'Closer to the Truth' recenzija

Iesniedzu Cher fana CasperBoyToy, kas piedalījies albuma 'Closer to the Truth' noklausīšanos, iespaidus par jauno albumu un katru dziesmu atsevišķi.

So, here is a quick post on the songs I heard. I don't need to tell you how excited I was. I haven't asked if I could post this but well, I guess the iTunes preview should be available very, very shortly so I guess I don't spoil anything. Feel free to read quickly in case I'd have to take the message down.

Take it Like a Man 
It's a natural follow up to Woman's World in the club category. Great song. The pairing of Jake and Cher + vocoder is fun.

My Love
Cheesy (in a very good way) dance song with great vocals from Cher. It begins as a soft spoken and piano ballad and turns into an upbeat feel-good track, I wanted to jump and sing along - it has the kind of lyrics you want to sing to someone you love. No single potential but a sure fan pleaser. Great, great song. Loved it.

Dressed To Kill
It's a big and short-to-the-point-in-your-face dance number. It's a killer. It's so Cher. It's surely a grower too in terms of listening.

Red
It was redone into an upbeat number (I had heard the first version which was more pop and this is one is better). Great vocal.

Lovers Forever
Was very curious about this one since it's one I knew who wrote (Cher!). It is kinda haunting but I didn't like the dance production.

I Walk Alone
The banjo number. It's very unCher-like at first, it's very original as far as Cher is concerned but it's a smash. Powerful vocals, great music, this is the kind of upbeat song that Cher needs to do more often. Pink + Cher = cool music.

Sirens
The first ballad. It's beautiful, great vocals with a softness a la It's a man's world era that I had not heard since then. Maybe not a single but an amazing track. I could have cried.

Favourite Scars
Hold on people... If Sirens was beautiful, I don't know what to say about this one. I was left speechless. It is a small chermiracle. It's so Cher (lyrically). This one crushed my heart. I loved it. Could have cried too.

I Hope You Find It
The big ballad with a single potential. It is heartbreaking too, you hear it and you can see like a small film pass in front of your eyes. Great vocals. Could put "After All" to shame. Crying potential as well.

Lie To Me
Another ballad, I have to admit I wasn't 'back' from the previous 2/3 songs so I kinda ignored, against my will, this one.

Pride
This last one woke me up! It's a dance track. Not a masterpiece but it's a decent number.

I haven't heard the remaining two extra tracks from the album.

So, all in all: I thought this is a GREAT album, this could easily grow as one of my fave. Fans will love it. There is a good balance between dance and pop. The album has the Cher DNA: powerful vocals (she sounds very good whether the vocals are vocoded or simply produced), lots of 'love' and 'heart' and a newcomer 'truth' (which appears in at least 3 songs). It's, in my opinion, superior to Believe (in terms of production) and Living Proof (in term of variety). It has not a 'Believe' hit in it but the album is cohesive, fun, heartfelt and sad. 
What's funny is that during the listening I started to think that you guys will have a lot of 'freedom' to pick your favorite tracks in it (for instance 'Lovers Forever' is my least fave track but I could completely get that some people will like it) between the dance numbers and the ballads.

I don't judge the album by its potential in charts, radio or commercial but I can understand why it is so hard for Cher and WB to pick a second single... the choice is wide.