Category: Rock, R&B, Pop, Soul, & Metal/Symphonic

SUMMARY:                                     RUNNING TIME: 4:31 Min.

For her 2003 One Love album, Kimberley Locke duets with fellow American Idol alum Clay Aiken on this love song. It’s Track # 5.      

REVIEW:

The vocal chemistry Kimberley Locke enjoys with Clay Aiken is readily apparent.  As evidenced by Aiken’s lengthy solo vocals opening the tune, this tune might seem more like his song than it is hers.  Still, Locke holds up her end with a commendable effort.  As a romantic duet, the melody gives “Without You” a wonderful sound through its fusion of R&B and pop.  Particularly for old school American Idol fans, this track makes a welcome download option.   

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                8 Stars

SUMMARY:                                 RUNNING TIME: 4:36 Min.

It’s the third song off U2’s 1991 album, Achtung Baby.  This serves as a window into the band’s internal issues.  At the time, they themselves weren’t sure how long their act would last.  Despite the band being on better terms soon thereafter, this song remains on their touring playlist.  It was played at Live 8 in 2005, which was then followed by a 2006 duet version with Mary J. Blige.

REVIEW:

The song is considered one of their best and with good reason. The lyrics give you a sense that there is an uneasy tension in the relationship that Bono describes.  For instance, he mentions that you have to care for a relationship for it to all work out. Besides his vocals, the rest of the group gives “One” an ominous tone that really helps convey the negativity of the song’s true meaning.  As a result, this track will leave listeners shaking with its lyrics.

ROSCOE’S ODD MOON RATING:                          9 Stars

SUMMARY:                                    RUNNING TIME: 5:01 Min.

It’s the title track of Sheena Easton’s same-named 1988 studio album.  As evidenced by its sultry music video, this dance song is meant to epitomize her Late 80’s makeover.  Hence, her album’s overt theme is steamy sex appeal. 

REVIEW:

Trying too hard to reinvent herself, Sheena Easton’s alluring vocals are really all the song has going for it.  Among the tune’s detriments is a clunky melody that, despite its efforts at a hip-sounding vibe, sounds exceedingly artificial.  The same applies to this track’s hollow lyrics, which wastes Easton’s talents trying to sell “The Lover in Me.” Case in point: if one ever watches the eye-rolling music video, let’s just say there is an overwhelming aura of phoniness exuding from this song.

“The Lover in Me” disappointingly treads close to mediocrity, as it doesn’t stand out like an album’s title song should.  At best, this tune offers an okay download choice for 80’s dance-pop fans. 

Off this same album, there’s a better option.  Though it nearly goes over the top, Easton’s soaring “Follow My Rainbow” (a poignant ballad) proves a more impressive display of her artistic capability.  Hearing it, one might recall that Easton (in character as Caitlin Davies-Crockett) effectively advertises “Follow My Rainbow” on Miami Vice’s Season Four finale entitled “Deliver Us From Evil.”    

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                       5 Stars

Note: Another recommended Easton effort is her stellar 1989 duet, “The Arms of Orion,” with Prince on 1989 Batman movie soundtrack.

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SUMMARY:                                RUNNING TIME: 3:42 Min.

It’s the sixth track off Canadian singer-songwriter Alannah Myles’ 1989 self-titled album. 

REVIEW:

With the adrenaline-pumping “Kick Start My Heart,” Myles proves she can definitely compete with Joan Jett, not to mention Patty Smyth and Pat Benatar.  There’s no doubt that Myles’ sultry delivery here is very similar to Jett.  For any number of rock playlists, this energetic track proves a fun download.    

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                        8 Stars

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