Music Reviews
Artist:
Natalie ImbrugliaTitle:
'Glorious - The Singles Collection 97 - 07'Label:
BrightsideWebsite:
http://www.natalieimbruglia.com
The seemingly universal opinion of Singles Collection’s is that they are a pointless exercise in the grand scheme of things. Natalie Imbruglia ‘s latest album release ‘Glorious: The Singles Collection 97-07’ is however an exception to the rule bucking the trend by supplying a veritable feast of newly penned upbeat, up tempo tracks to a decade of classics that will have entered the charts and dust gathering music collection’s of all of us at some point.
Some ten years ago now Imbruglia emerged from a worryingly lengthy gap in her career after Neighbours with an exceptional record deal with RCA which across it’s duration has seen her working alongside a myriad of musical geniuses including Phil Thornalley ( The Cure ), Gary Clark ( Danny Wilson ), Crispin Hunt ( The Longpigs ) and husband Daniel Johns ( Silverchair ).
Kicking off with latest single release ‘Glorious’, the album leads with its main aim, signalling Imbruglia’s shift back from previous album Counting Down The Days melancholic acoustical state to a more chart friendly upbeat mood. Imbruglia’s first album saw her attempting to make a name for herself . Fresh faced on the music scene on the back of TV success down under Imbruglia’s sound was defined by many through her debut album as somewhere between Stock, Aitkin & Waterman inspired pop and the steadily mounting hype and appealing nature of a growing indie-rock scene. Influenced and aided greatly by a small army of writing talent including main co-writers Phil Thornalley and Mark Goldenberg the building blocks of the soon to be hugely successful Imbruglia machine were set in place. It was the success of Imbruglia’s debut album, selling some 6.5 million copies that influenced her label to loosen the reigns on her writing style. Influences to Imbruglia including The Sundays, Joni Mitchell and Radiohead slipped through, changing the second and third albums mood and tempo completely.
‘GTSC’ covers old ground refreshing the minds of the average music fan with giants ‘Torn‘, ‘Wrong Impression’ and ‘Shiver‘. Teasing and grooming the more eclectic pop fan as well as the newcomer to Imbruglia’s music with tracks ‘Big Mistake‘, ‘That Day’ and recent single release ‘Glorious‘, the more die hard fan is left relieved and satisfied with a hand full of new tracks including the melodic ‘Against The Wall’ and ‘Stuck On The Moon‘.
Over the past year Imbruglia has worked on her fourth album, to be released next year, committed to previous album co-writers/ producers Gary Clark and husband Daniel Johns. The inclusion of Longpigs front man Crispin Hunt ( Newton Faulkner ) releases a certain diversity to proceedings moving Imbruglia’s feel from melancholy alternative/ acoustic-pop and back towards the feel good, care free feel of initial debut album Left Of The Middle.
With something for everyone including all the old favourites and some new tracks for an eagerly waiting army of devoted fans this album should feature well in the charts beating all expectations . A classic for the CD collection.
www.natalieimbruglia.com
Reviewed By : Matt Clutton
