Belinda Carlisle Album: “Woman & A Man”

Belinda Carlisle's latest effort is a great combination of dance songs like "A Woman And A Man", could be pop-classics like "In Too Deep", and "He Goes On". Unfortunately, Belinda has changed to a minor label, and is not getting the promotion she deserves! Not only does this import include the majority of songs from the US release, but also includes "The Ballad of Lucy Jordan" which may be familiar to fans of the film "Thelma and Lousise". This is a great CD and should be part of any Belinda fan's collection! Get it!

While Belinda Carlisle's best solo work remains on her second, third, and fourth albums, "A Woman and a Man" is a fine return from 1993's misstep, "Real." Thanks to an A-list of pop songwriters, including Rick Nowels, Carlisle once again finds lyrics perfectly suited to her voice, which here wraps itself around themes of sorrow and loss. When the album works, the result is near-flawless pop: witness the haunting "In Too Deep" and "My Heart Goes Out to You." The thoroughly adult, world-weary "Love in The Key of C," with its dignified acceptance of sorrow and joy, is perhaps one of the best songs Carlisle has ever recorded. "Love Doesn't Live Here" is another highlight, urban and melancholy.

Unfortunately, the album is marred by inconsistent production. The title track, with its awkward arrangement, moves from a gorgeous opening to a harsh, discordant mess. "Listen to Love" has a curiously detached, by-the-numbers feel, and "California" fails to explore the harmonic possibilities of its Carlisle/Brian Wilson pairing. "Kneel at Your Feet" is plagued by the same problems as the title track, its fluid sound ruined by poor arrangement.

Thankfully, Carlisle's voice remains as arresting as ever, and despite its troubles, the album deserves your attention.

I bought this CD when "In Too Deep" came out, and wasn't very impressed by it, but I kept playing it and I can honestly say that every song is very, very good. It's nothing like Belinda's "Real" album, which, imho, is her best work, but this CD is just excellent.

In Too Deep is one of Bel's best songs and her vocals are just so emotional and you can't help but be moved by them.

Calfornia is a funky collaboration with Brian Wilson. It's a great song and did I mention the music is very funky and Belinda's voice...what can I say? It's fabulous.

A Woman And A Man is the 90's disco song. I say disco literally, it's got this great beat to it and her scorching vocals about her man leaving her are just incredible! A very cool tune.

Remember September is one of the songs that it took me longer to get into. It's a ballad, but it's really good once you get into it.

Listen To Love is the first really 'perky pop' song on the album, but isntead of being cheesy, Belinda pulls it off and makes it a very sweet and loving song.

Always Breaking My Heart was another that I didn't take to right off the bat, but it did eventually grow on me, and it's such a cool track.

Love Doesn't Live Here is very poppy, but also very sad. One of my faves on the CD.

He Goes On is another one that took some time to get used to, but it's such a good track! It just helps the CD with it's greatness.

Kneel At Your Feet...I'm actually listening to it right now. It's really smooth and fanatastic, one for the Belinda books.

Love In The Key of C is another very smooth track. It's what one would call "mood music" and was a big hit in the UK. Always cool.

My Heart Goes Out To You is one of my favorite Belinda songs. There really isn't much of a flow to the song, but the lyrics and the way that she sings them...it's so amazing. The song is also very inspiring and positive.

In the end, this album may not be as "good" as "Real" but on it's own, it's a really, really cool effort from Ms. Carlisle.

Belinda's most mature and adult album to date, A Woman and a Man sports two top-ten single hits, the gorgeous and immensely catchy 'In Too Deep,' and the Per Gessle co-written 'Always Breaking My Heart.' While some of the songs on this album are classic Carlisle magic, such as 'California,' 'Listen to Love,' 'Love in the Key of C' and the slow, thoughftul message to a friend, 'My Heart Goes Out To You,' others, though still great, just don't seem to fit the Carlisle puzzle - 'He Goes On,' and 'Kneel At Your Feet' being the most notable. A great album that felt like a return to the 'good ol' days' after the commercial flop that was 'Real.'

If I could pick one song off this cd to listen to, it would have to be #6, "Always Breaking My Heart" The single wasn't released here in the US but was a Top 40 hit in the Uk. This album is pure Belinda, and the songs are great!!

A Good buy!