Cher famously crossed over to disco when she released "Take Me Home," produced by Bob Esty and Paul Jabara, in 1979. She returned whole-heartedly to the dance-music genre in 1998 with the smash single, "Believe," from the album of the same name that spawned other hits (and pioneered auto-tuning). This was followed by the Living Proof (of what? Cher's eternal fabulousness, I imagine) album, a club-friendly follow-up from which "A Song for the Lonely" was enormously popular worldwide and, released in the wake of 9/11, became an anthem.
Since then, it's been 12 long years for the diva to return with an album, so to call this "long anticipated" is an understatement. There were also Cher numbers from the Burlesque soundtrack album, including "You Haven't Seen the Last of Me," in 2011. (Another survivor's anthem if there ever was one which charted internationally with an array of amazing remixes for the dancefloors.)
Wikipedia mentions that Cher is "[r]ecognized for having brought the sense of female autonomy and self-actualization into the entertainment industry" and this is surely very evident on her new album, Closer to the Truth. It opens with her already phenomenal dance and radio hit, "Woman's World" and follows that up with the dance track, "Take It Like a Man," another floor-filler at the waiting.
With a very strong publicity machine behind her this time, Cher has been omnipresent as of late, most recently turning up on tv's Dancing with the Stars. Like Joan Crawford and Madonna, her longevity has depended upon her reinventing her image for the public. If this Cher reincarnation is any Closer to the Truth, it's because, despite her disarming honesty and off-the-cuff remarks to the press, it has previously been remote.
The album is available at Amazon.com on cd format or download. Each track has potent potential for radio/club play. "Lovers Forever" and "Dressed to Kill" seem especially ripe for remixes for the clubs. Hello, I mean, "Mary, I am dressed to kill"? Does this diva know her core audience or what? "Lie to Me" is a sweet and haunting power ballad, reuniting La Diva with her rock roots. "Sirens" and "I Hope You Find It" (a cover of the Miley Cyrus song) are both lovely and inspiring non-dance tracks as well.
Closer to the Truth is just a wonderful, expertly produced and balanced album. It currently has a four and 1/2 star rating from the public on Amazon.com (out of 5), so you don't have to just take my word, even though I kindly suggest that you always should.
Cher's unique, unmistakeable throaty contralto rules supreme on this effort. Jake Shears (Scissor Sisters) sings back-up on "Take It Like a Man." Pink is a back-up girl on "I Walk Alone." Babies, Cher sings alone! Let me know if you can even hear anyone else in the mix!
No comments:
Post a Comment