My One and Only Thrill by Melody Gardot (CD, Apr-2009, Verve USA)

If Melody wasn't a person with an amazing story she would only be a fantastic singer. She would only be an amazingly sensitive lyricist. And she would only be a composer of infectious rip-your-heart-out tunes.

This album is a follow-up to her critically acclaimed debut album, "Worrisome Heart," and this is no ordinary sophomore effort that all too often falls short of the first. Melody has stretched herself far beyond her jazz and blues beginnings. Of the 11 songs only Somewhere Over The Rainbow wasn't written by Melody. A sample from If the Stars Were Mine:
If the world was mine I'd paint it gold and green
I'd make the oceans orange for a brilliant color scheme
I would color all the mountains make the sky forever blue
So the world would be a painting and I'd live inside with you
Baby I'm a Fool is nothing less than one of the loveliest songs I've ever heard since I became aware of music back in the dark ages of the 1940s. Your Heart Is As Black As Night is THE musical theme for classic film noir. The Rain will bring tears; at least it did to this old man. The rest of the tracks are equally impressive.

I'm writing this on April 29th, 2009 just a short time after the release. The BBC said, "It may only be March, but this is already one of the outstanding albums of 2009. Talents like Melody Gardot come along all too infrequently. Now that she's here, she is to be treasured."
The TimesOnline states, "There are shades of Peggy Lee, and - when the massed strings swell and the mood darkens - bittersweet memories of Julie London. But mostly what we get is Gardot, who, at 23, is an extraordinarily assured and mature singer-songwriter blending blues, pop and jazz."
And allaboutjazz writes effusively, "But even her most ardent admirers will be amazed at the giant creative leap forward she has taken..."

But please forget all the hype, buy the album and just listen to your heart sing. What you're hearing is the birth of a Star!

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The reason why that I've brought this album Iam a fan of A Tribe Called Quest & the quinnessential rapper Q-Tip. I took me awhile to buy his long awaited album Kamaal The Abstract what I like about this album is all of the musical blendings and fusions that Q-Tip brought to this album what I didnt like about it was that Q Tip should have put in more tracks to this overall this is a good album that you cant miss out on its real good!

This is a great albumn.
Melody has a wonderful, soulful voice. I would have liked a little more variety in that the songs are almost all slow. Her voice and lyrics sound as if they are coming from a much older person. Nice to know there are many years ahead of new albumns.

Bought this as a gift for my husband - fantastic singer! Very happy with my buying experience. Easy transaction, quick handling.

Sultry, beautiful, hearf-felt love songs. One of the best I have heard in a long time. It will be difficult waiting for her next release----hope it is very soon