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                    8 Stars

SUMMARY:                     RUNNING TIME: 56:00 Min.

Released in 2011 by Napalm Records Handels GMBH, The Quiet Resistance is the Dutch goth metal/rock band Nemesea’s third studio album. 

Including its spooky title prologue and a bonus track, Nemesea’s album sports fourteen tracks.  The Quiet Resistance consists of:  

1. The Quiet Resistance (guest vocals: Gerben Verhaar)  (0:52)
2. Caught in The Middle     (4:49)
3. Afterlife            (3:12)
4. Whenever         (3:31)
5. If You Could  (guest piano: Joost van den Brock)  (3:54)
6. High Enough  (guest vocals: Charlotte Wessels)  (4:13)
7. Say  (4:04)
8. It’s Over  (guest vocals: Marcus Klavan & guest turntables: Matt Litwin)  (3:59)
9. I Live  (guest piano: Joost van den Brock)  (4:31)
10. Stay With Me   (3:48)
11. Rush   (5:27)
12. Release Me   (3:40)
13. 2012  (5:58)
14. Allein  (guest vocals: Heli Reissenweber)  (3:58).

REVIEW:

It’s a compliment describing Nemesea as a Western European answer to Evanescence, as far as their very similar goth takes on energizing symphonic metal/rock.  2011’s The Quiet Resistance supplies ample evidence, as lead singer Manda Ophuis matches Evanescence’s Amy Lee one haunting vocal after another.  If compared, the substance of Ophuis and Lee’s vocals frankly sound almost identical. 

Case in point: Tracks # 8 (“High Enough”) and especially # 3 (“Afterlife”) sound as if they came directly off Evanescence’s 2003 album, Fallen.  Still, Ophuis and her bandmates surpass any stigma as Evanescence copycats with consistently high-caliber performances and sufficient originality throughout this album.  These tracks topping out at a nearly an hour’s running time, impressively, don’t wear out their welcome. 

The Quiet Resistance, accordingly, merits a chance for re-discovery as a classy entry in the symphonic metal/rock genre.

PACKAGING:

The CD is well-secured in its casing, as its advertising appears accurate. The individual track running times aren’t disclosed.  The slickly produced insert includes each track’s lyrics – with the exception of the title prologue.  Atmospheric band photos, credits, and thank-you’s are also provided. 

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                          8 Stars