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Name: Adavío Member Since: Mar 18, 2004 Rank: 8406 Average Vote Received: Correct (4.08, 349 votes)   last 10 days: Correct (3.91, 11 votes) Rated 68 releases, average: 4.99 Location: Ameʁica Profile: It's all about Soulful Selections and The Pressure right now!

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Clive Griffin - Clive Griffin - 26-Apr-08 07:40 PM
Periodically, a singles release from an artists album prompts one to discover or rediscover, other material from that same artist. For myself, this might be the case with "Commitment Of The Heart" from his 1993 self-titled US release or perhaps its my own emotional transgressions which this album perhaps, compliments at this moment in time.

Although Sony attempted to promote and market their Epic/550 imprints newest blue-eyed soul singer from the UK, their hopes had failed, despite the fact that Griffin already had several UK singles and albums to his credit. The most notable songs from this title are "Commitment Of The Heart" and his duet with Celine Dion, "When I Fall In Love" which are both clearly Pop pleasures, but they are not the only ones which claim this distinction.

The release starts off quite strong with "Slow Motion" a vocally inflective Pop/Rock love song and continues similiarly with a love ballad, "I Count The Minutes", one of the three penned by Dianne Warren for this release. What follows is probably the most disappointing title appearing on this release, "Sexual" and along with the final track, "Song Of The Land", prevents the entire release from being aurally cohesive. However, in placing the Soul standard "Love TKO" immediately aftwards, the release re-bounds and Griffin applies his raspy vocals to the lyrics and turns it into a very believable Pop-Soul version. Whether or not it was intended by the producers or the artist himself to put the remaining two Warren songs in the middle of the release is unknown, however their positioning seems to have been just that. Both "Commitment Of The Heart" and "We Dont Know How To Say Goodbye" are both equally expressive not only lyrically and musically, but they provide Griffin the chance to demonstrate his vocal abilities. "Commitment" is emotionally driven as it begins slowly with the artist stating just how much the subject of the song means to him and then the music quickly accelerates with Griffin singing an undeniable truth, one in which most of us long to hear; "I made a commitment of the heart to keep this love together" and "Ill do whatever it takes to make this love work out" followed by "Im in this forever". The arrangements are well crafted and although it may seem over-produced, this does not prevent the song from becoming a very good Pop-Soul ballad. The sixth song and Warrens third on this release is "We Dont Know How To Say Goodbye" which is just the opposite emotionally, lyrically and musically from "Commitment" appearing just before it. With this ballad, which is quite slower, Griffin sings about the stuggle two people face at the end of a relationship and the difficulty involved in being able to say goodbye and ultimately ending "being in love". If you are unfortunate enough to have experienced this, you can truly appreciate the vocal finese in which Griffin is able to handle the lyrics and showcase his ability to refrain from over-stating the obvious hurt from loves end. Picking up the tempo but still maintaining it as a ballad, "Will It Rain Forever" is a more Pop-based from the others presented here and compared to the others overall, it is most likely the weakest one in the entire set. It is a song questioning where a love has gone and the reasons why. "Ill Be Waiting" originally appearing on Clives "Inside Out" LP from 1991 is a different version recorded for this release. What this one lacks is the "lush" arrangements which begin on the other, as well as the percussive and keyboard instrumentation and the additional vocals of Sarah Brown which permitted that song to become a classic House music dance anthem (remixed by David Morales). Here, the song appears to have been stripped down" and incorporates the sound of an acoustic guitar with more horns and only the backing vocals of Tessa Niles. As the release begins to wind down, another ballad "Show Me Someone Who Cares" begins, which actually utilize the lush arrangements which were missing from "Ill Be Waiting" before it. The song has sweeping string and piano arrangements with an almost big band sound surrounded by a gospel choir feel to it, which leads perfectly into "When I Fall In Love"; the Pop standard written by Victor Young and Edward Heyman, performed here as a duet with Céline Dion. In the US, the song itself became the most commercially successful for Griffin, although he remained as the virtual "unknown male vocalist" singing with Ms. Dion to most of this songs listeners when it was released earlier that year from the movie soundtrack "Sleepless In Seattle". Perhaps its my own personal like for Griffins voice, being prejudiced in appreciating one which is good or discovering that his vocal abilities are compatible in delivering the same pleasure my ear normally receives when listening to my prefererence, female vocalists, which allow me to appreciate this song in all its iconic Pop-ness. Once again, the album changes tempo with "Got To Be Real", a Soul-Pop feel good song complete with more lush piano and string arrangements and could have been released as a dance track. Ending the release is "Song Of The Land" a dark, moody and somewhat difficult title to categorize. The lyrics appear to be a social commentary based on a discussion made with a street person down on their luck and at times, appears to be an almost Blues-Funk with African rhythms thown in.

Overall, Griffin proves his vocal abilities are undeniable, and the majority of the material presented here, shows it. Its unfortunate however, that this release didnt succeed, and afterwards, Clive Griffin stopped releasing material on his own. Although he continues his work as a backing and sessions vocalist, Im not satisfied with his absence.

Various - Pink 1 - 19-Aug-07 05:50 AM
Although he may not be familiar outside of the Las Vegas club scene, DJ Carlos Sanchez sets his mark and sends one moving and grooving with this, his first DJ mixed compilation. It is a very sweet and smooth foray into deep house sounds. His selection of tracks is quite diverse but he maintains a very consistent vibe throughout the set. Starting it off with Gregory Del Piero and featuring the sultry vocals of Billy Love on "Rewind", a very warm and moody ballad, Sanchez lets you know hes not about compromise and he doesnt disappoint. From that point on, you know House is back. There are so many good pieces on this release its difficult to pinpoint which one stands out more than the next, and that makes this compilation quite unique. He provides you with the familiar and at the same time introduces you to his own interpretive spin. "Live It Up", the second title, departs from the first and lets you know whats to come. All the tracks following take you on a journey not to be dismissed or ignored, providing you with great vocals and electronic instrumentation which is the hallmark of great house music. This release is quite possibly the best deep house set for 2007 and puts DJ Carlos Sanchez among the ranks of more seasoned and established DJs of this genre.

Crystal Lewis - The Bride - 08-Mar-07 10:20 AM
The most compelling song I find on this release, "Jesus Belongs In Your Heart" may very well rival any Jazz/Pop song Ive heard. The lush arrangements and riveting piano runs along with Crystals vocal patience as she refrains from leaping ahead of each key as it is gently played leaves one feeling great comfort in the message that is clearly defined by the title.