Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 61
 100 Miles from Memphis but not an inch off target July 24, 2010
Mr Freeze (Lewisburg, TN)
16 out of 17 found this review helpful
This is not likely the Sheryl Crow that you know, and to be honest, with the first two tracks I was wishing that it was. But by the end of the disc I was wishing that it was twice as long. I'm amazed at how authentic it sounds. It's as if Marvin Gaye himself was sitting behind the board dictating the production. This set has a few covers (which are undeniably great) but this disc is mostly SC-penned tunes--displaying another facet of her brilliant writing (except when she's overtly political--I'm not really into all of that. And there are tinges of this here but I have to make her that allowance since Soul and R&B, which she deftly re-creates, has always had socio-political elements. See MG's "What's Goin' On" for an example). But I was really shocked by her performance. I know that she can write and I know that really good writers can cross genre lines successfully but I wasn't prepared to her her sound so soulful. Think cool-Joss Stone minus vocal acrobatics. I'm now hoping that SC will do a live disc of about 20 such songs. I love her "standard" fare but this is "a happy surprise." And as far as the first two tracks, it's not that they're not good, it's simply that I wasn't ready--or willing--to hear 100 Miles until she delivered her take on Terence Trent D'Arby's "Sign Your Name." Simply incredible and satisfying. The rest... well, if you like the groove of Soul, believe me, Crow has your number.
Bottom line: If you like late-60s-Early 70s Soul and R&B, and you can set aside what you think Sheryl Crow is or can do, then you can love this album (yes, album because it belongs to that era). Other artists may do soul songs but SC DOES soul. Hearing is believing.
Memphis Soul July 20, 2010
Nse Ette (Lagos, Nigeria)
9 out of 10 found this review helpful
Sheryl Crow's new CD is filled with breezy Soul sounds that hearken back to the seventies. Lead-off single the horn/organ-drenched "Summer day" is catchy groovy soul with lovely harmonies and sunny chorus ("I just want to let it shine"), is a perfect example.
The album is much lighter and happier than her last CD "Detours". The horn-peppered "Our love is fading" and "Peaceful feeling" are bouncy with a Motown-style beat and Crow sounding like a young Michael Jackson. "Eye to eye" is rolicking Reggae with darting horns and features Keith Richards on guitar. "Stop" is a vulnerable Soul ballad. The title track "100 miles from Memphis" is my favourite, a beautiful midtempo groove remniscent of her hit "All I wanna do". "Roses and moonlight" is a bass-heavy smouldering mid-tempo groove.
She tackles some covers; a plodding upbeat reworking of Terence Trent D'arby's "Sign your name" with Justin Timberlake on harmonies channeling the sound of Al Green, Citizen Cope's "Sideways" (with a soulful drawl for the chorus), and a note for note copy of the Jackson 5's "I want you back" on which she again channels the young Michael Jackson. The song is a tribute to Michael whom she once toured with as a backing vocalist.
Crow has put aside politics and weightier issues on this album, and the result is nostalgic fun.
who knew? July 21, 2010
MUSIC MANIAC (Oregon)
7 out of 8 found this review helpful
I'll keep this short. Sheryl brings it with a CD full of soulful jams. I especially am digging "Roses and Midnight", it reminds of me something the Pointer Sisters would have done when they were doing their funky, experimental stuff on the Blue Thumb label. Her version of "I Want You Back", well it just makes me smile. Somethings you shouldn't mess with and she didn't change this up a bit. Did she improve upon the original? No, but that wasn't the point, it's an homage. Love the single "Summer Day" and the title track is another good one. Love it!
Sheryl is back July 21, 2010
Adam Boswell (CA United States)
6 out of 7 found this review helpful
A bit confused from the negative reviews, as this album has gotten good reviews from the critics. I was not a fan of her last two albums, but find this album to sound a lot more like her amazing first album, with a little more R&B influence. A very fun, summer sounding album from one of my favorite singers! The feel good 'Summer Day' and the groovy 'Roses and Moonlight' are my favorite tracks :)
A beautiful bluesy,rootsy album... July 21, 2010
blues lover (Hong Kong)
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
That says it all...-Sheryl is developing and exploring still with her music and every album she makes is beautifully crafted and a masterpiece in its own right.
This is so '60's and '70's-and also takes in early Bonnie Raitt and the sounds of Otis and a young Michael-
Definately going to become a favourite for me-and I own over 10,000 c'd's at last count.
Everyone knows Sheryl can do rock in her sleep-how many artists can be this versatile...?
Thnx Sheryl - a find and a keeper.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 61
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