Anne Sofie Von Otter & Elvis Costello - For The Stars

Styles: Vocal And Guitar Jazz
Year: 2001
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:43
Size: 146,6 MB
Art: Front

(3:37)  1. No Wonder
(3:12)  2. Baby Plays Around
(2:50)  3. Go Leave
(3:56)  4. Rope
(3:12)  5. Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)
(4:06)  6. Broken Bicycles/Junk
(3:36)  7. The Other Woman
(5:03)  8. Like An Angel Passing Through My Room
(4:37)  9. Green Song
(2:52) 10. April After All
(3:09) 11. You Still Believe In Me
(2:41) 12. I Want To Vanish
(2:00) 13. For No One
(3:46) 14. Shamed Into Love
(4:18) 15. Just A Curio
(4:38) 16. This House Is Empty Now
(3:17) 17. Take It With Me
(2:45) 18. For The Stars

For the Stars is the kind of record rock critics tend to instinctively praise because they just aren't sure if they get it, and they're afraid to lay themselves on the line. If they pan it, well, they're just junk-addled boors. If they praise it, they risk seeming uninformed, since they don't really know if it works as a classical work or not. The thing to remember is, that these kind of rock/classical crossovers belong to neither realm. They exist outside of both worlds, which is their charm and their curse. 

This is what plagued The Juliet Letters, Elvis Costello's 1993 collaboration with the Brodsky Quartet, which managed to delicately walk the line between chamber music and baroque pop. For the Stars, a collaboration with opera vocalist Anne Sofie von Otter, is more accessible, yet it isn't as successful, largely because its mannerisms are front and center. This is a deliberately "classy" project, pitched squarely at the NPR audience the very audience that embraced Painted From Memory because it helped put Bacharach in the context of the great composers. This won't likely do the same for von Otter, because its execution is a little haphazard, even if it is exactly what the two planned. For the Stars winds through a number of pop songs, ranging from new Costello songs to pop standards, from old Elvis favorites to covers of the Beach Boys, Paul McCartney, Ron Sexsmith, ABBA, and Tom Waits. Most of this is executed in a manner similar to The Juliet Letters, finding a middle ground between classicist pop and chamber music without bowing to the conventions of either. Above all, this is frequently interesting music, but that's not really the same thing as compelling. 

It's easy to appreciate the passion and craft behind this music, but it often feels unfulfilled, even when it feels complete. This is not the fault of either musician von Otter's performances are always impassioned, Costello's few vocals are strong, the selection of material always makes sense, and the production is suitably understated. Still, this is a record that clicks cerebrally, not emotionally, and while it has its own character, it's hard to envision fans of either artist returning to it all that often. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine http://www.allmusic.com/album/for-the-stars-anne-sofie-von-otter-meets-elvis-costello-mw0000001209

Personnel : Elvis Costello (vocals, baritone guitar, Lowrey organ, bass); Annie Sofie Von Otter (vocals); Johan Lindstrom (acoustic & pedal steel guitars, clarinet, accordion, loops); Svante Henryson (celtar, cello, upright bass); Billy Bremner, Ola Gustafason (acoustic guitar); Bebe Risenfors (clarinet, tenor saxophone, accordion); Steve Naive (piano, celeste, organ); Mats Schubert (piano, harmonium, Moog bass); Bengt Forsberg (piano, Hammond B-3 organ); Benny Andersson (piano, Synclavier); Magnus Pierson, Michael Blair (vibraphone, bass drum, percussion).

For The Stars

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Anne Sofie Von Otter, Brad Mehldau - Love Songs Disc 1 And Disc 2

American jazz pianist and composer Brad Mehldau and Swedish mezzo-soprano Anne Sofie von Otter pair up on this two-disc set of love songs. The first disc is devoted to Mehldau's Love Songs, a seven-song cycle commissioned by Carnegie Hall, KölnMusik, and Wigmore Hall. He takes as his texts five poems by Sara Teasdale and one each by e.e. cummings and Philip Larkin. Although the influence of American vernacular music is evident throughout, these are clearly not pop songs; they fit better in the "New American Art Song" category exemplified by composers like Ricky Ian Gordon, Jake Heggie, and John Musto. Mehldau's songs are notable for their generous lyricism, subtly complex rhythmic drive, a gift for melody, and a potent emotional punch. Although they make a striking set all together and each song is fully successful, "Twilight" and "Dreams" are especially evocative and memorable. 

The texts describe a variety of romantic experiences, but Mehldau's settings are essentially positive and optimistic. Not so the majority of songs on the second disc, most of which have the character of profoundly melancholy torch songs. About half are French, by composers such as Michel Legrand, Jacques Brel, and Léo Ferré, and there are songs by Joni Mitchell (the heartbreaking "Marcie"), Bob Telson ("Calling You"), and Leonard Bernstein ("Some Other Time"), among others. Von Otter does not have the sound of a crossover artist, but she has the maturity and flexibility to being just the right looseness and expressive freedom to these songs to make her performances fully persuasive. Her tone is full and pure, and her investment in the songs is absolute. Mehldau's exceptionally sensitive and inventive accompaniments contribute immeasurably to the success of the album. The sound is appropriately warm and intimate, but is a little on the close side on the second disc. ~ Stephen Eddins  http://www.allmusic.com/album/love-songs-mw0002044857

Personnel:  Anne Sofie von Otter (Vocal), Brad Mehldau (Piano)

Disc 1

Styles: Vocal, Chanson

Year: 2010

File: MP3@320K/s

Time: 30:48

Size: 70,9 MB

Art: Front

(5:43)  1. It May Not Always Be So

(4:02)  2. We Met At The End Of The Party

(2:19)  3. Child, Child

(2:51)  4. Twilight

(4:39)  5. Because

(5:30)  6. Dreams

(5:41)  7. Did You Never Know?

Love Songs Disc 1

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Disc 2

File: MP3@320K/s

Time: 48:27

Size: 111,6 MB

Art: Front

(4:14)  1. Avec le temps

(4:03)  2. Pierre

(3:58)  3. Marcie

(3:22)  4. Something Good

(5:14)  5. Chanson de Maxence

(4:11)  6. Chanson des vieux amants

(2:39)  7. Sakta vi ga genom stan

(2:42)  8. Att angora en brygga

(4:12)  9. Dis, quand reviendras-tu?

(3:10) 10. What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?

(4:08) 11. Calling You

(2:26) 12. Blackbird

(4:03) 13. Some Other Time

Love Songs Disc 2

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