Alannah Myles

When I first saw the video for Alannah's hit "Black Velvet" I knew she had something special about her. Her big black unfortunate hair, her tight leather skirts, the way she slithered all over the stage, I just knew she had a bit of Benatar in her. So I ran out and bought this album the minute I could get to a record store.

For the past umpteen years, this album still puts a smile on my face, and I was right, the bulk of the album is actually straight up rock and roll with a tad of blues tinged fun thrown in.

Of course Alannah remains fairly under the radar as her only big hit here is the "Black Velvet" scorchy ballady rock song; but the album opens with a real rocker, "Still Got This Thing" and keeps going with ups and downs of rock chunk and funk; "Love Is" was a follow up single that didn't do much, same with the one real ballad on here, "Lover Of Mine", which downs Alannah's normally scratchy scath for an upper register and it really touches you, "Why does it feel like I'm losing you?", of course the guitars kick in as does Alannah's soul. It's really great.

But nothing compared to the straight up rock of the rest of the cuts starting with "Kick Start My Heart" which would make someone like Great White proud; the pop influences with hooks are all over "Just One Kiss" and "If You Want To" until ending with the countrified blues of "Hurry Make Love."

This really is one of my favorite albums and I always felt had she thrown another album out right away instead of waiting 3 years, she could've been the Benatar of the 90's. Oh well this debut album did debut at #1 in her native Canada and I think that was pretty impressive at the time.

This Alan Mills is awful. He can't even pronounce "mistress", which he sings as "misteress". The lyrics are banal to the point that they might have been generated by one of those lyric generator things. The only classic is "Dark Side of Me", which is searing and great. Sorry, that's a lie. It's rubbish, too. Don't give up the day job, Al.

This is a great female rock album. Alanah delivers rock on this album that is definitely hard at times, but never turns into just loud noise. Quite the contrary, the album is full of good rock tunes. Alanah's voice is powerful and with the right attitude. The album starts out strong, rocking with Still Got This Thing, Love Is, and Black Velvet. Rock This Joint is a bit commonplace. Lover of Mine shows Alanah can do a softer, slower tune. The album gets hard again with Kick Start My Heart and If You Want To. Some mellower tunes close the album. Excellent stuff. Where's Alanah now?

Sung by an excellent blues singer. Allana has an authenticity to her voice that makes her a true blues singer. I especially enjoy the classic "Black Velvet" which is the reason I purchased the CD.

Allanah Myles debut from 1989,is the real thing when it come`s to raaaaw female power rock, with light touches of heavy metal and blues riffs here and there. Oh yes, this is riffy and raffy in a very positive sense. In other words quality shines from beginning to end . Track 1 Still got this thing, With it`s fuzzy guitar riffs in the background, the song sets immediate the quality standard . She has an unpolished voice which fits this kind of music. It`s compact and quite stylish. She roars like a rock scream queen, but never ever a false note. Track 2 Love is, is more into "funky" land, but with a bumble bass in the background , the heavy metal touches is still intact. Track 3 Black Vevet is the best of the best. It was a great hit song back then, and still hits the mark. The bumble bass and the ready steady drum beat in the background still has the power to make the day for the one who looks for a great time. It`s very well driven, and moves you all over. Trembling good rock and roll. Track 4 Rock this joint, is more into funky territory
of the Myles`es musical landscape, but certainly has the power to move you soul into happiness. Track 5 Lover of mine, is the first ballad on the album, that shows a more "soft singing" voice of Alannha that fits the song perfect. Track 6 Kick start my heart is more back to heavy metal land, with touches of the
synth soundpicture from the 80 ths. Track 7 If you want to , has even more touches from the 80 ths. The mood is light and positive. Track 8 Just one Kiss, has also synth at the refrain, but the rest is more into light heavy metal landscape. Sounds ok,but nothing extraordinary. Track 9 Who loves you is the second ballad, and shows a more softspoken and atmospheric side of Myles, until the refrain, when Myles is back in to roaring action once again. Track 10 Hurry make love, is a clever little blues acoustic gem, that makes it. Yees Allanha Myles still got this thing after all this years.

I love Alannah Myles. I have most of her CD's on my iPod and crank them up all the time - top down cruising the highways and byways. I love her sexy, sultry voice, the raunchy guitar rhythms and solos that epitomize her style. Her acoustic ballads are also a treat! When I heard she was releasing a new version of Black Velvet (one of the most expressively "hot" songs of all times) I was thrilled. Probably a mistake - how can you build on perfection? I was really disappointed in the title track, and most of the rest of the album was too techno-pop for me. Gone - the kick-*** guitar playing and rhythm guitars. Too many synths and just too much production. Myles has such a beautiful voice, but she buries it with way too many effects. The one ballad "Faces in the Crowd" rang my bells, but not enough to justify the purchase of this album. Too bad. Allanah rocks (or used to).

Well after many years and a couple of name changes Alannah releases her new album. Technically only 9 of the 11 tracks are new ("Black Velvet" is a re-recording of the #1 hit from her debut album and "I Love You" was originally recorded in 1995 under the title "I Believe" and appears as the b-side to the single for "Family Secret"). The album is still full of great songs. The standouts are "Comment Ca Va", "Prime Of My Life" & "Leave It Alone". If you are a fan of Alannah's or just looking for some good music this album is recommended.

Finally, Alannah Myles returns to the music world. She has been missed.
Black Velvet continues to prove that Alannah has got one of the most distinctive voices in rock music. The production is great and the songs are great. I am usually a little turned off when artists revisit their past hits, but she was able to record Black Velvet with a totally different approach. If you like great female rock voices, don't let this one slip by you.

Years in the making, Alannah Myles has given her fans a tremendous new album. " BLACK VELVET " kicks off with an updated version of the original classic. Alannah wanted to re-record it because she saw no royalties from that #1 hit & all the albums she did for Atlantic Records. I'll indulge her on that decision because it's the 10 NEW songs that make this album so great. She co-wrote 9 of the 10 new songs. I prefer listening to this new CD starting with COMMENT CA VA, the first new song, and consider the new version of BLACK VELVET as a bonus track. After all, how can you top an absolute clasic?

The entire CD is filled with diverse sounds, singing, instruments, and arrangements . The main thing is her VOICE. She still sounds crystal clear. You can't tell it's been awhile since her last album. She sounds amazing, and all these new songs are a joy to hear after such a long wait. There are rock songs like COMMENT CA VA, PRIME OF MY LIFE, ANYWHERE BUT HOME featuring Jeff Healey on guitar and WHAT IS LOVE, one of my favorites on here. Ballads have always been one of her strengths, and I LOVE YOU is astounding - a really beautiful song exquisitely sung & arranged . It is easily one of the best songs that Alannah has ever done. FACES IN THE CROWD was written by the same team that gave us BLACK VELVET - David Tyson & Christopher Ward. The variety of genres is all over the place on here, and of course, blues is represented with the closing song TROUBLE. Fellow Canadian rock chick Sass Jordan sings back-up on 2 songs, and the CD was produced by Mike Borkosky , who worked with Alannah on her A RIVAL album. Everything on here was produced sumptuously, from layered sounds and intricate parts to a spare arrangement like on I LOVE YOU.

Alannah is in full reign here as one of today's premier female vocalists. She's a chanteuse, rocker, balladeer, rocker, artist and legend. Get this CD. It's been worth the wait. Not to be missed.

I didn't much care for the new rendition of Black Velvet,band was too loud, I don't play it much.

I bought this compilation as a Christmas present for my wife, who has been thoroughly enjoying it since.

Recommended to anyone who likes Alannah Myles ;)

Last night I had the rare priveledge of seeing Alannah Myles Live as she brought her successful European Acoustic Club tour home to Toronto. And WOW!!!
Let there be no doubt that this woman is a STAR! In every sense of the word. She virtually radiates confidence, sexuality, and charisma.

As a Rock Vocalist, Alannah Myles is in a league of her own. There were no "Backing tracks" or "powerhouse backup Singers". It was just Alannah and she was FLAWLESS. On every song this woman demonstrated exactly why the Industry honored her with a Grammy for Best Rock Vocalist (she won out over heavyweights Melissa Etheridge, Tina Turner, and Janet Jackson) .

She opened her set with a Cover of Neil Young's "After the Goldrush" and seguewayed into her own "Honesty" from her last studio CD 1997's "Arival". Highlights were her Marlene Dietrich inspired "Dance of Love" and of course, "Black Velvet".

Her acting background and flair for theatrics really shone through in the show. When performing her Canadian #1 "Lover of Mine" she really played the part, complete with tears streaming down her face. One could only wonder whether she was thinking of Robert Plant (her former lover, whom she later mentioned) as she sang. During the second half of the show, the lights were turned way down low and she made her way from the back of the club under a veil, her path lit by a large candle which she was carrying. This as the opening chords of "Song Instead of a Kiss" were played.

Alannah also debuted a New Track from her forthcoming "85bpm" CD. Watch for the Lead Single "Comment Ca Va" to hit in 2005.

Recommended:
Alannah Myles - Very Best of
and
AMBER - My Kind of World (www.Amber-MCC.com)

The songs listed on this "Very Best Of" CD is a good start, but it does a disservice in trying to summarize the talents of one of the best rock/blues vocalists of this generation. This album is a good start for anyone trying to break away from the faint of heart Top 40 crowd. I would recommend getting the individual albums in addition to this selection to truly round out your overall music collection.

If pressed for my choice of Alannah Myles' essential titles for a Best OF collection, here are my picks.
From 'Allanah Myles'--Black Velvet (of course!!), Love Is, Still Got This Thing, and Lover of Mine.
From 'Rockinghorse'--Tumbleweed (exxccellent road trip song!), The Last Time I Saw William, Love in the Big Town, and Rockinghorse.
From 'Allannah'--Keeper of My Heart (Gonna play that at my wedding reception), Blow Wind Blow, and Irish Rain.
From 'Arival'--Bad 4 You, What Am I Gonna Do With You?, and one of the best unrequited love songs ever-Yellow Rose.

I was hooked the second I first heard 'Black Velvet' on the radio lo these may years ago. The quality of her work deserves, and I say demands, more airplay than just 'Black Velvet'. I genuinely hope more great music is made by a truly talented woman.

Alannah Myles is the woman who gave us one of the most wonderful bluesrockers/powerballads of all time, "Black Velvet". Yup, this is the song she is famous for. But what a shame! She got more music worth listening too, and thats why this greatest hits cd was released.

***NOTE***
Either this release on Amazon is an old one, Amazon made a mistake or I got a special version, because this version only have 12 songs, while the one I own have 15 songs. Its the same cover, same name, its the same cd, but different versions. Could be different releases in US and Europe.
The songs lacking on this release is: "Great Divide", "What are we waiting for" and "You love who you love". I`ll mark them with a (*).

I choose to review the version I got, since it contains all the songs on this, plus the 3 above.
***NOTE END***

It was no surprise that "Black Velvet" is numero uno on the record, but hey, its her best!
Two medicore songs follow, "Breaking the Silence" and the directly bad "Everybody`s breaking up".
"Love is" is a catchy song which sounds both fresh and rocky. Great!
Then one of the sweet ballads comes, "Song instead of a Kiss", this is one of her best ballads, and you will be surprised of what you missed when you hear this. I dont know what to compare it too, it sounds so typical her, yet alike someone else. Wonderful song....which makes way to an even better song,
"Sonny Say you will" This could have been a Cher song, and it does really have that haunting feeling, a wonderful beat, just crank up the volume and float on the bass.
"Our World Our time" is a fast, upbeat and moody rocker. I love the chorus, perfect driving music.
"Long, Long time" is a sweet ballad, is sounds sad. The unusal use of drums makes it seem strange, but it is neverthless pretty good.
"Great Divide"(*) An Accustic song, the blues shines thru here. A less good song, nothing to be sad if you missed.
"Family Secret" It sounds like Tina Turner style! R&B combined with an unusual text.
"Lover of Mine" Ah the ballad of all times. Alannah`s best ballad, often used on Power Ballad collections if "Black Velvet" is already used. This had all the thing it needed to be a smash-hit. The melody is dead on, the chorus is wonderful and the text is beautiful. Love it.
"Bad 4 you" This song is so sweet, its impossible not to love it! Co-written with one of my favoriteproducers, Desmond Child, its the second best song on the record after "Black Velvet". Catchy, accustic feel, with a sing along chorus.
"What are we waiting for"(*) A Duet with a male singer, although I havent found his name. The song is pretty good!
"You love who you love"(*) A relaxed song, its hard to say anything special about it. There is nothing wrong with it, but there is nothing special either.
"Still got this Thing" The last song on the album. It had the potential of being great, and it isnt that bad. A decent rocker where Alannah has great voice.

Although she doesnt have any other major hits than Black Velvet, this compilation clearly shows that she deserves more radioplay. Bad 4 you, Lover of Mine and Sonny Say you will should make quite a few more fans of her, as they are really great songs. Otherwise this cd does only contain one really bad song, and that`s "Everybody`s breaking Up". It just doesnt fit. But look past it, and love Alannah Myles. Maybe one day she will return. Lets pray for her, and keep asking ourselves, Why do stars like her....fall?

I truly enjoy this cd. She really is a very tallented artist. My personal favorite is "Everybodies Breaking Up"...Great song...Amazing voice. A little country, A little blues, very good.

A superb introduction to the amazing Alannah Myles catalog on this CD of hits and rarities. That's why it's called " MYLES & MORE ". Alannah has a tremendous gifted voice that can belt out anything from a blues song to full-tilt heavy rock, as well as sing an awesome ballad . This CD has of course the enormous hit " BLACK VELVET " that resonates as a classic today, and won many awards & achieved world-wide hit status. Plus her other hits like " LOVER OF MINE ", " STILL GOT THIS THING ", " SONG INSTEAD OF A KISS ", and great album tracks.

What differs this CD from " THE VERY BEST OF " CD is that it contains four rare non-album songs. The rarest song is the last song on here " ALIBI " , which is amazing & defies description. It also has the rare European only single " LIKE FLAMES " , which is a dance-inflected remake of the song by Berlin, plus two soundtrack songs " WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR " [ a duet with Italian singer Zucchero ] and " YOU LOVE WHO YOU LOVE ". The only song that is not on here from " THE VERY BEST OF " is " Break The Silence ".

What a talent, what a voice. It's great to have her back on the recording scene with a brand new album very soon.

I did not know this singer , and I can say it's one of the best Cds I ever have heard. She combines rock with balads ,her voice is strong but lovely . I absolutely recommend this CD for those who like good rock
I only regret that her career had not been large enough to give us more gifts to our senses.
I love you Alannah ¡

This is very solid debut from Alannah Myles. It's not quite as great as her first album, so I couldn't give it 5 stars. She doesn't rock as much in this album as in the first; there's more slower, softer stuff [although her voice comes accross nice on them]. There's also sufficient rocking tunes though, which I like, because Myles is one of the best solo female rockers. She has a hard edge and great rock attitude but without being excessively noisy. It's like it comes naturally to her. A worthy follow-up record.

Alannah Myles is something special. Here voice is mysterious and carismatic. This is "sword and sorscery" rock & roll. Track 1 Our world our time in it`s light form with it`s "heavy metal" inspired riffs certainly kicks this "middel age" inspired melody right into your soul. Trembling good rock and roll with devilish dark vocal from Alannah Myles. Track 2 Make me happy is more in the "funky blues" territory". Anyway it`s screamin`good , with it`s very steady,ready,go go beat. Track 3 Sonny say you will it`s the quality ballad on the CD. Here vocal is very disciplined on this one, but here "hurting quality vocal" shines all over. Make you shakin` when you listen to it.
Track 4 Tumbelweed is straight rock & roll . Straight forward ,but it swings and shakes in quality directions all trough.
Track 5 Livin on a memory sounds like early Bon Jovi, but when Allanha Myles starts to sing, she put`s here unique vision on it, and makes it here own. Track 6 Song instead of a Kiss is the symphonic track on the CD. It doesn`t grip me.
It`s a stream of cliches, and Myles voice is too "polished" and it doesn`t fit here at all. The weak one, this track. Track 7 Love in the big town, we are back in the "light heavy metal landscape" and it works ok, but nothing special. Track 8 The last time i saw William is the "pop song" on the CD. It`s "humming"and simpel. It doesn`t have any extraordinary qualitys. Track 9 Lies and Rumours is back in business with it`s light heavy metal touch, and effective guitar riffs puts inbetween here and there. An effective refrain on the melody. Track 10 Rockinhorse is the one that realy goes back to the "blues roots" with a very effective finger picking acoustic guitar play that lifts this one above average. Allanha Myles is one of the few female vocal`s that has a "magic touch" that rocks all over. In other words "she`s got it".

I have purchased copies of this Album/CD's in the Clearance rack just to give to my friends. Not only did I like this album better than her first one, I thought it was the best complete album of songs by any artist in the last 20 years. Unfortunately her next two albums really fell off in the quality of material, but this set would be included in any collection I would choose for a long stay on a deserted island. Try it!

IMO her vocals on this album and her name album are great. I am not a super big fan of her most recent album. The most recent one seems to lack a bit of the edge. Guess U cannot do killer vocals for long and not impact the vocal cords.

Alannah Myles returns with a somewhat darker and grimmer-toned album. Yes, the familiar bluesy-hard rock is still present, but she's expanded her talents and the songs are better.

"Our World Our Times" is a grim night in the city track, somewhat reminding me of the Cult's "Witch" in theme. Alannah recites the first couple of songs in a monologue before the familiar bluesy-hard rock guitar riffs that characterized her debut album kicks in with intensity matching the harshness of the urban life. One line seems in tune with the current climate: "These times are like dynamite a head-on with history/Some fool's bound to burn it all down don't care about you and me."

"Make Me Happy" has a tempo akin to Def Leppard's "Woman", a Leppardish sound, and with some funky overtones. Love that bass in the song's intro.

"Sonny Say You Will," a plea for an unforgettable moment that will last forever, is one of the two killer ballads here, opening with a sun-coming up synthesizer. It blares into power ballad mode in the verse before the chorus, where it quiets down. One of my favourite songs.

"Tumbleweed" is back to that chugging blues-rock that's in the same manner as "Still Got This Thing For You" from her previous album. It's about a man gambling on dice who could be either a tumbleweed or a rolling stone. With Alannah singing "Looks like I'll be driving home tonight", guess what happens to him?

The blues guitar on the lazy "Livin' On A Memory" sets the tone and is another urban night life song on crime: "Hiding from the light/Running from my destiny/Haunted by a flame/Lying low livin' on a memory."

My favourite song here begins with some forlorn and tragic strings, which is later accompanied by acoustic guitar. "Song Instead Of A Kiss" is "to all of you who wait so long and need so much." That this didn't become a single is sheer criminality, as there's a universal appeal in this song. This is even better than "Black Velvet."

The mid-paced "Love In The Big Town" is yet another night life song, but in a smaller setting. The alienation, glitter, false smiles and people wanting money are still there. It's like a slowed down version of "Kick Start My Heart."

The flight of a troubadour who was looking for some piece of mind, wanting to fly instead of holding on to shaky ground is the story behind "The Last Time I Saw William." Clearly he was burned out from "hurtin' songs", what with that "long line of loneliness in the corner of his eye."

"Lies and Rumours" sounds like Bon Jovi, or a variation of "Love Is" and "Kick Start." The intense skiffle-blues of the title track closes the album.

Most of the songs were written by Christopher Ward and David Tyson, and the selection was well-chosen. Why this album hit the bargain bin after a year I don't know, as it deserved way better.

Allanha Myles had a great hit with Black Velvet in 1989, but then she was more or less gone from the "hit land" and top lists. Anyway this CD is a forgotten gem too check out. Track 1 Mistress of Erzulie, shows a more experimental side of Myles. It has more elements of folk rock, mixed together with here charateristic voice in the background. Shows here creativty to sing somthing else. The organplay in the background is great.
Track 2 Blow wind blow, is pure folk rock, with some rythmic touches here and therethat makes it funky in a good way. Track 3 Family secret, is a little winner, with it`s moody "darkside" sad somber tone to sets the quality standard all trough. Track 4 Mother Nature, is more into the "acoustic carnivalish"type of music, with a happy,happy feel. Track 5 Irish Rain, is a more mysterious thing,, With , yes the irish touch included
as the tittle suggest. Gives you a quite catchy feel in away. Track 6 Dark side is more into traditional, Allanha Myles , with touches of blues and light heavy metal and synth sprinkles here and there. Track 7 Simple man`s dream is a letdown. The catchy melody is not there, and doesn`t give you the mood. Track 8 Lightning in a bottle is a rythmic, but she sings like the voice is, yees in the bottle, but thats probably the point. Not my cup of tea. Track 9 Keeper of my heart is the folk rock winner on the CD, and shows that she knows here roots. It`s unplugged and full of joy and happiness. Track 10 Do you really wanna know me is a moody simple song., but the energy is still intact. Track 11 Everybodys breakin up, is a letdown, and here voice is once again stuck in the bottle, that doesn`t fits here style at all. Track 12 Sally go round the roses, is a traditonal irish classic, and it`s very back to the roots.,bagpipes included, and could have been put into the fantasy landscape of lord of the rings. Myles
is in an eksperimental mood, and for the most still has the touch.

Given how Alannah's second album Rockinghorse quickly hit the bargain bins, I was surprised Atlantic Records decided to keep her on for one more album. She was dropped after this third album, which from the getgo, has a stronger, more consistent sound overall. I get the sense of the wandering troubadour, hard-bitten lonely soul who's tasted life and all its bittersweet flavours. There are good songs here, and she even tries out some new sounds, such as folk and bluegrass, Celtic folk, and they work well for her.

She does continue to explore the lonely evening night life and its adventures in the blues rock of "Mistress of Erzulie," Erzulie being the Haitian goddess of love.

She plays with folky blues in "Blow Wind Blow", which spells out more of life's maxims. "Life comes true/in spite of/everything we do/you gotta learn to laugh/when the joke is played on you." So for everyone, she raises a toast: "So may you never end/all my sweet and ragged friends/won't you raise your glasses, your voice/and your will to fight/cause your life belongs to you."

Her sweeter voice comes through in the slow melodic blues of "Family Secret", about rumours that spring after a father's death and the mysterious woman that comes into his money, and how the truth is bent among the community. This sports the dark bluesy sound that made "Black Velvet" a hit, but given the subject matter, not something that would make a single.

Rocking blues time with "Mother Nature", which sports mandolin and accordion like "Blow Wind Blow." She sings of how sweet Mother Nature tastes when two are in love, "like Tahitian orchids", according to her.

"Irish Rain" portrays the bleakness of an unfriendly Belfast, the guitar is accompanied by a tin whistle, bodhran, and melancholy fiddle, things one would find on an Enya, Maire Brennan, or early Corrs album.

"Dark Side Of Me" is another chugging blues number, made alive by Kurt Schefter's electric guitar.

"Lightning In A Bottle" utilizes a 50's skiffle beat , rolling acoustic guitar riffs during the refrain, in which she challenges how much someone is willing to embrace life and all its knocks: "Tell me, are you ready like a sparrow in a hurricane?"

With a mandolin, banjo, and accordion, "Keeper Of My Heart" straddles folk, country, zydeco, and bluegrass, the chorus echoing a campfire sound reminding me of Mungo Jerry's "In The Summertime." Key line: "Remember who your princess is/your smile will be the guardian/of all my weaknesses." Definitely a standout cut.

"Do You Really Wanna Know Me": Gosh, one of those very important questions, right? Well, one of many she asks here. And Alannah asks them tenderly in a slow, quiet ballad featuring guitar, organ, accordion, and cello. "If I bare my soul, can you accept it all?", or "Do you know what makes me smile?" "Do you care what's inside?" A nice little ditty too great to be overplayed on FM.

"Everybody's Breaking Up"-how true that is today, be it seven year itch or mid-life crisis, "looks like love's in for a run of nasty weather." The overall reason is that "the tough are getting' goin' cause the goin's getting tough."

Alannah then does a melancholy the Jaynetts' "Sally Go Round The Roses", which sports some Irish vileann pipes. She says the roses can't hurt, and then pleads with Sally not to go downtown because "the saddest thing in the whole wide world/is to see your baby with another girl."

There are a few songs that are merely okay, but on the whole, with that voice that goes from rough and bluesy to sweet and melodic, she's got it. Slow blues, rocking blues, folk, bluegrass, Celtic music, this is quite an eclectic mix for Alannah Myles.

I had this CD stolen from car one late Sunday night and have missed it ever since. Whoever has it I hope you are giving it the care and respect it deserves for this CD is something truly rare.
I had liked "Black Velvet" from the first album and actually ordered it from Columbia House and they sent me "Alannah" instead. Their mistake was my fortune as I immediately got hooked on it. It was in my CD player all the time, which I guess contributed to it's eventual theft. There was much more I think of herself thrown into this one than her previous two albums and it paid off for her. "Do You Really Want to Know Me?" was an awesome song that really helped me open up to someone who I am thankful to call a friend and this whole CD is just good medicine. I'm so glad it became available again because it was hard to find for the longest time. Buy it! You won't regret it!

What a great album! Starting of with Mistress of Erzulie, that needs to grow on you but now I think it's one of the strongest songs on this album. Family Secret is one of those songs that you wish would never stop and sometimes I wish I would hear it again the way I heard it the first time I ever played it. Dark Side of Me is a rocksong the way they supposed to be and Simple Man's Dream is one of those songs that will stick with me for the rest of my life I will always love that song and I will always keep playing it! Lightning in a bottle shows her raw talent for making a song her own, screaming at you to keep you focused, Everybody's Breaking Up does the same thing and surprises me not to be a monsterhit...there are no flaws on this album just daring explorations to see what suits her best, some of the songs are worth five stars just for the fact they are so uncommercially produced. Absolutely beautiful!

Alannah offers something to the pop music scene that is too often ignored: sheer raw talent ! She also continues to amaze me how she carries the torch for the other great gals of true rock music of the past like Heart, Pat Benatar, and yes, even Tina Turner... On this title she offers much of the same found on her debut except with more of a blues-folk pallet.Nothing is mediocre,commercialized, overproduced or forgettable.Whether she releses her vocals at full throttle or seductively croons and whispers a ballad she is able to take on the color of each tune effortlessly. This title will not disappoint whether you are a fan or not !

Alannaha Myles has a voice which screams and roar with sharp intensity. This is quality blues rock from an artist which knows here roots. Track 1 Motherload sets the standard all trough. Not very melodious perhaps, but it`s raw and powerfull enough to make it an ok listen. Track 2 Bad 4 You, is more "earfriendly" with a catchy structure that makes it a joy to listen to. Here voice lifts this one high above average. Track 3 Dance of Love, is in the department of melancholic quite atmospheric rock. The atmosphere and here deep voice makes this one into "something else". Track 4 The great divide is more average. It`s bare boned blues rock, and quite ok. Track 5 Chained(Final Rescue)is a minor letdown. It`s spins to much around the same theme over and over again. Track 6 Why have angels denied you, is quite melodious. It`s the one that make your feet step to the rhytm, and in "the catchy tune" department.Track 7 What am i gonna do with you, is the first ballad on the CD. Very simple with a piano and some symphonic touches in the background. Quite good. Track 8 Everything missing, is the heavy metal light song, but it`s to despearte and overkilled in every musical departments sorry to say. A quality letdown this one. Track 9 Kisses are weapons. It`s a good rootsy blues song, with simple and effective beat. Track 10 Honesty, is the "walkalong"rythmic rock roots song. Simple and effective. Track 11 Yellow Rose is in the "department of melancholia", but that`s it. Anyway Alannha Myles is in the department of high standard raw female power rock with sharpness and intensity.

The fourth album by Alannah Myles, that bluesy-rock woman with the image of a nomad troubadour, fiercely independent, someone's who's drunk deep from life's bittersweet water, singing songs of the nightlife, and still has a "life goes on" mindset. She gets some notable names on songwriting on her sole go-around on Ark-21 Records, in which she sticks to her usual style without much experimenting that she did in Alannah.

"Motherload" begins with a cacophony of Middle Eastern sounds before going into her usual sound, highlighted by a blaring and grinding electric guitar. This song was co-written by her and Maia Sharp.

"Bad 4 U," co-written between her, Eric Bazilian, and Desmond Child, is a raging rocker where she warns a prospective suitor that she's an "out-of-control freak" who doesn't tolerate fools lightly, giving him such warnings as "I'll put a hole in your heart ten foot wide." Her voice matches the power of the guitars which sport a Hooters meets AC-DC sound, no smooth black velvet here. Bazilian does the guitar and harmonica here. A standout track, although I'll steer very clear of the character of this song.

The slow, melancholy "The Dance of Love" is an acoustic number set in a suburb of Warsaw peopled with the dispossessed. Her voice is huskier and melodic here.

"The Great Divide" is her usual bluesy-rock with blaring guitar about someone who describes herself as a fallen angel. Some goofy lyrics with religious themes appear here, accompanied by some really heavy guitar: "bank of karma won't loan/your yin won't yang/the bed don't bang/and the springs don't sprang/again and again and ahhhhhh." Someone take the bottle of black velvet away from her please-she's lost it. Just kidding, as it's another standout track.

The character in "Chained (Final Rescue)" is a fiercely independent person who does whatever she wants, doesn't want to be tied down, and is cynical of heroes and self-proclaimed saviours, and even the law. "Watch out for heroes lookin' for a deed/beware of crusaders meeting your need/watch out for fixers when you're not even broke" she warns.

`Why Have Angels Denied You" sports a swamp blues sound and describes the attempts of a woman who wants someone to open up emotionally.

Alannah's voice is alternately tender and hoarsely intense in the piano ballad "What Am I Gonna Do With You?" Another standout cut that depicts emotional draining after what one's gone through: "It's so hard to fall after what's fallen through" she sings, and then asks not only the title but also "What am I gonna do about the way that I feel?"

"Everything's Missing" is another mid-paced blaring guitar blues song. Then comes a folky mandolin song coupled with her usual blues spiced with the cynical observation that "Kisses Are Weapons." Like roses and the thorns on them, she further describes the dichotomy of kisses. They are "beautiful and sharp" but also "weapons of the heart" and "weapons whether we win or we lose." They make enemies or lovers of people. A bitter standout cut here.

"Honesty" is a folk/country song with acoustic guitar, with an electric solo in the middle. As a lonely troubadour, she asks "Did I strike the chord of honesty in you?", wondering further if it elicited "a bout of lust between true love."

A racing acoustic Peter Paul and Mary-like number, "Yellow Roses" describes the title flower as that of unrequited love and as a thorn in one's heart that protects one from further pain. The songwriting is good, with her usual rocking blues, the ballad highlighting her emotional voice. The folkish sound sported on the last two songs shows potential material or a shift in sound for a future album, if there will be another one.

Her burden of being a little bit of a one hit wonder, is a huge shame for both the music industry as well us listeners. This woman knows rock and she knows how to portray it. This should have been the big return album to the spotlight, but unfortunately failed. Why? Because there is just too much GOOD music on this disc, which can't be eaten by the big mass. The variety of styles and the way she's able to adapt her voice to her lyrics is an ansolute stunner. She can be a screaming rockvamp one minute and continue with a voice that would put a baby to sleep 'till she grabs you by the throat to make you listen to her. What a voice what an expression what an absolute stunner of an album - the best kept secret in roch history is called arival - But don't worry apparently Alannah Myles is producing an album as we speak and I am sure she will be back where she belongs, at the Grammy's for an award.

I have loved Alannah Myles' music since "Black Velvet" in 1990. I have all of her albums, and I love them all. She's creative, outspoken, outgoing... in a nutshell, spectacular. But this album inspires some sort of erosion, it repeats the patters that made the others succesful and doesn't have anything new in it to show the development Alannah claims to have underwent.

Alannaha Myles has a voice which screams and roar with sharp intensity. This is quality blues rock from an artist which knows here roots. Track 1 Motherload sets the standard all trough. Not very melodious perhaps, but it`s raw and powerfull enough to make it an ok listen. Track 2 Bad 4 You, is more "earfriendly" with a catchy structure that makes it a joy to listen to. Here voice lifts this one high above average. Track 3 Dance of Love, is in the department of melancholic quite atmospheric rock. The atmosphere and here deep voice makes this one into "something else". Track 4 The great divide is more average. It`s bare boned blues rock, and quite ok. Track 5 Chained(Final Rescue)is a minor letdown. It`s spins to much around the same theme over and over again. Track 6 Why have angels denied you, is quite melodious. It`s the one that make your feet step to the rhytm, and in "the catchy tune" department.Track 7 What am i gonna do with you, is the first ballad on the CD. Very simple with a piano and some symphonic touches in the background. Quite good. Track 8 Everything missing, is the heavy metal light song, but it`s to despearte and overkilled in every musical departments sorry to say. A quality letdown this one. Track 9 Kisses are weapons. It`s a good rootsy blues song, with simple and effective beat. Track 10 Honesty, is the "walkalong"rythmic rock roots song. Simple and effective. Track 11 Yellow Rose is in the "department of melancholia", but that`s it. Anyway Alannha Myles is in the department of high standard raw female power rock with sharpness and intensity.

The fourth album by Alannah Myles, that bluesy-rock woman with the image of a nomad troubadour, fiercely independent, someone's who's drunk deep from life's bittersweet water, singing songs of the nightlife, and still has a "life goes on" mindset. She gets some notable names on songwriting on her sole go-around on Ark-21 Records, in which she sticks to her usual style without much experimenting that she did in Alannah.

"Motherload" begins with a cacophony of Middle Eastern sounds before going into her usual sound, highlighted by a blaring and grinding electric guitar. This song was co-written by her and Maia Sharp.

"Bad 4 U," co-written between her, Eric Bazilian, and Desmond Child, is a raging rocker where she warns a prospective suitor that she's an "out-of-control freak" who doesn't tolerate fools lightly, giving him such warnings as "I'll put a hole in your heart ten foot wide." Her voice matches the power of the guitars which sport a Hooters meets AC-DC sound, no smooth black velvet here. Bazilian does the guitar and harmonica here. A standout track, although I'll steer very clear of the character of this song.

The slow, melancholy "The Dance of Love" is an acoustic number set in a suburb of Warsaw peopled with the dispossessed. Her voice is huskier and melodic here.

"The Great Divide" is her usual bluesy-rock with blaring guitar about someone who describes herself as a fallen angel. Some goofy lyrics with religious themes appear here, accompanied by some really heavy guitar: "bank of karma won't loan/your yin won't yang/the bed don't bang/and the springs don't sprang/again and again and ahhhhhh." Someone take the bottle of black velvet away from her please-she's lost it. Just kidding, as it's another standout track.

The character in "Chained (Final Rescue)" is a fiercely independent person who does whatever she wants, doesn't want to be tied down, and is cynical of heroes and self-proclaimed saviours, and even the law. "Watch out for heroes lookin' for a deed/beware of crusaders meeting your need/watch out for fixers when you're not even broke" she warns.

`Why Have Angels Denied You" sports a swamp blues sound and describes the attempts of a woman who wants someone to open up emotionally.

Alannah's voice is alternately tender and hoarsely intense in the piano ballad "What Am I Gonna Do With You?" Another standout cut that depicts emotional draining after what one's gone through: "It's so hard to fall after what's fallen through" she sings, and then asks not only the title but also "What am I gonna do about the way that I feel?"

"Everything's Missing" is another mid-paced blaring guitar blues song. Then comes a folky mandolin song coupled with her usual blues spiced with the cynical observation that "Kisses Are Weapons." Like roses and the thorns on them, she further describes the dichotomy of kisses. They are "beautiful and sharp" but also "weapons of the heart" and "weapons whether we win or we lose." They make enemies or lovers of people. A bitter standout cut here.

"Honesty" is a folk/country song with acoustic guitar, with an electric solo in the middle. As a lonely troubadour, she asks "Did I strike the chord of honesty in you?", wondering further if it elicited "a bout of lust between true love."

A racing acoustic Peter Paul and Mary-like number, "Yellow Roses" describes the title flower as that of unrequited love and as a thorn in one's heart that protects one from further pain. The songwriting is good, with her usual rocking blues, the ballad highlighting her emotional voice. The folkish sound sported on the last two songs shows potential material or a shift in sound for a future album, if there will be another one.

Her burden of being a little bit of a one hit wonder, is a huge shame for both the music industry as well us listeners. This woman knows rock and she knows how to portray it. This should have been the big return album to the spotlight, but unfortunately failed. Why? Because there is just too much GOOD music on this disc, which can't be eaten by the big mass. The variety of styles and the way she's able to adapt her voice to her lyrics is an ansolute stunner. She can be a screaming rockvamp one minute and continue with a voice that would put a baby to sleep 'till she grabs you by the throat to make you listen to her. What a voice what an expression what an absolute stunner of an album - the best kept secret in roch history is called arival - But don't worry apparently Alannah Myles is producing an album as we speak and I am sure she will be back where she belongs, at the Grammy's for an award.

I have loved Alannah Myles' music since "Black Velvet" in 1990. I have all of her albums, and I love them all. She's creative, outspoken, outgoing... in a nutshell, spectacular. But this album inspires some sort of erosion, it repeats the patters that made the others succesful and doesn't have anything new in it to show the development Alannah claims to have underwent.