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Macy
Gray
The ID
label:
uni/mca
released: 09.11.01
male verdict: 2.0 out of 5.0
female
verdict: 3.5 out of 5.0
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More than
most artists, Macy Gray manages to divide the sexes. Or at least
that's my opinion on the matter. It just seems that, as a general
rule of thumb, she's loved by women much more than men. I'm sure
there are exceptions to this over-generalization, but there's
a definite trend in her fan base on a much larger scale than many
other female artists - many of whom, remember, are dependant on
their male fans. Female readers, then, should take this review
with a pinch of salt!
Macy Gray's
unique, gravelly, irritating voice first came to light in 1999
with her debut album, On
How Life Is, a great title and an album that sold 7 million
copies, bringing several hit singles to the airwaves. The phenomenal
rise of Gray from obscurity to headlining major festivals, is
now complete and she is expected to keep the momentum going with
her new album The Id. As the title suggests, this is a
reference to Freud's theory of pleasure but it's a reference completely
lost on me, as I gained absolutely no pleasure from it at all.
As a hotly
anticipated follow-up CD, this is a great disappointment, dreary
sounding except for "Relating To A Psychopath," "Sexual
Revolution" and parts of "Oblivion." The truth
is that much of this laid back, soul based exploration of Gray's
talent surely does not do her justice or live up to the expectation.
"Give
Me All Your Lovin' Or I Will Kill You," "Don't Come
Around" and "Freak Like Me" are bitter, uninteresting
affairs that ensure this album falls well short of her debut,
while "My Nutmeg Phantasy" is as big a vacuum of passion,
authenticity and inspiration for some time.
Undoubtedly
talented, Gray sounded better the first time around and The
Id can't even match the brief encounter she enjoyed with Fatboy
Slim. The train to superstardom will slow down for Macy Gray
with this release and will have to stop at places like Reflection
and Energy before it gathers speed again.
01-Oct-2001
11:45 AM

If you
liked The Id...
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| Tracklist:
1.
Relating to a Psychopath
2. Boo
3. Sexual Revolution
4. Hey Young World II
5. Sweet Baby
6. Harry
7. Gimme All Your Lovin' or I Will Kill You
8. Don't Come Around
9. My Nutmeg Phantasy
10. Freak Like Me
11. Oblivion
12. Forgiveness
13. Blowin' Up Your Speakers
14. Shed
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