Madeleine Peyroux "Half the Perfect World" (2006)

Half the Perfect World
release date: Sep. 12, 2006
format: digital
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,42]
producer: Larry Klein
label: Rounder Records / Universal - nationality: USA

Track highlights: 1. "I'm All Right" - 2. "The Summer Wind" - 4. "Everybody's Talkin' " - 5. "River" - 7. "Once in a While" - 8. "(Looking For) The Heart of Saturday Night" - 9. "Half the Perfect World" - 10. "La Javanaise" (live) - 12. "Smile" (live)

Studio album by Madeleine Peyroux following her acclaimed album Careless Love from 2004. The formula is more or less the same here, only this album features several compositions co-written by Peyroux and has more songs from modern times with music by Leonard Cohen, Tom Waits, Serge Gainsbourg, and Joni Mitchell. Generally, I like this slightly more than her 2004 album. Her versions of Cohen, Waits and the classic Chaplin "Smile" are just top notch vocal jazz arrangements and so full of warmth.
[ allmusic.com 3,5 / 5, The Guardian 4 / 5, Mojo 5 / 5 stars ]

Madeleine Peyroux "Careless Love" (2004)

Careless Love
release date: Sep. 14, 2004
format: digital
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,33]
producer: Larry Klein
label: Rounder Records / Universal - nationality: USA

Track highlights: 2. "Don't Wait Too Long" - 3. "Don't Cry Baby" - 4. "You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go" (4 / 5) - 5. "Between the Bars" - 9. "Weary Blues" - 10. "I'll Look Around" - 12. "This Is Heaven to Me" (4 / 5)

Studio album release by American jazz vocalist Madeleine Peyroux consisting of a mix of classic oldies and more modern classics, and contemporary songs from a pop / rock and singer / songwriter territory, meaning a collection of cover songs (she has written one of the songs). She really has a great singing voice, and it's no wonder she has been compared to Billie Holiday. She has that "fine and mellow" morna melancholy that just suits the songs so well. I believe this album was her international breakthrough.
[ allmusic.com 4 / 5, The Guardian 3 / 5 stars ]

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